The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-03 00:00:00

B z o

The following lettir from a young Gentle-
man of Liverpool, to Mr. A. lionasom, commu-
nicates the particulars of the death of this en-
terprising Traveller :---
'• Brig Castor, Ilritisl? Accarah, Jan. 7, 1324.

" I wrote you some time since,:almost at a venture, rum-
hioning the arrival in Benin River of Mr. G. Belzoni, the ce-
lebrated traveller, who was attempting to reach Iloussa and
Tintbuctoo, by way of Benin. I am sorry to inform you,
that like all others who have made this trial, he has perished.
He died at Gato, the 31 of Deember, 1823.
" lie had been a considerable time a very welcome guest on
board this brig, waiting for the time a Mr. J. Mutton could
accompany hint to Benin, whose interest with the King of
that place he considered would be serviceable to him. On
the night of the 24th of November he left us, with Mr. Hout-
zon, for Gato. On parting with us, he seemed a little agi-
tated, particularly when the crew, to each of whom he had
made a present, gave him three loud cheers on leaving the ves-
sel. God bless you, my fine fellows, and send you a happy
sight of your country and friends,' was his answer. On the 3d of
Dec. I received a letter from Mr. Iloutson, requesting me to
come to Benin, as Mr. 13. was lying dangerously ill, and, in
case of death, wishing a second person to be present. I was
prevented going, not only by business, but a severe fever,
which bad then hold of me. On the sth, I had a second letter
from Mr. IL, with the particulars of Mr. B.'s end, and one
from himself, almost illegible, dated Dec. 2, requesting me to
assist in the disposal of his eifects, and to remit the proceeds
home to his agents, Messrs. Briggs, Brothers, and Co., Ante-
ries-square, London, together with a beautiful amethyst ring
he wore, which lie seemed particularly anxious should be de_
livered to his wife, with the assurance hs died in the fullest
affection for her, as he found himself too weak to write his last
wishes and adieus. lie yeas interred at Oat°, next day, with
all the respect possible: and I furnished a large board, with
the following inscription, itnd whiih was placed over his
grave : _ - -

" Here lie the remains of
G. BELZONI.
Who was attacked with dy.sentery at Benin
(On his wAv to Houses and Thnbuctoo),
On the 26th of November, and died at this place,
December 3, 1823.,,

The Gentlemen who placed this inscription ever the grave of
this intrepid and enterprising traveller, hope that every Euro-
pean visiting this spot will cause the ground to be cleared, and
the fence round the grave repaint!, if necessary.
" At the tune of Mr. Belzoni's death, Mr. Houtson had every
thing arranged with the King of Benin for his departure, and
had his health continued, there is no doubt he would have
succeeded. Mr. Belzoai passed at ,Benin as ,an inhabitant,
or nether native of the interior, vho had come to England
when a youth, and was now trying is return to his country.--
(or nobles) gave credit to this, Mr.
IB.le Ding and En
giaaMoo'reg rani)'
isirtatlress, with his beard nearly a foot in
length. There was, however, some little jealousy amongst
them, which was removed by a present or two, well applied ;
and the King of I-I,,nin'a messenger was to accompany
Mr. li., with the Ring's cane, and as many men as were con-
sidered necessary for a guars), and baggage carriers. The
King's name is respected as far as Houssa, and he has a mes-
senger, or. ambassador, stationary there. On Mr. 11.'11 arrival
at Housee, he was to Jean his guard there, and proceed to
Titubuctoo, the King not guaranteeing his safety farther than
Houssa, and Timbuctoo not being known at Benin. On his
return to Houssa
he would make the necessary preparations
for going down the Niger, and dispatch his messenger and
guard back with letters to his agents and to Mr. John Houtson.
The messenger to be rewarded according to the account the
letters gave of his behaviour, and the King to receive a valuable
stated present. This was the plan, and I think it would have
proved fortunate had Mr. B. lived.
" The distance from Benin to Houssa is not so great. The
King gave the following account of the route : —From Benin
to .taboo, six days' journey ; Jaboo to Eyoo, three ; Eyre
to Tappa, nine ; Tappa to Nyffoo, four ; and Nyffoo to
Houssa, three. lam sorry I cannot find the memorandum I
made of this, but I think I ern correct. Between Nyffoo and
Houssa, the Big Water' is to be crossed, considerably above
'i'angara, at which place it is tremendous) y rapid and wide; far.
titer down the natives of Benin know nothing of it, except_ that
it runs to the southward. I wish it was a settled point. Mr. 13.
began to waver in his opinion of the Niger being a branch of
the Nile, after having seen one or two of these rivers in the
bight of Benin. I will give you my idea on the subject. If
the Niger dues not empty itself into the bights of Nape
and Benin, there'must be -Smite other immense course
of water in the interior to supply these ateven.rivertv, viz.
Benin, Des Escreelii, Dos Ramas, Bonny, New Calabar,
Old Calabar,- and Rio del Rey, with the numerous in- 1
teesecting creeks, and which any person, I think, only
need see to know they run from ono great stream. Add
to this, the land to the westward of river Lagos, though
not high, is perfectly dry, and free from marsh ; from Langos to
the west side of Rio del Rev, there is scarcely a spot of land that
is not overflowed at high tides. The east side of Del Rey is the
contrary, being high
and mountainous, • viz. the high land of
Cauteroons and Recenly Land. The intervening marsh between
Lagoi and Del Rey has
evidently been formed by the soil and
mud washed down these rivers. That the coast here has been
carried further Dirt,in my opinion cannot be doubted, as, in
a conversation I had with the King
of Wenn, he informed
me. six or seven of his father's back was when white men
first came to Wann ; that then they came to the town in their
ships, as they could then soon catch the sea ; but now the
river had gone a lone way further out' of course he meant the
land further out. rsuppose Wenn is forty miles from the sea
now. At the same tine he showed me some of the guns
brought out by the first ship that came there, with
matchlocks and stands. The old Gentleman was very
communicative. He related the history of his family being
made kings, which would please you, but I have no time for it
here ; I hope I may relate it to you in Liverpool. Of course,
you know the various opinions against the Niger terminating
here or in tile Congo. T may add another. None of the na-
tives of the interior having come down the river, nor none of the
river people gone up to-look.for trade more than two days' jour-
ney in a canoe. Yet they describe it at that distance as large
as at the extrance. I may also remark, that I never could find
,ny of the natives who had been at }Sousse, that had crossed or
seen those mountains, which are considered an insuperable ob-
stacle to the Niger running south, viz.:—.' the Mountains of
the Moon.'—But their heads here are so thick, it is difficult to
get correct information out of them. There are several natives
of Houssa slaves in the river. You will perceive, by what I
have said, the opinion I have formed, that the jsliger empties
itself by a great Delta, of which Rio Formosa, or Benin, is
the western, and Rio del Rey the eastern branch, with several
rivers beteveon them from the same source."