and taken away by its owner, who values it as much as a household god.  Thus all our hopes of obtaining Mr. Park’s journal or papers, in this city, are entirely defeated.  The inquiry, on our part, has not been prosecuted without much trouble and anxiety, and some little personal sacrifices likewise, which, had they been ten times as great, we would gladly have made whilst a single hope remained of their being effectual.”

After much ado at Boossa, owing to the canoe not being ready—­the “King of the Canoe,” a sort of Lord of the Admiralty, informing the travellers with the utmost unconcern that it was out of repair—­they

 Embark on the Niger.

“About mid-day the workmen having finished our canoe, the luggage was presently put into it, and between twelve and one we embarked with our people, and were launched out into the river.  The direction of this branch was nearly east and west; and we proceeded some distance down the stream for the purpose of getting into the main branch of the Niger, where there is deeper water.  This object was soon attained, and we found it flowing from north to south, through a rich and charming country, which seemed to improve in appearance the further we advanced.  We were propelled at a good rate up a channel, which, from half a mile in breadth, gradually widened to rather better than a mile.  Beautiful, spreading, and spiry trees adorned the country on each side of the river, like a park; corn, nearly ripe, waved over the water’s edge; large, open villages appeared every half-hour; and herds of spotted cattle were observed grazing and enjoying the cool of the shade.  The appearance of the river, for several miles, was no less enchanting than its borders; it was as smooth as a lake; canoes laden with sheep and goats, were paddled by women down its almost imperceptible current; swallows, and a variety of aquatic birds, were sporting over its glassy surface, which was ornamented by a number of pretty little islands.

“Friday, June 25th.—­The most remarkable object which we saw on rising this morning, was a rugged and romantic range of hills, appearing to the eastward of our encampment; it is called Engarskie, from a country of the same name in which the hills are situated, and which was formerly an independent kingdom, but is now become a province of Yaoorie.  At a little before seven, A.M., our canoe was pushed off the sandy beach on which it had been secured last evening, and propelled down a very narrow channel, between a large sand-bank and the shore.  This conducted us into the main branch of the Niger, and we again admired its delightful and magnificent appearance.