and the Nile, in order to afford a glance at the great points
of this much agitated question. It is not, however, our
intention to mix further in this discussion. The problem
which has excited so strong an interest, is now, we trust, in
a fair way of being satisfactorily solved, by the joint-labours
of the double expedition which is actually on foot ; and it
has been, in the mean time, so ably illustrated in all its
parts, by Major Rennell in his Geographical Illustrations of
Park’s first Travels,—by the Editor of Park’s Second
Mission,—and by the most respectable of our periodical
publications, that it would appear a little presumptuous
in us to expect that we could throw any new interest
into the discussion. But desirous of contributing our mite
of information to the facts upon which the discussion itself
is founded, we shall offer no apology for inserting, in this
place, the substance of a communication with which we
have been favoured by a gentleman upon whose statements
we can rely, and who has resided, at different
intervals, a considerable time at the settlement of Lagos, and
at other stations on the coast of the Bight of Benin.
We learn from our informant that the Haoussa* traders
who, previous to the abolition of the slave trade, were continually
to be met with at Lagos, still come down to that
* Pronounced by the Negroes as if it were written A-Houssa.
mart, though in smaller bodies. The result of his frequent
communications with them respecting th.e journey to their
own country and the Negro nations through which it la\r,
has strongly persuaded him of the practicability of a body of
Europeans penetrating in that direction to the Niger, with
proper precautions, under the protection of the Haoussa
merchants; and of insuring their safe return by certain
arrangements to be made between the adventurers, themselves
(countenanced by the authority of the Governors of
the neighbouring forts),—their Haoussa conductors, and the
settled native traders on the coast. The principal Negro
nation on the journey are the J qos,* a powerfi.il and not ill-
disposed people; and, nearer the coast, (avoiding the
Dahomey territories), the Arngoos and the Mahees; the
latter of whom are stated to be an industrious people and
good planters. Cowries alone would be necessary, for
sustenance or presents, during the whole of the journey.
But it is principally with reference to the nature of the
country which lies between the coast and Haoussa that we
notice this communication. The traders describe their
journey to the coast as occupying between three and four
months, which is as much time as they require for the
journey from Haoussa to the Gambia; the difficulties and
* Yos, or Yadoos in D’Anville’s maps.