Captain in the army, and formerly Fort-Major at Goree, had already sailed to the'Gambia, under the direction of the Association, and that there was reason to apprehend he had fallen a sacrifice to the climate, or perished in some contest with the natives ; but this intelligence, instead of deterring me from my purpose, animated me to persist in the offer of my services with the greater solicitude. I had a passionate desire to examine into the productions of a~ country ~ so little known ; and to become experimentally acquainted with the modes of life, and character of the native?. I knew that I was able to bear fatigue ; and I relied on my youth, and the strength of my constitution. to preserve me from thé effects of the climate: The Salary which tfie'Cbfn'tüittèé allbvved was süffièiently large, arid T màdërio'stipulation fol? future reward-. I f I should perish in my joürneÿ; I was willing'that my-'hopes and expectations should perish with ine-'; and if I should succeed-in rendering the geography of Africa more familiar to my countrymen,- and ih opening to their -ambitioh-'and ..iridüstryi-neW':sources o f wealth, and new channels of commerce, I knew that I was-in the hands of men of honour, who would not fail to bestow that remuneration which my- successful* serviced'Should-appear to them to-merit: Thé Gommhtèe of th e cÂssoèiatiônÿ'having- made such inquiries as they thought necessary, declared them-i selves satisfied with the qualifications that I possessed, and accepted me for the service; and w ith 1 that1 liberality which on all Occasions distinguishes their 'conduct-, gave me every encou- rageriient which it was in their power to grant, or which I could with propriety ask-. It was at firit proposed,that I should accompany Mr,-James Willis, who was then recently appointed Consul a t Senegambia, and whose-countenance in that;dapàcity it was thought, might -have served and protected nie ; but Government afterwards rescinded his appointment* and I loSt that advantage. The kindness of the Committee, however, supplied all that was necessary. Being favoured by the Secretary of the Association, the late Henry Beaufoy, Esq. with a recommendation to Dr. John Laidley (a gëntleman who had resided many years at an English factory on the banks o f the Gambia), and furnished with a letter of crédit on him for £ 200, I took my passage in the brig EndeavoUr,;a small vessel trading, to the Gambia for bees-wax and ivory, commanded by Captain Richard Wyatt, and I became impatient for my departure. My instructions were very plain, and concise. I was directed, on my arrival in Africa, “ to. pass on to the river Niger, either by the way of Bambouk, or by such other route as should be found most convenient. That I should ascertain the course, and if possible, the rise and termination of that river. That I should use my utmost exertions to visit the principal towns or cities in its neighbourhood, particularly Tombuctoo and Houssa ; and that I should be afterwards at liberty to return to Europe, either by the way of the Gambia, or by such other route, as, under all the then existing circumstances o f my situation and prospects, should appear to me to be most advisable. W e sailed from Portsmouth on the 2 2d day of May, 1795: On the 4th of June, we saw the mountains over Mogadore, on the coast of Africa-; and on the 21st of the same month, after a B 2
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