182 
THE RIO BENTO. 
the Niger, was peculiarly suited to invite to meditation 
those who, while they reflected on the serious difficulties 
we should have to encounter, had a firm reliance on the 
power and goodness of Him whose fostering care is 
traceable in the wildest solitude. 
The darkness was indeed perfect ; — save the twinkling 
of the stars in the narrow portion of the heavens en- 
closed by the dark line of wood, and the more fitful 
flashes of the fire-fly : — while the solemnity of silence 
was scarcely broken, though innumerable insects kept 
up theii- not unpleasing chonis throughout the night. 
Most of us had been accustomed to the music which is 
poured forth in the tropics after sunset, but those to 
whom it was a novelty, were astonished at the volume of 
tone in this evening concert of Nature’s own harmony. 
20th . — 3 A.M. Th. 79® Wet bulb Mason’s Hygr. 75® 
9 A.M. 
„ 81" 
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„ 76« 
3 P.M. 
„ 84» 
„ 76« 
9 P.M. 
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August 21, 6 a.m.- — A fine morning; weighed, and 
soon afterwards entered a divergent on the left bank, to 
examine it, by order of Captain Trotter. This is the 
channel which carries off a large part of the waters of 
the Niger to the embouchure called the Rio Bento, or 
St. John’s River, the next to the eastward of the Rio 
Nun. We went down a little way till we had opened a 
fine reach, about one mile in length and one hundred 
and twenty yards wide. The water was deep — fifteen 
to twenty feet — close to each bank. 
Some canoes came towards us; — the largest had 
