climate, and his health having, even by that time, suffered severely.*

*

Before entering upon the narrative of the voyage, it may prove convenient if I summarily state the principal results obtained.

1st. We have explored about 250 miles of the river Chadda beyond the farthest point reached by Allen and Oldfield in 1833, and having arrived at within 50 miles of the meeting of the Fáro and Bínue, have established the identity of the Chadda with the Bínue.

2nd. We have ascertained the navigable nature of the river during the rainy season, up to our farthest point, and, seemingly, as well as from the information of the natives, considerably beyond. 3rd. We have encountered several new tribes, have inquired into the resources of the countries, and proved the friendly disposition of the natives.

4th. From numerous careful observations, we have been induced to lay down positions for various places differing from those given in late maps; our farthest point E. being about 11° 30', at which time we were considerably beyond Hamarúwa, and within about 50 miles of the confluence of the Fáro, placed by Dr. Barth in 14° E.t

5th. We shall be able to construct a tolerably accurate chart of our entire course, and can show the observations on which our positions are based; we have also collected materials for an improved map of the surrounding countries.

6th. We can offer a considerable amount of information regarding the new countries, and also numerous additional facts concerning the countries previously known, especially I'gbo.

7th. We have ascertained more correctly the periods of rise and fall of the water, differing somewhat from previous accounts, and are able to indicate the proper times for entry and descent.

8th. With the assistance of the Rev. S. Crowther, we have satisfied ourselves of the general desire of the natives to receive instruction, and to admit teachers, and of their wish to trade with us.

9th. We have inquired into the extent of slavery, either domestic or otherwise, and

10th. We are enabled to report favourably of the climate, having encountered but little sickness, and not having lost a single life.

We left Fernando Po on the 8th July, with an abundant supply of coals on board, and after a tedious and uncomfortable passage of four days, arrived off the mouth of the Nún

* For the origin and organization of this expedition, see the President's Address to the Society, Vol. 24, p. xcv.

The alterations we have made in longitude along the Upper Bínue correspond very closely with those of Dr. Vogel and the Sappers and Miners at Lake Chád.

branch on the 12th, and, immediately crossing the bar through a heavy sea, entered the river. The weather both at this time and on our return in November being cloudy, and very unfavourable for making observations, we adopted Captain Denham's positions for the mouth (1846), by which Palm Point, the eastern point, is placed in lat. 4° 16' 10" N., and long. 6° 4′ 35′′ E.* Á slight accident having happened to one of our safety-valves, we had to anchor, and accordingly chose a position well removed from either shore, and fully exposed to a fresh sea-breeze, which, at that season, blew continuously. During the two days of our detention here, Mr. May and I explored in our gig several of the numerous channels on the W. side of the Albúrka islands, and from the strong currents we met, and the great depth of water, 5 to 8 fathoms, we conjecture that a better and more convenient passage exists in that direction than by the narrow channel on the E. side known as Louis Creek: We passed a large stream flowing about S.S.W., which we believed to be the Sengana branch. When we commenced our ascent on the morning of the 15th, finding a shallow bar across the mouth of Louis Creek, our pilot took us by another passage, of which the entrance only appears in the previous charts, and which we named after him Richards Creek. A very few miles above Sunday Island, huts and plantations became numerous along the banks, and shortly afterwards villages, .at first small, but gradually increasing in extent.

The district from the sea, up as far as the mouth of the Wàri branch, is named Orù, but is known by some neighbouring tribes as Ejó, which name is also employed in the parts of this country towards the Rio Formosa. The people are very distinctive in their appearance, marks, language, and manners, and, from their treacherous nature, are the only persons to be guarded against in the whole river as far as we went. Among them are the Bassa people, supposed to have been concerned in the murder of Mr. Carr; the Wari tribe, visited by Mr. Beecroft, and well known to the Benin palm-oil traders; but, as far as I can learn, the most savage among them are those living near the mouths of the different rivers between the Nún and the Rio Formosa. Their largest town near the Kwòra is Angiáma, where Lander received his mortal wound. Their farthest village up is named Agbéri, in lat. 5° 14' 41" N. I communicated with the people freely, and without any difficulty, and tried to point out how much more beneficial it would be for them to cultivate trade than war. Much palm-oil is produced here, which is carried by canoes through the creeks to the Brass and New Kalabar rivers.

Behind Orú are the Brass people, also wild and rude, speaking

* By Allen, in 1833, this point was placed in lat. 4° 20' N., and in long. 5° 55' E.

a kindred dialect, but using a different mark. They call themselves Nímbe, which is also the name of their chief town, situated about 35 miles from the sea; the village marked as "Brass-town in the charts is properly named Tuwón.

After leaving Orú we reach I'bo, or more correctly I'gbo, an extensive and very important territory, extending from the banks of the Kwòra to the Old Kalabar river. It is divided into numerous districts, most of which speak different dialects, the one with which Europeans are most familiar being Abó, the "Eboe" of Allen and Lander. Here let me notice a conjecture of Koelle in his Polyglotta Africana,' namely, that I'bo is a name unknown to the natives, until they learn it from white men. This is quite erroneous, as the name I'bo or I'gbo is as familiarly employed among the natives as London is among ourselves. The word is correctly spelt I'gbo, the b being always hard, while in some places the g is distinctly sounded. We of course visited Abó, and were hospitably received by the sons of the late King Obi. Since the death of this king, which took place in 1845, there has been a kind of interregnum. The succession to the throne is chiefly elective, and, though most are in favour of Obi's second son, named Ajé, still he cannot be actually established until he pays certain sums of money, which are as yet only partially settled. He is, notwithstanding, looked on as the most important person there, and from his active, energetic habits, and determined disposition, is well suited to rule over them. His elder brother, Tshúkuma or Okúrobi, is quiet and unambitious, and makes no pretension to regal dignity. We place Abó in lat. 5 31' 16" N., being about 8 miles farther S. than it is situated in Allen's chart.

Compared with former accounts, the habits of this people are improving, and their feeling towards white men is decidedly good. The largest district in l'gbo is called Isuáma, and the dialect spoken here being the simplest and the least harsh, it may be assumed as the standard. The religion is entirely pagan, the worship being chiefly of Fetish objects. Their name for the Deity is Tsuku, and in the E. of I'gbo is a large town named Aro, where exist a celebrated shrine and oracle, to which numerous pilgrimages are made. Among other important I'gbo towns which I visited, were Ossamaré, Onitsha, and Asabá, all along the river, the latter being on the right bank in lat. 6° 11′ 16′′ N. The river is by the Abó people named Oshímini, or the "great water," and by some other I'gbo tribes "Anyím."

Beyond I'gbo, on the left bank, is the country of Igára, of which the capital is Iddá, in lat. 7° 6′ 2′′ N., and long. 6° 42′ 14′′ E. The inhabitants are somewhat more civilised than those of I'gbo. Their language somewhat approaches the Yoruba, and they employ no national mark. We visited the king, who is styled Attá