XIV INTRODUCTION.

Sheik of Bornou, being all ready, the four gentlemen, with their servants,

embarked in his majesty’s ship Brazen on the 27th August, 1825, and, after

touching at Teneriffe and St. Jago, arrived in the Bight of Benin on the 2Gth

November, 1825. Mr. Dickson being desirous of making his way alone

to Soccatoo, for what reason it does not appear, was landed at Whidah, where

a Portuguese gentleman, of the name of De Sousa, offered to accompany him

as far as Dahomey, where he had resided for some time in the employ of the

king. The offer was accepted, and Dickson, taking with him a mulatto of

the name of Columbus, who had been a servant to Lieutenant-Colonel Den- ham on the former expedition to Bornou, departed on the 26th November,

arrived safe at Dahomey, where he was well received, and sent forward to a

place called Shar, seventeen days’ from Dahomey, under a suitable escort,

where he also arrived safely, and had an escort given him from thence on his

intended journey to Youri, since which no account of him whatever has been

received. By some Dahomey messengers, which Clapperton met with at Wawa, he sent a letter to Dickson ; but it is evident they did not fall in with

him, as the letter was some months afterwards sent down to the coast. It may here be observed, that though Whidah was the port to which Bello was

ultimately understood to say he would despatch his messengers to convey the

travellers, and their presents and baggage, to Soccatoo, it did not appear that

any inquiries had been made there respecting them ; nor did any person there

seem to know more about Bello or Soccatoo, than was known, further on, of Funda or Ilaka.

The rest of the travellers proceeded towards the river of Benin, where they

encountered an English merchant of the name of Houtson, who advised them

by no means to think of ascending that river, in their way into the interior,

as the king of that country was well known to bear a particular hatred to the

English, for their exertions in endeavouring to put a stop to the slave-trade,

by which his greatest profits had been derived : nor had he any knowledge how

far, or in what direction that river might convey them ; he mentioned Badagry

as a place far more preferable, as being equally near to Soccatoo, and the chief of

which was favourable to the English ; said that he would, no doubt, afford them

protection and assistance on their journey, as far as his country extended,

which was to the frontier of the kingdom of Yourriba. As Mr. Houtson had

resided on this part of the coast for many years, and was well acquainted with