178 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
about his early life and an interesting excursion made 
by him to Timmannee, Kouran and Soolimana, when 
he discovered the sources of the Niger. 
Laing was born in Edinburgh in 1794, entered the 
English army at the age of sixteen, and soon distin- 
IN FULL DRESS. 
guished himself. In 1820 he had gained the rank of 
Lieutenant, and was serving as aide-de-camp to Sir 
Charles MacCarthy, then Governor-General of Western 
Africa. 
After a few preliminary excursions, Laing obtained 
permission to explore the districts to the east of the 
