DECIDE ON PROCEEDING. 
361 
Commander Bird Allen said, that as we had arrived 
thus far on our progress, and the ‘ Soudan’ was about to 
be dispatched with the sick, he conceived it would be 
better for ourselves, and more in conformity with the 
wishes of the Government, that the two vessels should 
persevere for a week at least, by which time it would be 
seen whether the sickness was on the increase. Captain 
Trotter considered, that as we were all aware before we 
embarked upon the Expedition, of the hazard we had 
to encounter from the climate, the objections raised 
against our further progress did not appear to him of 
sufficient force to justify a retreat at so early a period, 
whilst so many of us were still in full health ; and 
besides, being of opinion with Dr. McWilliam, that we 
might possibly reach a healthier climate as we got 
higher up the river, he deemed the measure of 
sending away the sick would restore such efficiency 
to the vessels, as would afford a reasonable prospect of 
the ‘ Albert’ remaining up the Niger long enough to 
reach Rabbah, and the ‘ Wilberforce’ a corresponding 
height in the Chadda ; — or, at all events, to justify our 
making the attempt. 
Captain Trotter “ believed that the measure of 
sending the sick to the sea, while it would benefit the 
sick themselves, would restore efficiency to the Expe- 
dition, was founded not only on the consideration, that the 
removal of so many men, whose services were not likely 
to be soon available, would render the vessels more 
effective than they were whilst the sick remained on 
board, but that the remainder of the crew', who were 
