PASSAGE OVER THE BAR. 
371 
midst of apparent opportunities, difficulty of communi- 
cation by interpreters, and, above all, lassitude — or, 
if he over his wine and walnuts, will have it — -idle- 
ness — the inevitable consequence of the enervating effect 
of the climate ; — these various circumstances combine to 
render such resume' very meagre, and particularly 
unsatisfactory to the aforesaid genus of voyageurSf who 
are both numerous and eMgeans. 
In the very outset, we must confess that our know- 
ledge of the channels of the river is at present too 
imperfect to enable us to give anything like details in 
“ sailing directions/’ In general terms, we may say 
that the ingress and egress of the Niger are extremely 
difficult for sailing vessels. Except at high water, there 
is always a heavy surf on the bar ; but at that time, in 
moderately fine weather, there is scarcely a ripple, so 
that a sailing vessel, with a good leading wind from the 
south-west, which generally blows in the day-time, can 
easily get in ; but she would be in great danger should it 
fall calm before reaching the anchorage, as the ebb-tide 
would rapidly sweep her back among the rollers, which 
then break furiously. The greatest difficulty, however, 
for a sailing vessel is in leaving the river. She can only 
attempt it at nearly high water, in order to have it quite 
smooth; and in the morning, as the land-wind then 
blows, but generally fails before the bar can be crossed, 
and ■when the ebb-tide has commenced, its vicinity is 
extremely dangerous. 
There is no difficulty for steamers, provided high- 
water is exactly taken. 
B B 2 
