Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-30
EXPEDITION TO THE NIGER.

EXPEDITION TO THE NIGER.
We have great pleasure in learning
the arrival in England of Major Den
ham and Lieutenant Clapperton (the
latter of the Royal Marine forces, who
left this country in the year 1921, on an
exploratory Journey into the interior Of
central Africa, connected with ascer-
tanning the source, course and termina-
ton of the river Niger, which has been
an object of geographical research
more than 200 years. Our illustrious
modern traveller, Mungo Park, threw
a more full and decisive light on this
subject than ever had been made to APP
pear during this long period: after pen
etrating through variety of the king
doms Of western and interior Africa,
he came at length to Sego, the capt.
ia. of Bambara, where he beheId "the
long sought majestic Niger glittering
to the morning sun, as broad as the
Thames at Westminster, and flowing
slowly to the eastward. He then trac-
ed its course downwards to Silla, and
upwards to Bammakoo, (about 1000
miles, } where it first became naviga-
BILE, to an extent of 300 miles. This,
however, appeared to be only a com
mencement of the career Of this nigh
ty stream, leaving its subsequent pro-
gress involved in increasing mystery.
Jackson, Hornemann, Tuckey, Bow
ditch, Richie, Lyon, Lains, and now
Denham and Claperton have all since,
by their persevering efforts, contrlbut-
ed to our previous mass Of informa-
ton respecting the most celebrated Of
African streams. We understand
that Major Denham and Mr. Claper-
ton have ascertained with great GER
tainty. that Lake Tyad is a great fresh
water lake, having no outlet, and that
it is fed by two large rivers, one Of
which, the Shary, flows from the same
chain of mountains in which the west
en branch of the Nile otherwise the
White NiIe) takes its rise. The Sha-
nv runs in direction nearly due north
from its source to the lake; whilst 1t is
ascertained that the other river, called
the Yao, enters the lake on its n. n w.
side, flowing from the westward; but
it is not a continuation Of the Jolibar,
or river of Timbuctoo. These travel
lers confirm the account of the Moham-
medan priest, that between Cano and
Nyffe there is no river communication:
Cano is in lat. Is, N. long. E. and
Succatoo, which our adventures sub
sequently visited, is in IL. N. S. +.
This town is the capital OF great ma
ton, of which we appear to have had
no previous information, though the
King of the country (whose name is
Bello) was much pleased with the APP
pearance of our countrymen, and, to
their surprise, they saw his house was
furnished with English crockery, which
itappeared, he had obtained, in the way
Of traffic, with the inhabitants OF the
Blight of Benin. He expresseda hope
that a mode would be found by which
his subjects could trade with the Eng
lish. His country appeared very pro-
ductive, and abounded with cattle. 1t
further appears, by the information
collected, by Messrs. Denham and
Claperton, that the Timbuctoo River
runs S. E. to Nyffe, then southernly,
and empties itself into the Blight OF
Benin; which ascertained TACT is OF
much importance, as it opens com.
munication with the Atlantic, and Will
greatly facilitate the object intended to
be pursued by Major Laing in the
course OF the ensuing winter or the
next spring. Whilst crossing the De-
sert our travellers were much distress
ed for want of provisions, yet they
have arrived home in tolerable health,
having suffered less from the climate