434 
THE AFRICAN ASSOCIATION. 
the interior, as most of the slaves came from the 
west, and the Howatt country, through which he 
meant to travel, traded with Calabar only for yams. 
They had not been able to ascend the river of Ca- 
labar very high, as, after sailing a certain dis- 
tance, they came to an immense fall of water, 
which was heard for several miles ; after passing 
which, the land rose very rapidly. 
From these circumstances, very sanguine hopes 
were entertained from the mission of Mr Nicholls ; 
but these were wholly extinguished by the next ac- 
counts, which stated, that he had been seized with 
the fever of the country, and had fallen a victim 
to it. 
The next person chosen by the Association was 
a young German, recommended by Professor Blu« 
menbach. In their Report of 28th May 1808, 
they withhold his name, lest the knowledge of it 
should prove injurious to the plan upon which his 
mission was to be conducted ; but it has since been 
understood to have been Roentgen. He is describ- 
ed as well born ; as adding, to an upright and un- 
blemished character, strength of mind, and a vigor- 
ous constitution, great ardour in the pursuit of 
knowledge, and a most anxious wish to promote the 
objects of the Association. He proceeded upon 
Horneman's plan of passing for a Mahommedan ; 
made himself master of Arabic ; was circumcised, 
and adopted entirely the costume and manners of 
