170 APPENDIX. 
‘The last public expedition dispatched from this colony, 
for the purpose of discovery into the vast, unknown, and inte- 
resting continent of which it forms a part, was that of Dr. 
Cowan and Lieutenant Donavon, in 1808, who were sent 
with instructions to cross to the Portuguese settlements on 
the eastern coast, which failed in consequence of the de- 
struction of the party, but what were the causes which led 
to that disastrous event, or the precise scene in which it 
occurred, has never yet been satisfactorily ascertained. 
Since that period, nothing upon so extended a scale has 
been attempted, although several plans have from time to 
time been laid before the Colonial Government for expe- 
ditions to penetrate the interior by persons of enterprize, 
among whom, principally may be named the present Com- 
missioner-General, and the late Captain Birch, of the Royal 
African Corps. After the lapse of a quarter of a century, 
public attention has been once more awakened within the 
Colony to this subject, rendered more important than at 
the time of that fatal experiment, from the mass of infor- 
mation which has since been acquired, especially during the 
last thirteen years, and from its important results in the 
establishment of a highly lucrative and increasing traffic 
with the neighbouring savages, both beyond the northern 
and eastern frontiers, with whom an amicable and mutually- 
advantageous intercourse has been arranged, as well as from 
the settlement of numerous Missionary institutions, even at 
remote places among them, charged with the promulgation 
of our common faith. 
I shall now proceed to show the amount of informa- 
tion we have gained respecting the interior, in order to fix 
the exact state of our knowledge previous to the departure 
of the intended expedition under Dr. Smith, and in attempt- 
ing this in order to give greater precision, and to avoid that 
