PROPOSED VOYAGE UP THE SHARY. 177 



hfid been much on shore, being very anxious to 

 learn the Houssa language, and to become fami- 

 liarised with the habits and manners of the na- 

 tives, and I was apprehensive that the exertion 

 he had used would injure him. 



Mr. Lander now proposed to send Pascoe 

 down the river with letters to the brig, which I 

 had no doubt he would accomplish without any 

 personal risk : and he informs me that the King 

 of Fundah is exceedingly anxious to see one of 

 the white men. In consequence of this, I enter- 

 tained an idea of going up the Shary, and gave 

 directions for the largest boat of the Quorra to 

 be fitted out, and a hurricane-house to be erect- 

 ed in the stern-sheets. Dr. Briggs was of opinion 

 that the change would benefit me, and that he 

 could take charge of the vessel till my return. 



On the 8th of February we had a terrific tor- 

 nado, with its usual accompaniments. However, 

 it cleared the air, and the morning was much 

 cooler and pleasanter than any which we had expe- 

 rienced for some time previously. But the sudden 

 change of temperature was too much for my de- 

 bilitated frame, and it brought on a severe at- 

 tack of remittent fever, which lasted for several 

 days and had very nearly carried me off. 



VOL. I. N 



