13 



A Kotlce of the Progress of the Expedition lately sent out 

 from Liverpool to trade in the Niger. Extracted from 

 a private Letter, dated \8th June 1833. 



[Read at the South African Institution.] 



The two steamers destined for the Niger, in company with a 

 brig carrying the provisions and merchandise, touched on their 

 way out, first at Sierra Leone, 'and then at York, one of the 

 villages attached to that colony, where they wooded and 

 watered. Shortly after leaving the latter place some of the 

 crew fell sick and died, and by the time the vessels reached 

 Cape Coast disease had begun to make such ravages amongst 

 both officers and men that discontent, approaching to mutiny, 

 was actually excited. After leaving Cape Coast they proceeded 

 to Acra, there remained a few days and then moved on to Cape 

 Formosa, where they again wooded and watered. 



Whilst so employed fresh sickness was contracted, in conse- 

 quence .of the great exposure of both officers and men to sun 

 and rain, the latter of which was very abundant, it having been 

 the rainy season. With the exception of Mr. Lander, not one 

 either of the officers or men had ever been on the coast before, 

 and were consequently not acquainted with the necessity of em- 

 ploying Kroomen to perform work which demanded such expo- 

 sure, and which could only be completed with impunity by them. 

 This it is understood was an express arrangement made by the 

 owners, under an impression that trade would thri\e better in 

 t^e hands of strangers or novices than in those of persons who 

 were ac<iuainted with the secret. 



•The vessels arrived at the river Nun in the beginning of 

 October, where, after a week's sickness, the master of the iron 

 steam boat died, and also several of the men. The brig was 

 left at the entrance of the river from there not being sufficient 

 water to enable her to proceed farther, and the two steam 

 boats only ascended. Prior to their starting a dispute arose as 

 to who should be the director, and which was eventually 

 decided by it being discovered that the management of the Ex- 

 pedition, after entering the river was to devolve on the son of 

 one of the principal owners. Thus Lander was deprived of 

 a controul which he did not expect should happen before his 

 arrival at Fundah, or some other place from whence he was 

 to return to England. This, with many other occurrences on 

 board, is understood to have excited much bad feeling amongst 

 the officers. 



Lander nevertheless continued to distribute presents and 

 carry on trade with the natives, who seemed to understand him 

 better than they did the others. In their progress up the river 



