PREPAEATIONS. 
323 
many reasons for believing to be the more important 
of the two, — the Niger being its tributary : and also 
that it may be the outlet of the Lake Chad. 
By landing all the heavy and biilky articles which 
were not likely to be wanted in the river, we had so 
much lightened, and cleared the vessel, that we were 
able to take on board one hundred and thirty-five tons 
of coals. This would, on the calculation of the 
engineer, be sufficient for forty days of river naviga- 
tion, that is, by steaming only in the day time. 
Captain Allen endeavoured to arrange with Mr. 
Beecroft to accompany us with a cargo of coals, and to 
bring thirty tons more in a month, to be deposited at 
the mouth of the Niger. He would willingly have 
acceded, but stated that the plans and interests of 
his employer would not admit of it. 
Although most of the officers and men had been 
anxiously looking for the return to England, and 
though nearly all of the men who had sufifered, wished 
at one time to have left the vessels at Ascension, 
nevertheless we believe they were cheerfully disposed 
again to encounter the dangers of the river, in the 
execution of their duty, humbly relying on the wisdom 
and power of the Omnipotent Protector, who had 
suffered us to escape from them on the former 
occasion. 
A modification of these arrangements, however, 
became necessary, inasmuch as Mr. Commissioner 
Cook decided at this time, to return to England in the 
Y 2 
