Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne

A rapid passage -- Prudent resolves -- Caravans in sight -- Incessant rains -- Goa -- The Niger -- Golberry, Geoffroy, and Gray -- Mungo park -- Laing -- René Caillié -- Clapperton -- John and Richard Lander.

The 17th of May passed tranquilly, without any remarkable incident; the desert gained upon them once more; a moderate wind bore the Victoria toward the southwest, and she never swerved to the right or to the left, but her shadow traced a perfectly straight line on the sand.