Journals of the Rev. James Frederick Schön and Mr. Samuel Crowther, who accompanied the expedition up the Niger in 1841, on behalf of the Church Missionary Society
A firsthand account of the 1841 Niger River expedition, told through the journals of two mission workers who record encounters with African chiefs, the people, and the realities of travel in West Africa. The book blends travel narrative with reflections on the slave trade, native education, and early missionary efforts in the region, offering historical insight into the era and the CMS approach.
Drawing on on-the-ground observations, the volume follows the expedition from Sierra Leone up the Niger, detailing interviews with leaders, cultural practices, and the daily challenges faced by the travelers. Readers gain a window into the hopes, tensions, and practical steps taken to promote education and religious teaching in a complex and changing landscape.
- Accounts of meetings with local rulers and communities along the Niger and its tributaries.
- Descriptions of early efforts to curb the slave trade and to establish peaceful trade and education.
- Evidence of mission strategy, including the role of Native Agency and the Fourah Bay Institution in Sierra Leone.
- Personal perspectives from the two journals on climate, health, and cross-cultural exchange.
Ideal for history readers, scholars of missionary studies, and those curious about 19th-century African exploration and diplomacy.