‘400 ANNUAL REGISTER; 1797. 
On his way to Tombu<too,; robbed 
of all his goods by Fenda Bucar’s 
fon.” 
This note being written with a 
pencil, the name of the place from 
whence it was dated was nearly 
obliterated. It appeared to Dr. 
Laidley to be Simbing; but no fuch 
place can be traced on any exifting 
map, or in any part of the intelli- 
gence communicated to the Affocia- 
tion., Major Rennel has therefore 
fuggefted that, ifit could be fuppof- 
ed apart of the initial had been 
defaced, the name might have been 
written Timbing ; in which cafe, it 
would nearly anfwer to the Timbi 
of D’Anville, placed. about eight 
journies fhort of Tombuétoo. 
That Major Houghton was with- 
in a fhort diitance of Tombuétoo, 
there is, indeed, no room to doubt ; 
and it was with inexpreflible con- 
cern that the next communication 
from the Gambia brought advice of 
his death. It was reported, at firft 
among the traders on the river, that 
he had been murdered, by means of 
the King of Bambara; but Dr. 
Laidley writes, that this report was 
afterwards contradicted. Subfe- 
quent accounts, however, confirm- 
ed the circumftance of his death; 
but neither the place nor the time 
of his deceafe were afcertained 
with precifion. The natives re- 
port, that he died a natura: death; 
and, by their defcription, it appears 
that the complaint which proved 
fatal to him was a dyfentery. They 
added, that his remains lay under a 
tree in the wildernefs. } 
It would feem, from various infor- 
mation, that this unfortunate gen- 
tleman, notwithftanding the hofpi- 
t able reception he had met with 
fro™ the King of Bambouk, was no 
~ urite of the natives in general. 
avo 
It was ftated, on a former occafiorty, 
that he derived an aflurance of fafe- 
ty from his poverty ; but, unhappi- 
‘ly, he had no fuch feeurity. Con- 
trary to all the fuggeftions of pru- 
dence, and the remonftrance of his 
friends in England, the Major had 
encumbered himfelf with an affort- 
ment of bale goods, confifting of lin- 
ens, fcarlet cloth, cutlery, beads, am- 
ber, and other merchandife, which 
prefented to the ignorant negroes 
fuch temptations as favage virtue 
could not refift. He complains, in all 
his letters, of the pilfering difpofition 
of the natives; and it appears that 
he was involved in perpetual con+ 
tefts with them on that account. 
Circumftances of this nature, with+ 
out doubt, deprived, him of thofe 
kindneffes and attentions which 
might have contributed to his pre- 
fervation. Dr. Laidley offered re- 
wards for the recovery of his books 
and papers, but without effect. 
In deploring the melancholy if- 
fue of this unhappy expedition, it 
muft, however, be obferved, that 
the mifcarriage of Major Houghton: 
furnithes no proof that the difficul- 
ties of proceeding to Tombuétoo, by 
way ofthe Gambia, are infuperable : 
on the contrary, there is reafon to 
believe that a traveller of good tem-= 
per and conciliating manners, who 
has nothing with him to tempt their 
rapacity, may expect every aflift- 
ance from the natives, and the full-... . 
eft protection from their chiefs. 
All doubts, indeed, on this head, 
are obviated by a letter of Major 
Hougton himielf, referred to in page 
6 of the laft memoir; which, -be- 
fides acknowledging, in the moft 
explicit terms, his hofpitable recep- 
tion by all ranks of people, contains 
fo many curious and important par- 
ticulars, that it is thought neceffary 
i to 
