CHAPTER XIL 
EXPEDITIONS TO THE NIGER AND CONGO, AND 
PLANS FOR EXPLORING AFRICA. 
Arrangement of the Expeditions Captain Tuchey. — Prepa^ 
rations, — Voyage, — At-rival off Malemba. — Entrance into 
the Congo, — Shark Point. — -Voyage up the River, — Embom- 
ma, — Noki, — The Yellala or Cataracts, — Journey hy land* 
— Return, — Unfortunate termination of the Expeditions—^ 
Major Peddie and Captain Campbell Nexa Plans for ex- 
ploring Africa. — Lieutenant Gray Tripoli, -^Ritchie and 
Marryat, — Expedition to Ashantee. 
Britain^, since the commencement of her mari- 
time career, has always taken an active part in ex- 
ploring the distant regions of the globe. Since 
the accession of his present Majesty, and under 
the auspices of Cook, she became in this respect 
pre-eminent over the other nations of Europe. 
Every former administration, however, seems to 
be here outstripped by that now at the helm of 
affairs, under whom the extension of this branch 
of human knowledge seems to have been consi- 
dered as one of the leading objects of national 
policy. This administration fortunately possess- 
ed, in one of its members, a traveller, who, after 
having thrown new light on several important re- 
gions, now employs his experience and judgment : 
