Cliffs at Attah, from 'Picturesque Views on the River Niger: sketched during Lander's last visit...

Commander William Allen painted these pictures while accompanying the Cornish explorer of western Africa Richard Lemon Lander (1804-1834) on his final journey down the River Niger; The purpose of the expedition was to found a trading settlement at the junction of the Niger and Benue rivers but during the journey Lander was attacked by African tribesmen and was wounded by a musket ball in the thigh that eventually killed him; This image is in fact of the landing place at Iddah, a town on the east bank of the River Niger famous for its sandstone cliffs; Thomas Picken (1815-1870);