JOBSON^S VOYAGE. 
169 
hangs over the fate of this first martyr in the cause 
of African discovery. It appears, that he had 
pushed up as far as Tenda, much beyond what 
any European had before reached. His object 
was to have an interview there with a personage 
of the name of Buckar Sano, the leading mercan- 
tile character on the Gambia. Thompson, on ar- 
riving, found him absent from Tenda ; but he 
received certain intelligence that this district was 
frequented by caravans from Barbary, a circum- 
stance which he considered as an important test 
of success in the object of his mission. It is said 
that, elated by the progress he had made, and the 
difficulties surmounted, he not only neglected to 
conciliate the natives, but treated his own party 
with intolerable haughtiness. The prevailing re- 
port is, that, having quarrelled with some of the 
latter, a conflict ensued, in which he was killed. 
Whether the charges against him were well found- 
ed, or whether they were not prompted merely 
by a reluctance to follow him into new adventures, 
is a question which there were no means of ever 
resolving. 
Jobson was not dismayed by this final catas- 
trophe of all who had preceded him in the same 
career. He determined to employ the same vigour 
and zeal of his predecessor, combined with greater 
prudence. His first exploit was to seize a boat 
containing the effects of Hector Nunez, who was 
