To
These Vessels Was Added The Columbine, A Sailing Brig Of 150 Tons, Which
Was Intended To Remain At The Mouth Of The River, To Receive The Goods
Brought Down By The Steam-Boats.
Richard Lander volunteered his valuable services to this expedition, - the
last in which he was destined to take part; Messrs.
Laird and Oldfield,
with a considerable number of Europeans also embarked. They left England
about the end of July 1832, and arrived off the Nun on the 19th of
October, after having touched at Sierra Leone, Cape Coast Castle, and
other settlements, to lay in provisions, and secure the services of some
Kroomen.[30]
[30] The Kroomen inhabit the country which extends along the coast,
from Simon River to Capes Palmas and Lahoo; they voluntarily engage
themselves in bands to aid the crews of vessels.
Having safely moored the brig, they proceeded to unload the merchandize
on board of her, and to transfer it to the steam-vessels. They then began
to sail up the Nun branch of the Niger. This part of the river is most
unhealthy; it is one entire swamp, covered with mangrove, cabbage, and
palm trees. "The fen-damp rose in the morning cold and clammy to the
feeling, and appeared like the smoke of a damp wood fire." The bodies of
the natives are covered with ulcers and cutaneous eruptions; they spend a
short and miserable life in profligacy. After they had gone up about
thirty miles, the banks had an appearance of greater consistency, and the
beautiful, but deadly mangrove tree was no longer visible.
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