Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/205

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General Remarks on the Coast of Arracan.
179

remove these honest traits in their characters. The women dress much after the Chinese fashion, but are by no means secluded, having a full share in all the common intercourse or transactions in life.

At present, except rice, there seem to be no surplus articles for export, though there is no doubt the country would afford abundance, were its resources brought out, which can only be done by a much larger population than it is likely to have for many years, even under the most favourable government. Their imports are very trifling—a few boats coasting alongshore to Chittagong, and from thence, by the Sunderbunds, to Calcutta, are sufficient for all their trade to the northward; and a not much larger number to Basseen, and from thence through the Sunderbunds of the Irrawaddy to Ava or Rangoon, are required to bring back silk and other articles manufactured in that country, which are much superior to those made by themselves, and more esteemed than any yet brought by Europeans.



XIII.—Extracts from the Journal of an Expedition undertaken by order of his Majesty's Government, to determine the Course and Termination of the Niger, more properly named Quorra, from Yáoori to the Sea. By Richard and John Lander. Communicated by Lieutenant Becher, R.N. Read 27th June, 1831.

Richard Lander, who had accompanied the late Captain Clapperton on his second expedition into the interior of Africa, embarked, with. his brother John, at Portsmouth, on the 9th of January, 1830, on board the brig Alert, and arrived at Cape Coast Castle on the 22d of the following month. From this settlement they were conveyed to Badágry in his Majesty's sloop Clinker; and on the 31st of March they commenced their journey into the interior. The orders they had received from the secretary of state were to make their way overland to Boosà by the former route; thence to proceed to Yáoori; to embark on the river; and, following the stream, not to quit it till they reached its termination. Pursuing a route through the Yarriba country, varying in some parts from that which Captain Clapperton had taken, they reached the city of Kiáma on the 28th of May. In the course of their route, they passed through forests of large trees, morasses, and a wilderness of stunted trees, interrupted at intervals by patches of cultivated land. The approach to Kiáma is thus described:—

'Our path lay through a rich country covered with luxuriant grasses and fine trees, but very little underwood. It abounds