146 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XLII. 
who, like my old friend the mallem Katuri, had 
accompanied the memorable expedition of A'mba 
Sambo, the warlike chief of Chamba, towards the 
country of Fgbo on the sea- coast. But while the 
latter had gone to Mbafu with the main body of the 
army, the adventurous proceedings of that person 
had not even been limited by the boundaries of the 
sea ; and he informed me in the most positive and 
conclusive manner that the body of troops which he 
accompanied had sailed along a rocky coast for fifteen 
days, when they unexpectedly met with an island, 
where they took possession of a number of muskets, 
their owners, who were all dressed in jackets, having 
taken refuge in their large vessel. 
He did not doubt that these people were Christians, 
and according to the description which he gave me of 
the vessel, there can scarcely be any doubt that it was 
a European one ; but I did not feel quite certain 
as to the point whether he had navigated a large 
river, or the open sea, though I think it probable they 
went down the Niger, and surprised one of the Euro- 
pean traders at the mouth of the river. At any rate, 
however, this is an extremely interesting circumstance. 
I apprehend that the chiefs of A'damawa will hesitate 
in future to extend their expeditions so far, after an 
English steamer has gone up the river to the very 
heart of their own country. It was this same Bornu 
horseman who informed me that, on that expedition, 
all the horses had died from a disease proceeding 
from worms. 
