86 
REPORTS FROM -THE NIGER EXPEDITION. [Jan. 11, 1858. 
the river, and we also left Captain Alex. Grant, the sailing master, 
who was desirous of superintending his trading post. 
On the 27th of August we left the confluence and entered the 
main stream of the Niger; and as there was plenty of water, we got 
on without difficulty, visiting all the larger towns, laying down the 
districts and countries, and, whenever practicable, ascending the 
hills for surveying purposes. At the large town of Egau (Egga of 
the charts), which was the farthest point reached by Captain Trotter 
in 1841, we remained for some days on very friendly terms with 
the people ; this being the commencement of the extensive and 
important kingdom of Nufi (often Niipi), we were constantly 
referred to the king Assumo Zaki, who had just returned to his 
domains after an exile of twelve years, during which this unhappy 
country had been in a state of anarchy and confusion. The various 
rivals had been at length reconciled, and the two principal ones, viz. 
the king and his half-brother Dasaba, were living together. Very 
shortly afterwards, the news of our being in the river having 
reached the king, we were met by messengers from himself and his 
brothers, inviting me to visit him. We found on inquiry that they 
were residing at a temporary encampment, said to be near the banks 
of a small tributary stream, which we accordingly sought for, and 
ascended against a rapid current for about 15 miles to a small 
village, whither horses were sent for myself and party. A ride of 
about 14 miles through a fine but mild country brought us to the 
encampment, which had quite the appearance of a town, only that 
the huts, being temporary, were entirely constructed of straw, while 
the population, including women and children, could not be under 
60,000 ; it was a finely chosen spot, although they had been induced 
to encamp there partly by accident, as the final battle in which 
their last opponent had been defeated and slain had taken place in 
this neighbourhood about three months previously. We were 
received most kindly and hospitably by all, and I spent nearly two 
days in the place visiting and making friends with all the principal 
people. The king himself and his half-brother Dasaba, who is a 
very intelligent person and really the working man, were most 
kind, and during our stay we were feasted on, to us, the luxuries of 
milk, butter, and honey. Being, next to the Sultan of Sokoto, the 
most powerful chief in this part of Central Africa, I did all I could 
to cement a friendship, and made to all those of importance, or to 
those who showed civility towards us, such presents as I considered 
suitable. We next returned to the ship with no farther incon- 
venience than having to wade breast high after dark along a narrow 
muddy creek, which by the rise of the waters had become filled, 
