and Mr Maxwell respecting the Congo and the Niger. 113 
understanding with the different nations he visited. In this 
way, he would have l]ad five whites and six blacks to each boat^ 
which would have furnished him with a sufficient power to car- 
ry the whole of them over the acclivity of any cataract he was 
likely to meet with, in one day. Each boat, of course, must 
have been of such burden, that, when the lading was taken out, 
and turned bottom upwards, ten or twelve people might readily 
have carried it in slings or bearers ; and it was to have been fitted 
with light masts and sails, and tarred awnings to reach fore and 
aft, and stretched to iron stanchions four feet above the gunwales, 
to keep off the sun and rain when rowing ; having side or drop 
cloths, also tarred, to unfurl and tie tight down to the boat’s side, 
to exclude the dews and night air when the boat’s crews were 
asleep ; and when a breeze of wind sprung up, these awnings 
and drop cloths could have been furled and the sails set. The 
boats were also to have been built so as to pull eight oars occa- 
sionally, that, when the wind failed, they might row close with 
the shore, by which means he expected to have made 35 miles 
per day upon an average ; for he could not suppose that the 
stream runs equally strong above the uppermost falls, where 
the country must be more upon a level, as it does in the lower 
part. In this manner he would have continued ascending the 
river 40 or 50 days, if it proved of such extent, and would 
have taken half that time in returning to Embomma, making 
75 days in all, in which time the ship would have made her 
purchase, and been ready for sea. Being a mountainous coun^ 
try, it is highly probable that valuable stones and minerals may 
have, for ages past, been washed out by the rains. He would 
therefore have carried out specimens of metals, ores, minerals,* 
&c. to have shewn the natives as he went along, that if 
any such thing could be found in the beds of torrents, they 
might collect them before his return. Now, though this ad- 
venture would have been conducted in the most friendly and 
conciliating manner, yet there is no saying how far the jealousy 
of the natives might have been excited by such a novel appear- 
ance ; and though he did not apprehend that such would have 
been the case, yet it would have been very prudent and highly 
requisite to have had it in his power to defend himself, and 
especially to secure his descent over the different falls, should 
VOL. III. NO. 5. JULY 1820. H 
