2 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

November, 1815, so many obstacles presented

themselves to the immediate departure of the

expedition for the interior, that Major Peddie,

having proceeded to Sierra Leone for the pur-

pose of consulting with his Excellency the Go-

vernor, decided on remaining at Senegal until

the ensuing year.

They had not been long there, when StafF-

Surgeon Cowdrey took iU, and in a few days fell

a victim to the climate, much regretted by his

brother officers, who were thus left without a

medical assistant, and deprived not only of his

society, but of his invaluable services as a natu-

ralist and astronomer.

To fill the situation thus left vacant, at least

in the capacity of a medical officer, I was ap-

plied to by Major Peddie; and although I felt

that I possessed few of the qualifications requi-

site to the discharge of the duties of so import-

ant a situation, I nevertheless accepted the

offer, with a determination that no exertion

should be wanting on my part to forward the

services of the expedition, which I joined at Se-

negal, in February, 1816.

Major Peddie's first step was to despatch a

messenger with a letter to the king of Sego, in-

forming him of our intention to visit him, and

begging he would send some of his chiefs to Se-

negal, to conduct us into his territories. The