THE GATE OF THE CEMETERY. 187 
April 3rd . — We struck soundings in the evening 
near one of the mouths of the Niger, supposed to be 
the Rio Dodo ; but as -we did not obtain a latitude 
owing to the thickness of the weather, we could hardly 
ascertain our exact position ; it was evident that the 
vessel had been set into the Bight of Benin, by a 
northerly current, as we found also to be the case last 
year. We felt our way during the night along the 
shore of the dreaded delta by the lead. The weather 
was gloomy. 
Monday, April ith . — We passed the embouchures 
of the Niger, Sengana, and our own Rio Nun, which 
the sailors called the “ Gate of the Cemetery.” We 
then stood across towards Fernando Po. Unfortu- 
nately our coals ran short, so that we were reduced to 
