and Mr Maxwell respecting the Congo and the Niger. 
there were no rivers in his own country, that he came so far 
to behold and drink of the Joliba what must have been their 
astonishment when he returned amongst them with fifty armed 
followers? Would it not create jealousy, and induce them, 
from safety and the fear of future evils, instead of further- 
ing, to retard his progress ? — In the f oregoing letters, I have 
endeavoured to explain the advantages of a water commu- 
nication with the interior of Africa, for the purposes of com- 
merce ; and that without it, there is an utter impracticability 
of carrying on trade in any other way than has been done for 
ages past, owing to the jealousy of the natives, and the sickli- 
ness of the climate. But were I disposed to penetrate the wilds 
of Africa for the nobler purpose, as the Association gives out, 
of visiting human nature in its most abject condition, intro- 
ducing the light of the Gospel, and the blessings of civilised 
life, I would proceed upon the plan pointed out in my let- 
ter of 1st May 1803 to Mr Keir, by means of native African 
youth, brought home and educated for the purpose, as the Por- 
tuguese are in the habit of doing in the kingdom of Angola, 
where they have numerous establishments. And if the spirit 
of adventure could not be laid asleep whilst they were training, 
I W'ould go upon that plan with which the Association ori- 
ginally set out ; and as the Niger has already been explored the 
length of Silla, and the situation of the Lake Dibble, with the po- 
sitions of Tombuctoo and Houssa tolerably well ascertained, I 
would commence, my journey on foot from Whidah or Benin, if 
the monarch of either of those countries could be prevailed 
upon to patronise the undertaking. These capitals cannot 
be more than 500 miles from Wangara, which would at once 
determine whether it there ended in lakes, as has been as- 
serted. The protection of the Eyos, too, the most pow^er- 
ful nation in Africa, and who undoubtedly border upon the 
river, might, in all probability, be obtained through the inte- 
rest of Ardrah, a trading state upon the coast : in this route 
the adventurer would be freed from the machinations of the 
Moors, which alone I consider an insurmountable obstacle 
to tracing it in the direction hitherto attempted. The suc- 
cess of the benevolent view^s of the Association, in advancing 
the sacred cause of Christianity in that country, depending much 
