boats will penetrate up the river even as far as Lever, at the time
of year in which the Landers came down, and will defy the efforts of
these monopolists to arrest their progress. The steam engine, the
greatest invention of the human mind, will be a fit means of
conveying civilization amongst the uninformed Africans, who,
incapable of comprehending such a thing, will view its arrival
amongst them with astonishment and terror, and will gradually learn
to appreciate the benefits they will derive, and to hail its arrival
with joy. In this case, Fernando Po will become of still greater
consequence, and will no doubt be a depot of considerable importance.
It was, however, the opinion of Richard Lander, that much expense
would be saved, and above all, many valuable lives, if it were
possible to adopt George's Bay, as the place for the principal
establishment. Of the different parts of the coast, Accra is the most
healthy, and were it nearer, Lander would recommend it for such a
purpose, the soil being good and clear of underwood for many miles
round. But the distance at which it lies from the mouth of the river
is too great for such a purpose.

On the 23rd December, Mr. Becroft, the superintendent, invited
Richard Lander to accompany him in the Portia, to the Calebar River,
whither he was going to procure stock for the use of the colony. The
place from which this is obtained, is called Ephraim Town, where it
appears to be very plentiful. Being tired of Fernando Po, Lander
accepted his invitation, in order to pass away the time that they
would still have to wait before they could get away, notwithstanding
all their anxiety to reach home with the news of their discovery.
John Lander, being very ill, was unable to accompany them. Richard,
therefore, left him at Clarence, and embarked with Mr. Becroft in the
evening. They departed from Clarence with a fine breeze, but found it
necessary in going out, to be particularly careful of being drifted
by the tide, either on Point William, or on the Adelaide islets at
each extremity of the cove, as the tide always sets either towards
the one or the other. In leaving the cove, it is best to keep, as
near as possible, midway between the two extremes, and not to
approach either the one or the other, nearer than can be possibly
avoided. The currents in the Gulf of Guinea are stated to be very
variable, although they are most generally from the westward, obeying
the direction of the sea bre