424 
MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
About forty-five miles from the mouth, the river forms two arms. 
The one runs north eastwards, by a point called Ohlombompole 
by the natives of Gaboon, and Gongoloba by the Shekans or in- 
terior people; the entrance is about four miles wide. The other, 
runs apparently S. S. E. by a point called Quawkaw, and Quanlie 
by the two nations, and is about two miles broad. It was an in- 
considerate observation of Mr. MaxwelFs, " If the Niger has a 
sensible outlet, I have no doubt of its proving the Congo, knowing 
all the rivers between Cape Palmas and Cape Lopez to be inade- 
quate to the purpose." The Volta may be thought so, but the 
Lagos certainly cannot, nor the Danger, or Gaboon ; and, surely, 
the rivers del Rey, and Formoso are not; which are thus no- 
ticed, within a few pages of Mr. Maxwell's observation, by the 
judicious Editor of Mr. Park's last mission, " The Rio del Rey 
and the Formoso, are stated to be of considerable size, being each 
of them seven or eight miles broad at the mouth ; and the supposed 
Delta, estimated by the line of coast, is much larger than that of 
the Ganges : consequently, the two streams, if united, must form a 
river of prodigious magnitude."" 
There being little prospect of the ship completing her cargo (red 
wood and ebony) within two months, I determined to divert such a 
tsedium under an insalubrious climate, by investigating and com- 
piling the interior geography, as far as I could from the reports of 
the slaves, and traders. The most enterprising of the latter, and 
about forty-fi\'e miles up the river. If you are turning into the river, when you are 
within the Cape, stand no further off than into five fathoms, for as you close the middle 
ground, the soundings are very irregular ; you may have five fathoms ; and, before the 
next cast, the ship may be ashore. The widest part of the channel, is not more than 
about 54 miles, until you are nearly athwart of Quaw Ben's town, when you may stand 
over to the south side, as you are then inside the bank. There is a very good watering- 
place at Rodney's point. Ships unacquainted, may anchor off the Cape and wait for the 
sea breeze, which generally sets in before noon. 
