CHAPTER VIII..

CAPTAIN CLAPPERTON'S SECOND JOURNEY.

Captain Clapperton's second journey, accompanied by Richard Lander-Joined by Captain Pearce-Messrs. Morrison and Dickson-Reaches Benin-Journey of Dickson and Columbus-Their disappearance-Clapperton starts from Badagarry -Joined by Mr. Houtson-Expedition reaches Jannah-Attacked by feverWell received-Fondness of people for dogs-Death of Captain Pearce and Dr. Morrison-The King of Eyeo and his wives-Beautiful country-Felatah villages -Enter Youriba-The King's Court-Entertained with a play-Mr. Houtson returns and dies-Clapperton, with Lander and Pasco, proceeds alone-Reaches Wawa, near the Niger-The widow Zuma-Inquiries about Park-Visits the scene of his death-Well treated by King of Wawa-Enters kingdom of Nyffe -Lax Mahommedans-Desolated by warfare-Reaches Kano-Leaves Lander with the baggage, and proceeds to Sackatoo alone-Trying journey-Well received by Bello-Siege of Zeg-zeg-Absurd style of fighting-Bello seizes his property-Lander arrives at Sackatoo-Illness and death of Clapperton-Buried by Lander-Lander sets out with intention of exploring the Niger-Warned not to proceed south-Leaves Kano for the west-Taken to Zaria-Allowed to proceed-Continues journey alone to Badagarry, and arrives in England.

ROM the favourable report which Clapperton on his
Sackatoo,

and his wish to open up a commercial intercourse with the English, the Government determined at once to send out another expedition, in the hopes that that object might be carried out, and that means might be found for putting a check on the slave trade in that part of Africa.

Clapperton, now raised to the rank of commander, was placed at the head of the expedition. Captain Pearce and a Mr. Morrison, a naval surgeon, were appointed to serve under him. He also engaged the services of Mr. Dickson, another surgeon, and of a very intelligent young man, Richard Lander, who was to act as his servant.

EXPEDITION ATTACKED BY FEVER.

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As Sultan Bello stated that two large towns under his government existed near the coast, called Funda and Raka, and that he would send down messengers, whom his friends would meet on their arrival, it was settled that the expedition should proceed to the Bight of Benin, and thence make their way to Sackatoo. Losing no time, the very year after his return Clapperton sailed from Portsmouth on board H.M. sloop "Brazen," and, touching at Sierra Leone, arrived at Benin on the 26th of November.

Mr. Dickson, wishing to make his way alone to Sackatoo, was landed at Whidah, taking with him Columbus, Denham's former servant, and from thence, in company with a Portuguese of the name of De Sousa, he set off for Dahomey. Here he was well received and was sent forward to a place called Shar, seventeen days' journey from Dahomey. From thence he was known to have set forward with another escort, but from that time nothing whatever was heard of him or his attendant, Columbus.

At Benin Clapperton met an English merchant of the name of Houtson, who advised him not to ascend the river, but to take a route from Badagarry across the country to Katunga, the capital of Youriba.

Under the sanction of the King of Badagarry, the mission set out on its long and perilous journey on the 7th of December, accompanied by Mr. Houtson.

At Badagarry Clapperton had engaged an old negro, who had been a sailor, named Pasco, and who, speaking English, was likely to prove useful as an interpreter.

Travelling on sixty miles, the mission entered the town of Jannah. By this time all its members were suffering greatly from the climate; Captain Pearce and Dr. Morrison especially were very ill, and Richard Lander was also suffering. Those who were able had ridden on horseback, but the sick were carried in hammocks.

WELL RECEIVED AT JANNAH.

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They halted in the palaver-house, an open shed, which was soon surrounded by thousands of people making a great noise. Here they waited till the caboceer, or chief man, made his appearance. He came gorgeously attired in a large yellow silk shirt and red velvet cap, with a silver-mounted whip ornamented with beads in one hand, and a stick covered with bells in the other, which he rattled whenever he spoke. He took his seat on a large leathern cushion, placed on a scarlet cloth. When Captain Clapperton was going to sit down on the cloth, the attendant ladies pulled it from under him; so he took his seat on a mat. The females then sang in chorus very beautifully. The members of the commission then. shook hands with the caboceer, who said he was glad to see them, and that whatever they had to say to the King of Eyeo must first be delivered to him. Their reply was that they had nothing to say, except to request that the king would grant them a passage through his country. His answer was that he was glad, that they should see the King of Eyeo's face, and that he would give them a good path and forward them on without trouble; but that they must ride on horseback, as his people were unaccustomed to carry hammocks. They were then shown to a house, where they remained during their stay.

As Captain Clapperton and Mr. Houtson walked through the town, they were followed by an immense crowd, who rushed over the baskets in the market-place, the boys darting under the stalls, the women bawling after those who had scattered their goods; yet not a word of disrespect was uttered to the strangers. They remarked the kind way in which the dogs in this place were treated, their necks ornamented with collars of different colours, and cowries. No great man was without one, which always has a boy to take care of it.

The people, hearing that a Brazilian brig had arrived at

Badagarry, were preparing to set out on a slaving expedition to a place to the eastward.

Slave dealers as the people were, they deserve to be commended for their honesty; for during the whole journey hitherto, although the mission had had ten relays of carriers, not a single article had been stolen.

A few days after, Dr. Morrison, who continued to get worse, requested to return, hoping that the sea air would restore him. Mr. Houtson accompanied him back to Jannah. The next day Dawson, a seaman, who, while suffering from ague caught at Jannah, had fallen off into the water in the morning, died in the evening. Three days afterwards Captain Pearce, who, supported by his wonderful spirits, insisted upon coming on, grew much morse, and at nine in the evening he breathed his last.

The death of his friend was a serious loss to Clapperton, for he was eminently qualified by his talents and perseverance to render essential service to the mission.

Another three days passed, when Mr. Houtson returned with the sad news that Dr. Morrison had died at Jannah on the same day as Captain Pearce.

Mr. Houtson, though unwell, still insisted on accompanying Clapperton.

Powerful as the king of Eyeo pretended to be, he employed his wives in every place to trade for him, and, like women of the common class, they were seen carrying large loads on their heads from town to town.

On the 6th of January, 1826, the travellers entered the town of Chocho, beyond which their road lay through beautiful rocky valleys, cultivated in many places, and planted with cotton, corn, yarns, and bananas, and many watered by little streams. Numbers of little huts were seen perched on the tops and in the hollows of the hills. Beautiful as the country was, it was the scene of the miserable devastating