On the 12th of May, 1841, the three vessels left Plymouth; the
line-of-battle-ships anchored in the Sound, manning their rigging and
cheering them as they passed by. After touching at Madeira, St.
Vincent, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, and other places on the coast,
they reached Cape Coast Castle on the 24th of July. At Sierra Leone,
a schooner, a condemned slaver, was purchased; she was called the
'Amelia,' and the command of her was given to Mr. Harston. Here also
a hundred negroes, chiefly Krumen, were taken on board to assist in
working the vessels and save the white men from exposure to the sun
and heavy rains. Their head-man was named "Jack Andrews," and he had
under him "Jack Fryingpan," "King George," "Jack Sprat," "Prince
Albert," "Bottle of Beer," and "Tom Tea-kettle," with a number of
other similar cognomens. Already fever had broken out, and two had
died from its effects.
The 'Wilberforce' had a narrow escape in running between Cape Palmas
and Cape Three Points. Being short of wood, she was standing on
under canvass, with a very light air, during a dark night, when it
was discovered that a strong current was setting her on shore. In
the centre of the bay there is a twisting channel, of vast depth,
called the "Bottomless Pit." In the early and middle part of the
night no bottom was found by the lead. This must have been when they
were crossing the pit. At 3 A.M. fortunately they struck soundings
in 37 fathom. At 4.40 it decreased to 18 fathom, and five minutes
afterwards to 10 fathom, when they anchored, and as they did so the
roar of the breakers gave them fearful warning of their proximity to
the coast. The land being here very low and covered with underwood,
and the sand of the beach being of a light colour, it would not have
been seen had not the decrease of the soundings caused them to look
out for it. At daylight they found themselves close to breakers,
about half a mile from the shore, with a very heavy surf all along
the beach. Having got up the steam, they made a good offing, and
passed Cape Three Points, when they arrived off a place called Bobsum
Accra. Here a heavy surf gave little prospect of their being able to
procure wood. A boat was, however, sent to try to communicate with
the natives; and Mr. Toby, mate, volunteered for the service, which
was one of considerable danger. He succeeded in landing; but in
attempting to come off again, the boat was swamped and upset, and all
hands were thrown by the surf on the beach. Happily the natives were
of a friendly tribe, and rendered them every assistance. Had a
similar event occurred off the Bottomless Pit, where the natives are
hostile, they would have probably been put to death.
At Cape Coast Castle the Governor, Mr. M'Lean, afforded the
expedition every assistance. Here Mr. Marshall, surgeon, and Mr.
Webb, mate of the 'Soudan,' volunteered to proceed overland to the
confluence of the Niger and Chadda; but as their services in their
ships could not be spared, their gallant offer was not accepted.
Proceeding to Accra, they left it on the 4th of August to their
rendezvous off the mouth of the Niger; and, on their passage there,
encountered some heavy weather. On Friday, the 13th of August, the
'Albert' and 'Soudan,' having completed their preparations, weighed
at daylight, and, under the pilotage of Lieut. Levinge, commanding
H.M.S. 'Buzzard,' one of the squadron on the coast, he having
previously examined it, steamed over the bar in safety, though a
considerable surf was running. The 'Wilberforce,' having more goods
and furniture to take for the model farm, was not ready till the 15th.