100 
REPORTS FROM THE NIGER EXPEDITION. 
[Jan. 11, 1858. 
down in my survey. It was called tlie Kudunia "by Lander, and appears to 
come from the mountains to the north-east of Kattam Karafi. It may he one 
of the streams crossed by that enterprising traveller on his way from Zegzeg to 
Jacoba, when he was carried back, and obliged to return to the sea at Badagry, 
by his former route with Captain Clapperton, r.n. 
Mr. Galton, f.r.g.s. — Does Captain Allen corroborate the remark of Dr. 
Baikie as to the great improvement in the type of the African as you go inland ? 
Captain Allen. — I cannot say that I found much physical improvement, 
though, in civilization, the tribes on the coast are far surpassed by those of the 
interior. I met with two remarkable instances of tact and courtesy : one 
was the king of the Filalahs at Rabba ; the other a judge at the town of 
Iddah ; neither of them had seen white men before. Nevertheless, in other 
parts inland I found tribes in a very low condition. 
The President. — Before I quit the subject of Africa, I beg to call attention 
to the sketch on the wall, made by Mr. Baines, the artist to the expedition, of 
the steam launch in course of construction for Dr. Livingstone’s expedition up 
the Zambesi. As I see Captain Bedingfeld present, who is to command the 
launch, we shall be glad to hear what he thinks about her. 
Captain Bedingfeld, f.r.g.s. — I am sorry that I can say very little about 
the launch at present, for I have not seen her. I am afraid that her length will be 
a great inconvenience to us. She is eighty feet long and only eight feet beam , and 
in that picture the house appears rather high for a puff of wind. I believe she 
is in three pieces, and I hope we shall be able to put the two ends together if 
we find her too long. However, when we are left to our own resources, I 
dare say we shall get her up the river in some way or other. 
Mr. Montgomery Martin, f.r.g.s. — With regard to this expedition, or 
that to the Zambesi River, I venture to observe, that I have visited the 
Zambesi and all the Portuguese settlements on the eastern coast of Africa. 
The experience I had of the Portuguese settlements induces me to think it of 
the highest importance to get the practical co-operation of the Portuguese 
Government in this most important expedition, which is viewed with deep 
interest by the Christian and commercial, as well as by the scientific world. 
It appears to me that nothing should be left undone to secure the efficient 
and complete exploration of the country by Dr. Livingstone and his small 
band of brave and devoted companions, who, both on the east and on the west 
coast, will have to traverse Portuguese territories. It does seem to me advisable 
that the Council of the Geographical Society should request our Government 
to ask the King of Portugal, who is known to be an enlightened sovereign, 
whether one or two scientific gentlemen might not be disposed to accompany 
this expedition? Dr. Livingstone is himself the best judge whether such a 
proposal be worthy of consideration, and I venture to think it would be accept- 
able to this large assembly to hear his observations upon it. 
Dr. Livingstone, f.r.g.s. — There may be some difficulty in getting mem- 
bers of different nations to act in concert who do not understand each other’s 
language. We shall find sufficient difficulty with the natives with whom we 
shall come in contact. The Pasha of Egypt acted upon the principle sug- 
gested, to a great extent, and spent about 20,000Z. in sending a number of men 
of different nations on an expedition up the Nile to discover the sources of that 
river. Before they got above the first cataract they, however, got to logger- 
heads, and the only man who passed the cataract was an Englishman — young 
Twyford, a Fellow of this Society. If we may take warning by this example, 
I think it is not advisable to join the members of different nations together in 
one expedition. There is another thing to be borne in mind. We are 
Englishmen, and we do not like slaves. All the Portuguese out in that country 
are in the habit of using slaves. I would not like to have slaves in my party. 
I like to go and be able to say to the natives — “ You see my men — they are 
