Landers Travels | Page 5

with the Natives. Localities of Fernando Po. The Kroomen.
Natives of Fernando Po. Costume of the Natives. Their Thieving
Propensities. Punishment of the Thieves. Resources of the Island.
Method of obtaining Palm Wine. Island of Anna Bon. Injurious Effects
of the Climate. Prospective Commercial Advantages. Voyage to the
Calebar River. Geographical and Nautical Directions. The Tornadoes.
Superstitious Custom of the Natives. Duke Ephraim. Visit to Duke
Ephraim. The Priests of Duke Town. Mourning amongst the Natives.
Attack of an Alligator. The Thomas taken by a Pirate. Departure from

Fernando Po. Death of the Kroomen. Arrival in England. Advantages
of the Expedition. Investigation of the Niger. Course of the Niger.
Ptolemy's Hypothesis of the Niger. Sources of the African Rivers.
Benefit of Lander's Expedition.
CHAP. XLIII. Richard Lander's Third Expedition. Fitting out of the
Expedition. Vessels Employed in the Expedition. Sailing of the
Expedition. Arrival in the River Nun. Attack of the Natives. Impolitic
Conduct of Lander. Return of Richard Lander to Fernando Po. Return
of Lander to Attah. Reconciliation of the Damaggoo Chiefs. Abolition
of the Sacrifices of Human Beings. Rabba. Ascent of the River
Tchadda. Prophecy of King Jacket. Lander wounded by the Natives.
Approaching Death of Lander. Death of Richard Lander. Infamous
Conduct of Liverpool Merchants. Causes of the Attack. Meeting of the
Inhabitants of Truro.

THE TRAVELS OF RICHARD LANDER, INTO THE INTERIOR
OF AFRICA.

CHAPTER I.
Previously to entering upon the immediate subject of the origin and
progress of the different voyages, which have been undertaken for
exploring the interior of Africa, it may be not only interesting, but
highly instructive, to take a rapid survey of the great Peninsula, as it
appeared to the earlier travellers, and as it was found by the last of them,
amongst whom may be included the individual, whose adventures in
the present work, claim our chief attention. It is on record, that the
coasts of Africa have been navigated from as early a period, as six
hundred years before Christ, and, according to the earliest records of
history, the circumnavigation of Africa was accomplished by the
Phoenicians, in the service of Pharaoh Necho. On referring to
Herodotus, the earliest and most interesting of Greek historians, and to
whom we are indebted for the knowledge of many important facts
relative to Africa, in the earliest periods of its history, we find, in
corroboration of the circumnavigation of Africa by the Phoenicians,
"that taking their course from the Red Sea they entered into the
Southern Ocean; on the approach of autumn, they landed in Lybia, and

planted some corn in the place, where they happened to find themselves;
when this was ripe, and they had cut it down, they again departed.
Having thus consumed two years, they in the third passed the columns
of Hercules, and returned to Egypt. Their relation may obtain attention
from others, but to me it seems incredible, for they affirmed that having
sailed round Africa, _they had the sun on their right hand._"
It is worthy of remark, that the very circumstance, which led Herodotus
to attach discredit to the circumnavigation of Africa by the Phoenicians,
on account of their having the sun to the right, is the very strongest
presumption in favour of its truth. Some historians have indeed
endeavoured to prove, that the voyage was altogether beyond any
means, which navigation at that early era could command; but in the
learned exposition of Rennell, a strong degree of probability is thrown
upon the early tradition. At all events it may be considered, that the
obscure knowledge, which we possessed of the peninsular figure of
Africa, appears to have been derived from the Phoenicians. Herodotus,
however, was himself a traveller, in those early times, of no mean
celebrity. Despairing of obtaining accurate information of the then
known part of the habitable world, he determined to have recourse to
travelling, for the purpose of completing those surveys, which had been
undertaken by his predecessors, and which had been left in a dubious
and indefinite state. He resided for a considerable period in Egypt,
during which, he entered into a friendly communion with the native
priests, from whom he obtained much accurate information, as well as a
great deal that was false and exaggerated relative to the extensive
region, which extends from the Nile to the Atlantic. According to his
description it is much inferior in fertility to the cultivated parts of
Europe and Asia, and suffering extremely from severe drought; yet he
makes mention of a few spots, such as Cinyps, and the high tract
Cyrene, which, undergoing the process of irrigation, may stand
comparison with the richest portions of the globe. Generally, however,
in quitting the northern coast, which he terms significantly the forehead
of Africa, the country became more and more arid. Hills of