Ixxviii 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
To Sir Joseph Banks. 
Sansanding, November 16, 1805. 
My Dear Friend, 
I should be wanting in gratitude, if I did not avail 
myself of every opportunity of informing you how I have 
succeeded in this enterprise. I have sent an account of 
each day's proceeding to Lord Camden, and have requested 
his Lordship to send it to you for your perusal. 
With respect to my future views, it is my intention to 
keep the middle of the river, and make the best use I can 
of winds and currents till I reach the termination of this 
mysterious stream. I have hired a guide to go with me to 
Kaslina ; he is a native of Kasson, but one of the greatest 
travellers in this part of Africa, having visited Miniana, 
Kong, Baedoo, Gotto, and Cape Corse Castle to the South, 
and Tomhuctoo, Houssa, Nyffe, Kashna, and Bornou 
towards the East. He says that the Niger, after it passes 
Kashna, runs directly to the right hand, or the South ; he 
never heard of any person who had seen its termination ; 
and is certain that it does not end any where in the vicinity 
of Kashna or Bornou, having resided some time in both 
these kingdoms. 
He says our voyage to Kashna will occupy two months; 
that we touch on the Moors no where but at Tombuctoo ; 
the north bank of the river in all other places being inha- 
bited by a race of people resembling the Moors in colour, 
called Surha, Mahinga, and TuaricJi, according to the 
diiferent kingdoms they inhabit I have as yet had only 
