Narrative of the Voyages to Explore the Shores of Africa, Africa and Madagascar Performed in H.M. Ships Leven and Baracouota under the Direction of Captain W.F.W. Owen, R.N. Volume 1 http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.CH.DOCUMENT.sip100022 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. 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Date 1833 Resource type Books Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Northern Swahili Coast;Zambezi-Limpopo Watershed;Middle Niger, Tanzania, United Republic of, Kilwa Kisiwani, Madagascar Source Smithsonian Institution Libraries, DT365 .O97 1833 /916 O97n Format extent 267 pages (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.CH.DOCUMENT.sip100022 http://www.aluka.org DE COURCY WRIGHT THOM. NARRATIVE OF VOYAGES S,- .TO EXPLORE THE SHORES OF AFRICA, ARABIA, AND MADAGASCAR; PERFORMED IN H. M. SHIPS LEVEN AND BARRACOUTA, * UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CAPTAIN W. F. W. OWEN, R. N. BY COMMAND OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. NEW.YORK: PUBLISHED BY J. & J. HAtPER, NO 82, CLIFI-STRINT. AND SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOMT THE UNITED STATES. Z DCCC XXXIII. WILLIAm TOLEFREE, PRINTEP.3 63, VESEY-STREET, Nicw-YoRr. ADVERTISEMENT IN presenting these Volum es to the world, it may be neces. sary to make a few observations upon the delay that has at. tended their publication. It was the intention of Captain Owen to have arranged his manuscripts for the press shortly after his return from the long and adventurous Voyage which they relate; but he was almost immediately appointed to his Majesty's ship Eden, with orders to take out and establish the settlement of Fernando Po. The active preparations for this expedition pre. vented him from fulfilling his intentions at that period. In 1831 he again returned to his native shores; but instead of enjoying 4hat calm leisure which his arduous services both called for and deserved, his whole time has since been occupied in settling Colonial accounts and other public matters. At this period, the Editor was informed that it was still the wish of Captain Owen to prepare his narrative for publication, though he had not sufficient time to devote to that purpose. Under these circumstances the Journals of Captain Owen and of the officers engaged under him in the expedition, were en. trusted to the Editor, and they are now presented to the world in the full conviction that their varied and interesting details will afford both entertainment and information. HEATON BOWSTEAD ROBINSON. Montpelier Place, Twickenham, June 1833. INTRODUCTION. THEi intention and extent of this expedition will in some measure be shown by the annexed instructions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; in addition to which, Captain Owen had a further power to increase the limits of the survey, if required by any local information. These in. structions, as stating the deficiencies in our hydographical knowledge of the African shores, were sufficient in them. selves to point out the course to be pursued by Captain Owen ; and had it been left to his own discretion, he might have obtained the required information without the dreadful sacri. fices, which it is the duty of these pages to record ; for in a climate subject to such varied and deadly changes, a discretionary power was certainly advisable, in order, by a judi. cious arrangement and attention to the seasons, to avoid as much as possible its fatal effects upon Europeans. It will be observed that this power was not giverd to Captain Owen, and in the course of the work it will be seen how melan. choly were the consequences, No. I. By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland, &c. You are hereby required and directed to put to sea with his Majesty's ship Leven and Barracouta sloop under your orders, as soon as they shall be in every respect ready, and to proceed with all convenient expedition to the Cape of Good Hope, where you are to communicate with the Astro. nomer, and regulate your chronometers at the observatory A* INTRODUCTION. established there, and to receive on board water and such refreshments as you may stand in need of, You are then to proceed to the eastward, and commence your survey either at the mouth of the Keiskamma, the present boundary of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and continue it as far as Delagoa Bay, or to commence at this bay and continue it southwesterly to the Keiskamma, according to the season of the year when you shall arrive off that coast, and as the north.west or north-east wind shall be found to prevail. In the latter case it may be advisable to commence with the bay itself, and to make a complete and accurate survey thereof, with the two rivers, as far as may be safe and practicable, which are described as falling into it, collecting information of the numbers and character of the natives, their occupations, modes of subsistence, &c. the nature of the soil, and also of the productions of the surrounding country. By the time that these operations are concluded, the north-westerly winds will have set in, when the interjacent coast between the bay and the Keiskamma may with more safety and convenience be approached. You will ascertain whether any and what bays, harbours, and inlets, may exist on that coast, examining the entrances into all the rivers that may occur, whether they are navigable, and by what description of yes. sels, and to what extent. When this part of the coast has been completed, together with Delagoa Bay, which it is to be understood are the first in order to be surveyed, it will probably be found necessary to refresh and replenish the ships, in which case, if Algoa Bay should not afford sufficient means for that purpose, it may be advisable that you should proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, from whence you are to send home the result of your operations to that period, accompanied with whatever information you may have been able to collect. Having replenished the ships, you are again to proceed to the northward, and, commencing the second part of the survey at Delagoa Bay before mentioned, continue it along the coasts of Sofala and Mozambique, examining and surveying every bay, harbour, and inlet, and ascertaining the course of all the various rivers that empty themselves into the sea and Mozambique Channel, their size, depth of water, whether navigable or not ; and, in short, endeavouring to obtain any information respecting them that may be practicable, observing that the bay and rivers of Inhamban, the Sofala, and the Quilimaney will require your particular atiention ; and INTRODUCTION. you are also to survey the several islands which lie near the coasts you shall examine. As this second survey will probably terminate in the Mozambique Channel, or at the farthest at Quiloa, it may be proper to endeavour to replenish your provisions and water at the Portuguese settlement of Mozambique ; but failing in this, either from the scantiness of supplies at that settlement, or an unwillingness on the part of the Portuguese authorities established there, it may probably be advisable to try the northern part of Madagascar, where it is stated that the natives are friendly to us, and that cattle is in the greatest abundance. Failing here, the next place that offers itself is the island of Mauritius, where a supply may with confidence be expected. As soon as the two ships shall be in a state to proceed again upon service, you will take up the survey at the point on the coast where it had been discontinued, and carry it on in like manner as before directed to Cape Guadafui, where you are to consider the survey to terminate ; but if the ships and ships' companies are in a state to continue in those seas, you may employ them in examining and observing the true position of the numerous islands and shoals between Madagascar and the main and north and north- eastward of Madagascar, and also such parts of the coast of Madagascar as you may conceive not to have been accurately ascertained ; after which you are to return to the Cape, and having there refreshed your crews, make the best of your way to Spithead, reporting your arrival and proceedings to our Secretary for our information.