Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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Though The Knowledge Of Interior Africa Now Possessed By The
Civilized World, Is The Progressive Acquisition Of Many Enterprising
Men,
To all of whom we are profoundly indebted, it cannot be denied
that the last great discovery has done more
Than any other to place
the great outline of African geography on a basis of certainty. When
to this is added the consideration that it opens a maritime
communication into the centre of the continent, it may be described
as the greatest geographical discovery that has been made since that
of New Holland. Thrice during the last thirty years, it has been on
the eve of accomplishment; first when Horneman had arrived from
Fezzan and Nyffle, secondly when Park had navigated the Quorra as far
as Boussa, and lastly when Tuckey, supplied with all possible means
For prosecuting researches by water, was unfortunately expedited to
The Congo, instead of being sent to explore the mouths of the Niger.
CHAPTER XLIII.
A maritime communication with the interior of Africa having been now
opened, by the discovery of the termination of the Niger in the Bight
of Benin, it was considered, that some great commercial advantages
might be derived by fitting out an expedition on a large scale, and
as Lander on his return home had reported, that the Niger was
navigable for vessels of a light burden for a considerable distance
into the country, it was resolved to fit out two steam vessels, well
armed and amply supplied with all stores both in a commercial point
of view, and for attack and defence when arriving amongst the natives
in the interior. It was an enterprise every way worthy of the British
character, and one likely to be productive of future consequences,
the importance of which it would be difficult to overrate either in a
commercial or in a moral and political point of view. Sir John Tobin
of Liverpool was one of its great promoters, and the immediate object
of the expedition was to ascend the Niger, to establish a trade with
the natives, and to enlarge our geographical knowledge of the
country. When we look at the dense population of Africa described in
the preceding parts of this work, it is obvious that in them might be
found an extensive market for the manufactured goods and wares of
England; for the cottons of Manchester, Glasgow, &c., and for many
other products of our skill and industry. In return for these, the
rich commodities of gold, ivory, hippopotami teeth, and the more
common articles of wood, peltry, gums, &c. &c. may be imported, and
if encouragement be given, indigo and other valuable things would be
largely cultivated to barter with Europe. And still nobler aims were
before us, the ending of the traffic in human beings, and the gradual
illumination and civilization of Africa.
Although in unison with the enlightened spirit of the times, this
expedition may be considered as simply a mercantile speculation, yet
at the same time it purposed to combine objects of greater and more
general interest.
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