186 clapperton's second journey. 



less than an attempt to resolve the great question respects 

 ing the termination of the Niger ; which he hoped to effect 

 by proceeding to Fundah, the place, every one admits, at 

 which the point may most easily be determined, — whether 

 it flows onward to the sea or turns eastward into the inte- 

 rior. Lander, in order to reach that city, proceeded due 

 Bouth, through a country diversified with rising ground, but 

 istill presenting the same fertile and luxuriant aspect as 

 that through which he had just passed. He was told, 

 however, that to the south there was a very elevated 

 mountainous region, inhabited by a savage people called 

 Yemyems. These are probably the Lamlam of Edrisi, 

 reported to be devourers of human flesh, and who were 

 said to have lately killed and eaten a whole caravan ; since 

 which time no one had been much inclined to go near them. 

 The chief place through which Lander passed was Cuttup, 

 composed of five hundred little villages, clustered together, 

 and forming the market for a very great extent of country. 

 The king's wives were vastly delighted to receive one or 

 two gilt buttons from the traveller's jacket ; and, imagin- 

 ing them to be pure gold, fastened them to their ears. 

 From Cuttup he proceeded to Dunrora, where he was in- 

 formed that about half a day's journey eastward was the 

 large city of Jacoba, near which flowed the Shary, in a 

 continuous course between the Tchad and Fundah ; which 

 last place lay now in the direction of due west. Lander 

 here promised himself the satisfaction, in ten or twelve 

 days, of finally solving the grand African problem, when 

 suddenly four horsemen, with foaming steeds, galloped into 

 the town. Their leader, followed by an immense multi- 

 tude, rode up, and told the traveller that he must instantly 

 return to the king of Zeg-zeg. Lander endeavoured to 

 argue the point, but could get no answer, except that they 

 must either bring him with them or lose their heads. It 

 behooved him then, of necessity, to repair to Zaria, the capi- 

 tal, where, being introduced to the king, and having de- 

 livered his presents, that prince boasted of having done 

 him the greatest possible favour, since the people of Fun- 

 dah, being now at war with Sultan Bello, would certainly 

 have murdered any one who had come from visiting and 

 carrying gifts to that monarch. From this reasoning, 

 sound or otherwise, Lander had no appeal, and found no 



