TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
45 
where he could not procure more than ten 
horses and six mules, and he was in such very bad 
health, and apparently so ill calculated to under- 
go a second series of the exposures, privations, 
watchings, and disappointments incident to such 
a service, that I almost despaired of his being 
able to accompany me. 
He had, a few days before my arrival, de- 
spatched Ensign Pattoun a second time to the 
islands, in order to procure if possible a few 
more horses. 
I proceeded myself to Goree, to endeavour 
to obtain a few of any description at the towns 
on the opposite main. I so far succeeded as to 
purchase seven horses, and was fortunate enough 
to meet there fifteen camels that had been pur- 
chased at Senegal, by Governor McCarthy's or- 
ders, for the use of the expedition, and had ar- 
rived there the day only before I intended leav- 
ing it. 
On my return to the Gambia, I found Ensign 
Pattoun had arrived, having purchased eighteen 
horses ; but as we had not yet a sufficient num- 
ber, I sent Ensign Burton, of the Royal African 
Corps (who had volunteered to accompany the 
mission), up the river, to try if any could be pro- 
cured there. I was, in the mean time, enabled 
to collect a few on the island, and having de- 
spatched Mr. Nelson on the l6th of February, 
