16 
MAJOR LAING REACHES TIMBAKTUH. 
About the time of Clapperton’s second journey, Major 
Laing succeeded in reaching Timbaktuh, by way of the 
Desert, from Tripoli. He had been attacked and 
wounded by the Arabs; but persevered until he had 
attained the object of his mission, and gained for 
England the honour of having first discovered this long 
sought-for city ; as Park had already done with regard 
to the Niger. It was, however, an equally dear-bought 
and empty honour, for he was murdered by the fero- 
cious Arabs in re-crossing the Desert. His papers have 
never been recovered, though they were reported to have 
been taken to Tripoli. 
A Frenchman, M. Caillie, also reached Timbaktuh ; 
but his nan-ative is very meagre. 
The termination of the Niger, still remained a sub- 
ject for speculation, and many were the theories formed 
respecting it. Some held with the old opinions of the 
Arabs, that it joined the Nile of Egypt. Others 
that its waters were lost in the sands of the Desert, or 
being discharged into a large lake, in central Africa, 
were there evaporated. While its supposed southerly 
They fecundate to furnish food 
For far-famed Fellahs ; first who fought. 
For fierce Dan Fodio® free of thought : 
Or fill full fast from foamy flood. 
Foul feral Fittre ; — fever-fraught. 
* * * # » 
“ Sultan Bello’s predecessor, who excited the Fellahs of Haussa to 
throw off the yoke of the Negro Princes, who grievously oppressed 
them about seventy years ago, according to Lander. 
