ltx>t;a>'" society of LOKDO^r. Iv 



■which it -R-as composed startiag in different directions, with the 

 understanding that they were to meet again at Kukana in April. 

 Eichardson, however, died on the 4th of ^March, and Barth as- 

 sumed charge of the mission. Under great difS.CTxlties, chiefly 

 arising from want of means, Earth had reached Katsena in 

 February, and Kano, the principal city of the most populous 

 pro\-ince of the great Tellahah kingdom. There his funds entirely 

 failed ; but with the aid of a small loan from tlie goTernor of the 

 town he started on his return to Kukaua, which place he reached 

 in April, and where he was joined in the following month by Dr. 

 Overweg. With money again borrowed from the governor, Barth 

 was able to discharge Eichardson's servants ; and whilst waiting 

 the determination of the British Grovernment with respect to the 

 future destination and direction of the mission, he and his com- 

 panion employed their time on an expedition to the Lake Tchad 

 and the country of Adamana. It was on this expedition that Dr. 

 Barth discovered the upper stream of the Benue, and thus made 

 known the great water route from the centre of Africa to the 

 Atlantic Ocean. After a visit to the kingdom of Baghirmi, Dr. 

 Barth, on his return to Kukaua, received the required authoriza- 

 tion of the British Grovernment, with instructions, at the same 

 time, to relinquish the originally projected route across the equa- 

 torial zone of the African continent to the south-east coast, and 

 to make his way westwards to Timbuctoo and the Atlantic shores 

 instead. Shortly afterwards Dr. Overweg died at Kukaua, and 

 Dr. Barth was left alone to pursue his perilous and unknown 

 course to the mysterious " Queen of the West." He lost no time, 

 however, in setting out, and on the 25th of Xovember was on his 

 way towards the Xiger, v\-hich he reached and crossed near Sav 

 on the 20th of June, 1853. Thence directing his march in a 

 north-west direction, througk wholly unknown countries, he en- 

 tered Timbuctoo on the 7th of September, 1S53, where he was 

 detained, it may be said a prisoner, for nine months, leaving it 

 on the 11th of May, 1854, on his return homewards. On his 

 route he was fortunate enough to fall in with Dr. Yogel, who 

 was then on his adventurous and fatal journey to the south. 

 Graining the first sight of the Mediterranean on the 2nd of August, 

 Dr. Bartb reached Berlin on the 13th of October, after nearly six 

 years' travel, performed under the greatest dangers and priva- 

 tions, and pursued with the most indomitable perseverance and 

 undaunted courage. 



Besides the important geographical results of these labours. 



