422 PROCEED TO THE TCHADDA. 



lot, two canoes arrived, with goats, yams, corn, 

 and country flour. 



On the 2nd of August, before the sun was 

 many fathoms high, as the Mallams term it, we 

 were on our way to the Tchadda. The morning 

 was beautifully clear and serene ; the sun shone 

 with uncommon splendour ; and the small rocky 

 islands in the midst of the stream near the con- 

 fluence of the two great rivers, the Tchadda and 

 Niger, gave an enlivening and cheerful charac- 

 ter to the surrounding scenery. 



We were now about to enter a stream which 

 was (comparatively speaking) totally unknown, 

 and where no white man had penetrated. What 

 difliculties we might encounter before our re- 

 turn we could not foresee ; and we trusted to 

 the protecting care of Providence for a success- 

 ful result to our efforts. 



Our intention was, if practicable, to reach 

 Lake Tchad from the Tchadda, which if we 

 succeeded in doin^ we should add a grand and 

 important discovery to the results of our voyage. 

 The natives considered it quite practicable, and 

 Mallam Catab inquired if we were going to the 

 Great Sea, meaning the Lake Tchad. To the 

 westward of us was a long range of mountains. 



