The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-08-10
THE LANDERs AND THE RIVER
M

TIE LANDERS AMI
.rr;yed here on Tuesday
&C, in the William Harris, transport, from MO
. I.no;ro hav ;ng reached that country IRON + cr-
.,ando Pc They both appear IN Soou health,
and state that 10 their progress through AFRICA
,hcv found the climate perfectly healthy, ex-
ror;onc;nr no inconvenience in this regard, UNI
I'll shev reached the presidential influence of tho
80, pnd Fernando Pc. These travellers
,.bovo doubtless, thrown a very considerable
J;ght on African geography how far their dis.
ceveries will be beneficial to our commerce. or
enable us 10 communicate with the interior as
10 aid in the suppression oc the slave trade in its
origin, remains yet to be proved. Ii appears
the Landers landed at Badagry an the 22d
March, 1880, and immediately proceeded on
horseback 10 the northward, TO a city Gale
Boussa, which is known to be on the Niger, and
which city is described to be of great extent,
being upwards of twenty miles in circumfer-
suce, though 1t may not contain more than
-four thousand houses. These, however, in
general, are little better than huts, and like
Timbuctoo, contains no large buildings. It is
situated about latitude 10 north. They remain
cd nearly three months at this place, and ascer-
tanned that it was not an island, as had been
supposed. The king of this place treated them
very kindly; indeed they speak in high terms
OF the kindness and gentleness of the negroes
III tho WIZ, 50 from OlRcEiI8 10 mo
lest them, Afforded them ali the information and
assistance in their power. It was only when
they approached the vicinity of tho coast that
they experienced insult and impeachment Dur.
ing their solourn at Boussa. they made excur.
sions round it, and assembled the Niger against
the stream for three days, visiting another city,
which will be found in Capperton's map, call
ed YOUR, directly north of Boussa. At the end
of the three months, during which time the
afa-i tlRav a..
4iuence Of the rainy season, and which they
were !old would be requisite to ensure their safe
passage over the rocks and other impediments,
which form rapids, &c, they began to descend,
and soon found the river easterly till they reach
ed the vicinity of Funda; which city should be
placed on the maps at least two degrees further
east than it now is. Near Funda the Niger was
Joined by a large rivor, which, from description
was doubtless tho Shary, and which the natives
said came in direct line from Tchad Lake
distant fifteen days journey in the north east
thus clearly proving that the Niger receives
from, instead of extending its waters in, that
lake. With regard to the Tchad lake, it was
understood it sent out its waters to other rivers
further cast than Funda, and running to the
southwark, most probably supplying the great
rivers Zaire and Congo. Below Fuuda, at a
place called THREE, these adventurous travel
lers were pursued and captured by fleet of 80
OF ~ war CdHOeS Az inc pursuit Ut uocS not
appear why the Landers should have fcd) their
canoes were swampcd, and all their writings,
collections, and instruments were lost. This
took place about ten days journey from the
coast The natives of THREE, after their cap
ture, treated them kindly, and forwarded them
towards the coast. Below Funda they fell ir
with arivsr which 6ranchod to the westward
anG which they ascertained to be tho river Be
min. They reached the sea by the Nun river
few miles to the eastward Of Capo Formosa
and about two degrees from Badagry, from
whence they started. They conjectured they
had como down the Niger at least 900 miles
but having lost their instruments and papers
they had no means of ascertaining the exact
position and distances of the many towns they
passed on either side of its banks. When they
arrived at the mouth of the Nun river, they dis
charged servant, Antonio, who set off up the
river to return to his own country but on the
arrival of the Landers at Fernando Pc, they as
eertainsd that this servant, after proceeding UP
the river Nun, branched off to the eastward
bar river, thus proving that Tho Benin, The
Nun, and the New Calabar rivers were al
mouths of the great Niger, with a direct com
rnunication 10 the Tehad Lake. After the
capture they were purchased by slave dealer
who doubtless knew he should obtain a goot
price for giving them up. They reached The
sea about the 30th of November, 1880 Dur
ing the time they were in the interior, volume
Of Watts Hymns fell into their hands, which
had formerly belonged TO DR.. Anderson, who
was in company with Mungo Park at tho time
OF his death-PoTtsmOath Eng } paper.