186 
APPROACHING THE NIGER. 
the white man’s generosity, and his obligation to 
“ dash dollar ! big white dollar !” 
In the evening we weighed, and continued our 
voyage along the coast. We passed the fine river 
Volta, seen from the mast-head flowing through a 
beautiful level country, not sufficiently elevated ap- 
parently, to secure it from inundation. We passed 
Occa and the Danish fort of Quittah, which Governor 
McLean said was formerly situated close to the sea. 
It is now apparently at a considerable distance from 
it. We here purchased some stock. 
Friday, April 1st . — At Little Popoe we found 
II. M. vessels ‘Rapid,’ ‘Termagant,’ and ‘Bonetta.’ The 
Commodore in the ‘Madagascar’ was gone to Prince’s 
Island. We had an opportunity of communicating 
with England by ‘Termagant,’ and by the Commander 
of tlie ‘Rapid,’ who was going to join the Commodore, 
a strong letter was written to that officer, stating the 
invaluable services which had been rendered to the 
Expedition, by Lieutenant Littlehales, in conveying 
the sick from the mouth of the Niger to Ascension ; 
and the unwearied attention with which he devoted 
himself to their comfort on the passage. 
In the evening we saw a most splendid meteor, 
which shot across the heavens with a brilliant light, 
for a distance of about twenty degrees, becoming 
extinct at 10° elevation. It was like a falling blue 
light. On the following evening also one was seen, 
but not so brilliant. 
