X 
PREFACE. 
that he might pay his debts by selKiig them 
into captivity. After another considerable delay 
Mr. Richardson was enabled to start once more, 
and being obliged to change his original plan 
proceeded to Kuka, the capital of Bornou, by 
way of Minyo. Shortly after leaving Gurai, 
the chief town of that province, the unfortu- 
nate traveller found his streno-th to be o-ra- 
dually giving way. He had already previously 
complained of the heat and fatigue, but did 
not seem to have felt any great alarm. Now, 
however, the climate seems to have told upon 
him with sudden and fatal violence. His last 
moments are described in a letter from his 
fellow-traveller. Dr. Barth, who hastened to the 
spot with laudable energy as soon as he heard 
of the melancholy catastrophe that had taken 
place. Mr. Richardson died at Ungurutua, 
about six days' journey from Kuka, the capital 
of Bornou, on the 4th of March, 1851, eleven 
months after his departure from Tripoli. 
I have observed that the Mission, the first 
transactions of which are described in these 
volumes, is entitled to be called successfid. 
Although the original promoter and director 
died just as he was on the point of reaching 
