Star.
London, England, 1816-05-21 00:00:00

THE NIGER.

•
This noble river is still a subject to which the atten-
tion of geographers is particularly directed. The im-
mense chasm that existed in all the maps of Africa
has been to a certain degree filled up by the labours
of Mungo Park ; but much remains to be yet accom-
plished to obtain further information of countries,
many of which are only imperfectly known, and their
relative positions not clearly defined. No part of the
world seems to be so little understood as the interior
of Africa : hypothesis after hypothesis is started, and
all, though supposed correct, differing materially with
each other. To the many that have already appeared
the following may be added, the correctness of which
can only be developed by time :
A gentleman who has resided, at different intervals,
a considerable time at the settlement of Lagos,-and
other stations on the African coast in the bight of
Benin, states, that the Haoussa traders, who, previous
to the abolition of the Slave Trade, were continually
to be mtt with at Lagos, still come down to that
mart, though in smaller bodies. The result of his
frequent communications with them respecting the
journey to their own country, and the negro nations
titieugir which it lay, has strongly porta:Med him of
the practicability of a body of Europeans penetiging-i
in that direction to the Niger, with proper preettu-
dons, under the protection of the Haoussa merchants,
and of ensuring their safe return by certain arrange-
ments to be made between the adventurers them-
selves (countenanced by the authority of the Go-
vernors of the neighbouring forts), their Haoussa
conductors, and the settled native traders on the,
coast. The principal negro nation on the journey
are the Joos, a powerful and not indisposed people;'
and, nearer the coast, (avoiding the Dahomey.ter-
ritories) the Anagoos and the Mabee: ; the latter of
whom are stattd to be an industrious people and Rood
planters. Cowries (the circulating medium of the
country) alone would be necessary for sustenance or
presents during the whole of the journey,
But it is principally a reference to the nature of the
country which lies between the coast and Haoussa,
that gives the probability of the attempt succeeding.
The traders describe their journey to the coast as oc-
cupying between three and four months, which is as
much time as they require for the journey from
Haonssa to the Gambia ; the difficulties and delays.
incidental to the former journey counterbalancing its
shorter distance. These difficulties are invariably
described as resulting from the numerous rivers, mo
tosses, and large lakes, which intersect the countries
between Haoussa and the coast: *me of these lakes
are crossed by the traders on rafts of a large size, ca.
pable of transporting many passengers and- much
merchandize at one trip ; and the travellers are often
detained a considerable time, until a sufficiently large
-freight of passengers and goods happen to be collected.
On no occasion does the gentleman to whtSm this in-
formation has been given by the Haoussa merchants
recollect that they have spoken of any range of moan•
tails: they had to cross in coming down from their
own country, nor does he entertain any idea that such
range exists in that direction, as the traders invariably
spoke only of rasrarres and other impediments from
water. These statements appear to remove some of the
difficulties which have been objected to the prolonga-
tion of the Niger to the southward, either to the king-
dom of Congo or .the gulph of Guinea, in consequence
of the supposed barrier of the mountains of the Moon.
The details are, however, rather too vague to sup-
port any argument in favour of either of the particu-
lar systems alluded to respecting the termination of
the Niger, 'which has hitherto caused various conjec-
tures, but are now in train of being removed by the
exertions of the two expeditions that have been under-
taken.

We have observed, is a publication which is inter-
esting to every family, called the Gazette of Health
of this month, published. by the celebrated Dr. Reece,
of Piccadilly, the independent and liberal manna in
which he speaks of Dr. COOPER'S Medical Board, Jogs
him credit. We coincide with him as to the respect;.
bility of that great concern. The Board is composed
dl eminent Phy'sicians, with Dr. Cooper at their head
send several Surgeons, Members of the Royal College
in Londcn and Edinburgh, and private practitioners
attend with their patients for advice. It is an old
adage, "Among CoaLseUon there ma be witilow..".