96 
REPORTS FROM THE NIGER EXPEDITION, [Jan. 11, 1858. 
now complained very much, and the consequences were that a four 
hours’ journey occupied jnst six, so that it was 6 p.m. when I arrived 
at Abbeokuta at the Church Missionary premises, and was most 
hospitably received by the Rev. Henry Townsend. I had proposed, 
and, on its being recommended, determined to pursue my journey 
hence per canoe down the “ Ogun ” to Lagos (a two days’ journey), 
although there is a land route which occupies but a little more time, 
and is, of course, more used coming up. Four p.m. of the following 
day (10th) being selected as a judicious hour for my departure, I 
had opportunity in the interval of paying a visit to the chief of 
this considerable place. At 4 p.m. of the 18th I embarked in a 
canoe at Abbeokuta, it having been distinctly arranged with its 
proprietor and paddlers that they were to travel all night, and not 
stop until reaching Lagos. In spite of this, however, three separate 
times during the night they stopped and made the canoe fast, and 
it was only by exercising something stronger than eloquence that 
I could get them to proceed. Indeed, on the third occasion I left 
them on the shore, and proceeded without them down the river, 
which had the effect of bringing them in haste after me, and pre- 
vented future attempts to delay. After journeying in this way 
thirty-seven hours, which would have been unpleasant but that the 
rest it afforded was much relished by all of us, I arrived at 
Lagos on the morning of the 20th instant, and was kindly received 
by Mr. Consul Campbell. Four hours afterwards the mail steam- 
ship Candace from England arrived in sight, thus showing that my 
haste had been far from unnecessary. 
Thus, accompanied by two native attendants, I have accomplished 
the journey from Dr. Baikie’s encampment on the Niger to the sea 
at Lagos in twenty days, having travelled over near 300 miles of 
country, sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback, opening up 
the part of that route which has hitherto proved inaccessible to 
Europeans through the jealousy and caution of the rulers at Ilorin. 
From the river to Abbeokuta certainly three-quarters of the whole 
country through which I passed was under cultivation, corn being 
the almost invariable article cultivated, which forms the staple, and, 
with yams, the sole food of the people. The grain was of three 
kinds — common Indian corn, and the two sorts known to us as 
“ Dawa ” and “ Gero.” Nor was this the only evidence of the 
industry of this country, as everywhere cotton spinning and 
weaving are carried on. Yoruba is famous for its cloths. The iron- 
smelting and pottery works are by no means despicable, and other 
useful employments are to be witnessed ; whilst from town to town 
for many miles, and particularly to and from “ Sare,” the entire 
road presents a continuous file of men, women, and children, 
