138 VOLUNTEERS FOR AN OVERLAND EXPEDITION. 
Mr. President M‘Lean on the feasibility of the project ; 
which he at one declared to be impracticable, especially 
at this season of the year. There were also other very 
serious objections in addition to those adduced by the 
President, which related to the difficulty and risk of such 
an undertaking. In the first place, it was very question- 
able whether a sufficient motive had been made out. 
Secondly, we had only the requisite number of officers for 
the duties of the vessels, and especially while we were 
ignorant of the demand which the well-known sickliness of 
the climate would make on the medical officers, it would 
be imprudent to spare one for detached sendee. Thirdly, 
it was uncertain whether we should, in the vessels, be 
able to reach the “ Upper Niger” — in itself a vague term ; 
but admitting this, it would have been impossible for 
travellers OA^erland through unknown countries, to arrive 
at any given spot on the banks of the Niger in time to 
meet us there. We thought the converse of this plan 
might have been practicable, if the strength and zeal of 
the officers should still prompt them to the dangerous 
undertaking ; that is to say, in the event of our reaching 
Bussah or its neighbourhood, a traveller starting from 
thence in the dry season, might with comparative ease 
come through Yarriba and Ashanti to the coast. Presi- 
dent M‘Lcan promised to send timely instructions to 
the chiefs, to ensure a safe conduct should such be 
attempted. 
This energetic Governor entered readily in fact into 
