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Europeans by sea · 1854–1864

Baikie and the Pleiad up the Benue

In 1854 the small steamer Pleiad, with William Balfour Baikie as surgeon and naturalist, went up the Niger and into the Benue, about 250 miles past the point earlier explorers had reached.

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Overview

In 1854 the small steamer Pleiad, with William Balfour Baikie as surgeon and naturalist, went up the Niger and into the Benue, about 250 miles past the point earlier explorers had reached. Baikie gave everyone on board doses of quinine against malaria, and after 118 days on the rivers the Pleiad came back to the sea without losing a single man. That showed Europeans could survive in the interior. In 1857 Baikie came back as British consul; his ship was wrecked in the rapids at Jebba, and he made Lokoja, at the confluence, the base of his work until he left in 1864.[1],[2],[3]High confidence

Who took part

  • Baikie's expedition· Came by sea

What happened

  1. August 1854 · The confluence, at Lokoja

    Into the Benue

    The Pleiad turns from the Niger into the Benue at the confluence and steams on for about 250 miles of river no European had charted.[1],[2]High confidence

  2. 1854 · Dulti, on the upper Benue (approximate)

    Turned back at Dulti

    When the Pleiad can go no further, Baikie goes on by pinnace for two days, until the people at Dulti stop him.[3]Medium confidence

  3. 1854

    118 days, no one lost

    Twelve Europeans and fifty-four Africans come back alive after 118 days on the rivers. Baikie credits doses of quinine, taken to prevent malaria.[1],[2]High confidence

  4. 1857 · Jebba

    Wrecked at Jebba

    On Baikie's second voyage, as British consul, his ship is wrecked passing through the rapids of the Niger.[1]Medium confidence

  5. From 1857 · Lokoja

    Baikie at Lokoja

    Baikie makes Lokoja his base, clears ground and builds houses. Wikipedia says he bought the site and made a treaty with the Fulani emir of Nupe.[1]Medium confidence

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Wikipedia contributors. William Balfour Baikie
  2. William Balfour Baikie. Encyclopedia of World Biography
  3. William Balfour Baikie. (1856). Narrative of an Exploring Voyage up the Rivers Kwora and Binue, commonly known as the Niger and Tsadda, in 1854. John Murray, London (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)