328 
THE WILBERFORCE 
Wednesday y 2 9 ^/d.— All the arrangements having 
been made, the ‘Kite^ took '^Wilberforce^ in tow, in 
order that the latter might enter the river with as 
much coal as possible. Captain Allen embarked in 
the 'Kite,' to see his old ship safely over the bar. 
We had a strong adverse wind, so that we could 
only make about three and a-half knots against it. 
Friday, 1st July , — In the morning we passed the Rio 
Bento, or St. John's, and soon after we made out the 
Gate of the Cemetery," the Rio Nun, or principal 
navigable embouchure of the Niger. We observed first 
the “gallows-like” tree, on Point Tilana; then by open- 
ing the three points we distinctly saw the ragged tree 
on the Second Point, and Alburkah Island. At 11, 
both vessels anchored in four and a-quarter fathoms, 
off the mouth of the river. It was high water, and so 
smooth, that ' Wilberforce' might have entered at once, 
but some little final matters detained her till the 
following day. At low water a heavy tumultuous surf 
was seen breaking. 
2nd , — The morning was excessively gloomy when 
the ' Wilberforce ' crossed the bar to pursue her soli- 
tary route ; dense black clouds, shrouded the entrance 
to the Niger, and seemed to be deluging it with torrents 
of rain. 
Captain Allen watched her with intense and painful 
anxiety, sometimes she appeared too far to the west- 
ward towards the spit, and once he fancied she had 
“ broached to," among tlie breakers, of which there 
