Xll INTRODUCTION.

infamous traffic carried on in the Bight of Benin, and also for extending the

legitimate commerce of Great Britain with this part of Africa, and at the

same time adding to our knowledge of the country, did not hesitate in

adopting the arrangement which Clapperton had made with Bello. Accord-

ingly it was determined to send him out again to that chief, by the way of

Benin, with suitable companions and presents, in order that a communication

might be opened between Soccatoo and the sea-coast, and an attempt made to

carry into effect the objects to which Bello was supposed to have given his

hearty assent.

It had been arranged that, after a certain period agreed upon, Bello

should^end down his messengers to Whidah, on the coast, to meet 'Captain

Clapperton and his companions. On their arrival, however, in the Bight of

Benin, they could neither gain any intelligence of Bello’s messengers, nor did

any of the people there know any thing of such names as Funda or Raka,

the places which were pointed out by Bello as lying on the sea-coast. The

country of Houssa, however, was well known by name, and as the precise

geographical position of Soccatoo had been ascertained, our enterprising

travellers could have no difficulty in knowing what direction to take ; but the

spot from whence it would be most advisable to start was a point not so easily

to be determined. They finally, however, selected Badagry, for reasons that

will be briefly stated ; and proceeding northerly, from one chief to another,

the survivors met with some delay, but no serious impediments, in reaching

the spot of their destination.

The conduct, however, of Bello, though at first kind, was afterwards

changed to every thing the reverse, for reasons which will appear in the course

of the journal. His desire for establishing an amicable intercourse was not even

hinted at, nor one word respecting the physician, the consul, or the slave-

trade ; and, either through ignorance or design (the former, in all probability),

Bello had totally misled Clapperton as to the position of the city or district

of Funda ; which, instead of being on the sea-coast, as stated by him, is now ascertained to be at least 150 miles from the nearest part of the coast;

and the other city, Raka, still farther in the interior. Indeed, one would

almost suspect that Clapperton, from not being sufficiently acquainted with the

Fellata language, must have mistaken the meaning of Bello on his former

visit, had not the letter in Arabic, which he brought home from the latter,

addressed to the king of England, borne him out in his representation of the