THEIR DECISION. 
171 
possible, but he did not consider it safe to do so at the 
early period proposed by that gentleman ; inasmuch 
as from his own experience of the river, the rise does 
not commence until the latter end of June; and he 
would not be justified — being the only person re- 
sponsible for tlie safety of H.M. Vessels under his 
command, — in making the attempt before there was 
a certainty of the rising river having a channel 
sufficiently deep for our draft of water, or of ffoat- 
ing the vessels off*, should they unfortunately get 
aground. 
At the same time he was of opinion that by entering 
the river at the end of July, we should be only twenty 
days in advance of last year’s attempt, when we were 
so much straitened for time, and even should we be 
able to reach Rabbah, we should still remain in igno- 
rance of the state of the river during the shallowest 
season, and also of the length of time it woidd be 
available for navigation. It was eventually deter- 
mined that we should hasten our departure ; Captain 
Allen reserving to himself — as naval commander of 
the Expedition, — 'the right of deciding when the ascent 
of the river could be undertaken with safety to Her 
Majesty’s vessels. A further reason for not waiting 
at Ascension, — according to Captain Trotter’s sug- 
gestion till the 1st of June — was, that it would be 
impossible to make the voyage to Fernando Po, and to 
the mouth of the river — with aU the necessary prepara- 
tions, — so as to be able to enter it at the beginning of 
