366 
STATE OF THE RIVER. 
inundated, we might expect its virulence to be increased 
now that the banks were so extensively flooded. 
The danger, moreover, of descending the river under 
such circumstances, would be greatly increased. It 
is at all times more hazardous to navigate an unknown 
river with, than against- the current ; when, in addition 
to increased speed — over a part of which there is no 
controul — the depth of the water is diminishing by the 
subsidence of the flood; if a vessel should, in that case, 
unfortunately run on a shoal with such force as to prevent 
her being got off immediately, the probability would be, 
that the retreating water would leave her iramoveably 
fixed until the rise of the next rainy season ; as was the 
case with the ^Quorra’ steam vessel in the last Expedition. 
The Niger now, on the 19th of September, might be 
expected to be very near its maximum of flood, which 
the natives all agreed was this year unusually high, 
covering, therefore, more of the low lands, which would 
give increased cause of fevers. Thus then had the 
period of greatest danger arrived, and if we had found 
the climate so prejudicial under ordinary circumstances, 
we might conclude it would be infinitely more so at 
the period when these may be said to reach their 
climax. All these considerations induced Commander 
W. Allen to exhort his brother Commissioners to decide 
on returning to the sea. 
Captain Trotter and Commander Bird AUen were of 
opinion, that although the increased sickness in the 
