Niger

the name of Boussa—a name that still for the student
of exploration has the flavour of old tragedy.
None of these facts were known to the English
African Association formed in 1788 under the im¬
petus of the indefatigable Sir Joseph Banks. Sir
Joseph wanted the Niger explored and the trouble¬
some matter of its final end cleared up once and for
all. Lord Rawdon, the Bishop of Llandaff and
Messrs. Beaufroy and Stewart he co-opted as fellow
foundation-members. All were men of standing, all
were classical students who had read Herodotus.
The Bishop was an Abolitionist, but otherwise a
gentleman. The objects of the expedition were
defined, unnecessarily,s as the encouragement of the
scientific exploration of Africa5.
Within five years of its foundation the Association
had despatched three explorers into Africa in pur¬
suit of the Niger. The first, Ledyard, an American
marine, had some idea of tackling the problem from
Libya. But he died in Cairo ere his mission was well
begun. Lucas, the second man selected, had once
been a slave in Morocco. He proposed to travel to
the Niger country across the Sahara, and actually
set out on that mission from Tripoli. But, after five
days travel, he turned back his caravan, having come
into collision with ‘ revolting Arabs 5 (he referred to
their political activities). The next selection of t e
Association was Major Houghton, fort-major at
Goree, where the great French aerodrome is now
built, a man of singular courage and address, m the
phrase of the time, and well acquainted with Arabic.
34