214 ^ MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
not only of the river of that name, which runs to the eastward from, 
Ardrah," Sec. and the river Mr. Norris crossed near Tore, which 
he calls pretty deep and rapid, but with a bridge over it, is by the 
account of other gentlemen, officers in this service, who have been 
to Dahomey, no more than a marsh. The gentleman before men- 
tioned to have I'esided three years in Lagos, informs me the grand 
branch of that river flows from the northward of the island, where 
the preteaded river Doo is placed, he found it so wide on entering 
it, that being in the middle, where there are 10 fathoms water, he 
could scarcely see the land on either side. The current is impe- 
tuous, and floating islands, and large masses of alluvial matter 
come down with such force, in the rainy season, as to trip vessels 
from their anchors in the English road. De Lisle makes the Lagos 
river flowing from the N., and the French are allowed to be much 
better acquainted with this part of the coast. That called the West 
river in Norris's map, is only a creek ; and what he calls the Lagos 
river, and draws running close to Badaggry, Ardrah, and passing 
Tore, is the Western river. Badaggry is not more than 5 or 7 miles 
from the beach, instead of 15, and the tide only ebbs and flows so 
far. ' Ardrah is from 25 to 30 miles from the beach, instead of 18; 
and the river is crossed at about one-third of the distance from the 
sea : this is what we call Porto Novo, for there is not more than 
beachmen's huts on the shore opposite the anchorage. The natives 
call Ardrah Aratakassee, or Allatakassee, and the country Essaam, 
or the great. The river continues its course not more than 100 
yards from the sea, at Whydah, and proceeds equally close (indeed 
frequently the ridge between them is covered with water) until 
passing Quitta, it falls into the Volta near the mouth. 
The above mentioned gentleman proves the informant of Adams's 
editor incorrecl:, in stating that the Houssa traders were constantly 
to be met with at Lagos, previous to the abolition of the slave tradCj 
