Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/417

 the companion of Denham. In 1829, he entered Africa by the west, at the Gulf of Benin; he took up the traces of Mungo Park and Laing, found in Boussa the documents relating to the death of the former traveler, and arrived at Sackatou on the 20th of August, where he was kept a prisoner, and subsequently died in the arms of his faithful follower, Richard Lander.

"And what became of this Lander?" asked Joe, who was much interested.

"He regained the coast and returned to England, bringing with him the captain's papers, and an exact account of his travels. He then offered his services to the Government to complete the survey of the Niger. His brother John joined him, and these two, from 1829 to 1831, redescended the Niger from Boirssa nearly to its mouth, describing it village by village, and mile after mile."

"Then these brothers escaped the usual fate?" said Kennedy.

"Yes, for the time at least, but in 1833 Richard undertook a third journey to the Niger, and was killed by an unknown hand close to the mouth of the river. So you see, my friends, that this country which we are traversing has witnessed noble acts of devotion, which have but too often met with their reward in death!"

the monotony of the journey on Monday, Doctor Ferguson took pleasure in giving his companions many details respecting the country they were passing over. The flat ground offered no obstacle to their progress. The only care the doctor had was caused by the northeast wind, which blew strongly, and carried them away from Timbuctoo.

The Niger, having turned towards the north as far as that town, curves roundly, and falls into the Atlantic in a great stream. In the bend the country is very varied—sometimes of luxurious fertility, sometimes of great barrenness—uncultivated plains succeed fields of maize, which, in their turn, are followed by vast heath-covered tracts.