408 PLAN RECOMMENDED FOR 



into water-tight compartments, the necessity of 

 taking coopers up the river would be avoided, as 

 she would load the palm-oil in bulk ; while the 

 fact that, in the months of May, June, and July, 

 (when she would be chiefly employed in the 

 swampy country,) Mr. Lander and Mr. Oldfield 

 were exposed for thirty-two days in an open 

 boat ascending the river, proves that while the 

 river is rising the risk of life is considerably di- 

 minished. It must also be considered that by 

 facilitating and expediting the loading of the 

 ships, the risk of life amongst their crews will 

 be greatly lessened ; as it is well known that com- 

 paratively little mortality is experienced until 

 after the fourth month of the arrival of vessels 

 upon the coast. After that time, the risk in- 

 creases in a terrific proportion. 



In carrying on this trade, it would perhaps 

 eventually be necessary to have a station in the 

 interior, and an establishment on the compara- 

 tively healthy island of Fernando Po. In this 

 case, by leaving the trade-boats in the river, and 

 employing the steam-vessel during the absence 

 of the palm-oil vessels in trading to the nume- 

 rous rivers to which that magnificent island forms 



