Travels of Richard and John Lander into the interior of Africa, for the discovery of the course and termination of the Niger

In the early nineteenth century, when the map of Africa was still a patchwork of speculation, the great river known as the Niger remained a tantalising mystery. Scholars and merchants alike debated its course and where it finally met the sea, drawing on fragmented reports from earlier travelers such as Park, Denham and others. This work gathers the unpublished journals of the Lander brothers, placing their daring venture within the broader saga of European attempts to chart the continent’s interior.

Richard and John Lander set out from the coast with a modest crew, determined to follow the river downstream past the hostile terrain and unfamiliar peoples that had stopped many before them. Their careful observations, negotiations with local leaders, and relentless river‑boat progress turn the expedition into a vivid portrait of exploration on the edge of known geography. The narrative captures the daily hardships, the awe of uncharted landscapes, and the scientific excitement sparked by finally revealing a crucial piece of the world’s hydrography.