LAING RITCHIE — LYON. 125 



?n 1821, Major Lains: was sent on a mission from Sierra 

 iiCone, through the Timannee, Kooranko, and Sooiima 

 countries, with the view of forming some commercial ar- 

 rangements. On this journey he found reason to beUeve 

 that the soutce of the Niger lay much farther to the south 

 than Park had supposed. At Falaba, he was assured that 

 it might have been reached in three days, had not the Kissi 

 nation, in whose territory it was situated, been at war with 

 the Soolimanas, with whom Major Laing then resided. 

 He was inclined to fix the source of this great river a very 

 iittle above the ninth degree of latitude. 



The British government were, meantime, indefatigable 

 in their endeavours to find out other channels for exploring 

 the interior of Africa. The bashaw of Tripoli, though he 

 had usurped the throne by violent means, showed a dispo- 

 sition to improve his country by adnaitting the arts and 

 learning of Europe ; while the judicious conduct of Consul 

 Warrington inclined him to cultivate the friendship of Bri- 

 tain. Through his tributarj^ kingdom of Fezzan he held close 

 and constant communication with Bornou and the other 

 leading states of Central Africa ; and he readily undertook 

 io psromote the views of any English expedition which 

 might proceed in that direction. Such an opportunity was 

 not to be lost. The usual means were supplied by the mi- 

 tiistry, -and the ordinary inducements held forth by the As- 

 sodalioi*. Mr. Ritchie, a young man of scientific acquire- 

 ments and zeal for discovery, undertook the direction of this 

 adventure. Captain Marrayat of the navy proposed to ac- 

 company him ; but, being prevented by private considera- 

 tions, 'his place was taken by Lieutenant Lyon, who, as a 

 naval officer, was expected to be useful in navigating the 

 Niger when the party should reach that river. The mis- 

 sion v«?>cre perfectly well received at Tripoli, and uet out on 

 the 23d March, 1819, for Fezzan, with Mukni, the sultan, 

 who gave them the most solemn assurances of protection. 

 This chief, however, was a ruffian, who had made his way 

 to power by the massacre of the late sovereign and his bro- 

 ther, and who supported his favour at Tripoli by annual 

 slave-hunts, which he extended over the whole Desert to the 

 Irontier of Soudan. Thus he brought annually to Tripoli 

 4000 or 5000 of those unhappy victims, a large proportion of 

 whom were bestowed in presents to his liege lord. Undei 

 L3 



