312 Africa. — Niger. — Fertiatidu Po. 



die expedition were in pei'fect health, and the season had been 

 extremely mild and open. 



AFRICA. NIGER, — FERNANDO PO. 



In the absence of the details and the results of the late jour- 

 ney of discovery into Northern Central Africa from the pro- 

 per channel, we are enabled, from a sure source of informa- 

 tion, to lay before our readers the following important parti- 

 culars regarding Clapperton's discovery. — From the informa- 

 tion which he obtained, he considers it certain that the mighty 

 Niger terminates in the Atlantic Ocean in the Bights of Benin 

 and Biafra. Sockatoo, the capital of a considerable state, and 

 at which place he turned back, is situated in 12 degrees north 

 latitude, and in about 7 degrees east longitude, and upon a 

 river which flows west by it into the Joliba (the Niger) of 

 Mr. Park, distant about forty miles from the city mentioned. 

 The inhabitants of Sockat45o told Major Clapperton that they 

 traded up the Joliba with Timbuctoo, and down it with the 

 Europeans who frequented the sea-coasts at the mouth of tlie 

 rivei\ Upon turning to a map of Africa, the reader will per- 

 ceive that Sockatoo is about four hundred miles fi'om Tim- 

 buctoo, three hundred and fifty from the mouth of the Rio de 

 Formosa, very near Bousa, where Park lost his life, and within 

 a short distance of the position, as nearly as can be laid down, 

 of the great city of Wassanah, mentioned to Captain Riley by 

 Sidi Hamet. We have heard of other curious particulars, but 

 these are of minor importance, and sink into insignificance be- 

 fore the gi'eat point mentioned and determined. It is with consi- 

 derable satisfaction we are enabled also to state, that by the 

 activity and attention of the Colonial Office, Major Laing was 

 furnished with an abstract of Major Clapperton's important dis- 

 coveries, to guide him in his researches and his journey,and that 

 this abstract reached him a few days before he left Tripoli. — 

 He is by this time at or near Timbuctoo, and has taken with 

 him four or five carpenters (Blacks), from the United States of 

 America, in order to assist in building a vessel (of sufficient 

 strength to pass the Rapids in safety) at Timbuctoo, in which 

 he means to descend the Niger to the sea. The period of the 

 year and the state of his health are such as leave the most 

 sanguine hopes of his early and complete success. It is cal- 

 culated that he might be in the Bight of Benin by the month 

 of March next ; but, taking into account the delay and diffi- 

 culty of travelling in Africa, whether by land or by water, we 

 think this period too early. It is not necessary to unfold a 

 map of Africa, to perceive the commanding position of the 



island 



