Vi PREFACE. 



the interior of that interesting country, and that 

 it has proved that any man with common sense 

 and common ability may ascend and descend 

 the main artery of Africa (provided he escapes 

 the effects of the climate) with perfect safety, in 

 moderate sized vessels, from the sea to Boussa. 



That my successors in the same field may 

 avoid the errors that were committed, and profit 

 by the experience acquired, is the principal rea- 

 son why these Narratives are published. 



The parties who, I hope, may, and trust will 

 be principally interested, are those who look 

 upon the opening of Central Africa to the enter- 

 prise and capital of British merchants as likely 

 to create new and extensive markets for our 

 manufactured goods, and fresh sources whence 

 to draw our supplies ; and those who, viewing 

 mankind as one great family, consider it their 

 duty to raise their fellow-creatures from their 

 present degraded, denationalised, and demoral- 

 ised state, nearer to Him in whose image they 

 were created. 



