Catalogue description Folios 156-216: Surgeon's general remarks - continued: The confluence of the Niger and...

Folios 156-216: Surgeon's general remarks - continued:

The confluence of the Niger and Tchadda [Benue] rivers is described briefly. They land at Adda Kuddu, the land purchased from the Attah, but find the village deserted the people having been driven away by the Fellutah people. On 19 September, the Soudan took away 40 fever patients for Fernando Po, or if possible, Ascension Island. The Wilberforce followed on 21 September. Mr Carr and the agriculturists from Sierra Leone were left at the model farm, near Stirling Hill, with the Amelia and a crew of 'blacks', Mr Kingdon, the catechist, and Mr Ansell, a gardener, the Albert continued upstream.

Folios 186 to 190 continues the journey upstream to Egga, calling at villages, the market at Goree, more reports of Fellutah raids. The seizing of a canoe at Goree belonging to the Chief of Muye and containing 3 slaves, contrary to the treaty agreed with King Obi, the slaves were liberated and canoe and goods released. At the village of Kinami they are told how slaves are punished and question the local people about 'the immortality of the soul'. Egga is a large town, directly ruled by Rogang, who in turn was subject to Sumozariki [Sumo Sariki], king of the Fellutah people. The town and inhabitants are described. The fever had continued so it was decided not to proceed any further toward Rabbah, but to withdraw from the river as quickly as possible. Page 191 recounts a visit to the village of Biddu or Biddoo to obtain information about the slave trade. The Chief had gone to a 'Grand Palaver' at Iddah and they were entertained by his son. A large gathering formed 'to look at the white men'. The Fellutah had raided and threatened to enslave the villagers. The village is described, some children are vaccinated.

Folios 192 to 195 describe the return to the Model Farm and the journey from there to Fernando Po. The death of 2nd Engineer Albion Lodge by jumping overboard is described. The level of the river was dropping, obliging them to stop frequently. At the Model Farm Mr Carr was found to be laid up with fever and Mr Kingdon and Mr Ansell were ill on board the Amelia, they were all brought aboard the Albert. Mr Moore, 'an American man of colour', was left in charge of the farm with Mr Neezer from Cape Coast Castle in charge of the stores, Mr King from Sierra Leone was left in charge of the Amelia. Mr Kingdon died on 13 October and was buried on an island opposite Aboh, King Obi visited the Albert while they were burying him. That afternoon they met the steamer Ethiope travelling up river to meet them. They sailed back down river together. Wood was taken on board and the Soudan rejoined the Albert for the crossing to Fernando Po.

Folios 195 to 200 describe Clarence Cove, Fernando Po, and arrangements made by the Superintendent and Medical Officer of the West African Company to house the sick ashore. On 21 October the surgeon became ill with fever which lasted about 3 weeks and during which time Captain Bird Allen, Acting Lieutenant Stenhouse, Assistant Surgeon Woodhouse, Mr Wilmot and a Private Marine all died. Clarence Cove and the local geology is briefly described. A table gives the breakdown of the population of Clarence Town in terms of numbers of males, females adults and children but making no racial distinctions, in total 873. The surgeon comments on the number of 'examples of illicit to every one of conjugal connexion' and says that two of the Kroomen have had both their hands cut off for 'having been twice convicted of adultery'. Another table [Folios 198 and 199] breaks down the places of origin of the inhabitants of Clarence Town and the numbers of marriages and births between 1 January and 15 December 1841. A table shows numbers of deaths from various causes between 1 January and 15 December 1841 [page 199], the largest number being 12 from remittant fever, although 10 of these were from the Niger Expedition, the second largest 8 from dysenteria. Average mortality is calculated, corrected for the presence of the Niger Expedition, with some comments about the seasons. A paragraph describes the 'Booby' people, who live in the forests cultivating yams.

Folios 201 to 209 describe the journey from Fernando Po to Ascension Island. On 23 November, the Albert left, taking in tow the merchant vessel Warree carrying invalids back to England. The Albert wooded at the Isle of Rollas and returned to Fernando Po. On the 17 December, Dr Vogel died and was buried in the churchyard, alongside several other members of the expedition. On 18 December they sailed again calling at Prince's Island, then St Thomas and Rollas, where they met HMS Pluto. The Island of Rollas is described and then the Island of Anno Bonno [both on page 203]. They left Anno Bonno on 10 January 1842 and arrived at Ascension on 28 January 1842. The island is described in some detail and on page 208 is a table of thermometer readings taken between February and September 1842. On 14 October 1842 the officers and men of the Niger Expedition sailed for England aboard the HMS Dolphin, arriving at Spithead on 19 November 1842.

Folios 210 to 216 discuss the nature of the fever which attacked the expedition. There is a discussion of the area in which the fever first struck, near Iddah [Idah], the 'mode of invasion' and how it related to the temperament of the sick man, the progress and character of the disease, contingent symptoms, such as incoherence and delirium, yellowness of the skin and convulsions. A chart on page 214 shows the number of days in which death occurred for each of the three ships and whether it was on the Niger, at Fernando Po or at sea. Recovery times are separately discussed for the Wilberforce and Albert. A proportionally greater number died on the Soudan. The relative positions of the three vessels are discussed, as relating to occurrences of fever.