The Life and Travels of Mungo Park; With the Account of His Death from the Journal of Isaaco, the Substance of the Later Discoveries Relative to His Lamented Fate, and the Termination of the Niger

by Mungo Park

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1840. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 214 BUMOUItS OF PARK S DEATH. CHAPTER XIX. 'i'. Humours of Park's Death.--Isaaco's Mission to inquire into then Truth.-- Account of Park's Fate obtained from his Guide.--Its Confirmation by subsequent Travellers.--Clapperton's Account --Exertions by the Brothers Lander to procure Park's Papers.--Memorials of him obtained by them. [1805-1830.] For some time after the date of the letters written by Park from Sansanding, nothing was heard of the expedition. In the course of the year 1806, vague reports were brought to the British settlemenis on the coast by the native traders from the interior of Africa, to the effect that Park and his companions had been killed. Years passed on and the rumours increased, though no distinct accounts upon the subject could be obtained; till at length Colonel Maxwell, the governor of Senegal, obtained permission from the British government to send a proper person to procure some more precise information. For this service he was fortunately able to engage Isaaco, who had been Park's guide from the Gimbia, and who had brought back his letters and Journal from Sansanding. Isaaco left Senegal in January, 1810, and on the 1st of September, 1811, returned thither, with a full confirmation of the reports concerning Park's death. At Fadina, near Sansanding, he met with Amadi Fatouma, the very guide whom he had recommended to Park to accompany him on his voy. age from Sansanding down the Niger. "I sent foi him," savs Israco, "he came immediately. I do ACCOUNT OF PARK'S DEATH BY HIS GUIDE. 215 inanded of him a faithful account of what had hap. pened to Mr. Park. On seeing me, and hearing me mention Mr. Park, he began to weep, and his first words were, ' They are all dead.' I said, ' I am come to see after you, and intended to look eve...

Genres: Travel, Africa, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1840

About the author

Mungo Park (1771 – 1806) was a Scottish explorer of the African continent. He was the first Westerner known to have traveled to the central portion of the Niger River.

Reviews

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly overlapping with Travels in the Interior of Africa (Mungo Park’s own account of his first expedition to Africa from 1795-1797) but in addition there is an introduction on Park's early life and travel to Sumatra, his return to England after his first Africa expedition, his friendship with Joseph Banks and Sir Walter Scott, and the narrative of the second Africa expedition (in 1805) based on letters and journal entries that have survived. Interesting how this book sparked a discussion between defenders and protesters of the slave trade, each group finding that Mungo Park's narrative supported their particular views.

[Graham Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting tale

I have the greatest admiration for Mungo Park. His first journey is one of fortitude , deprivation , resolute and indefatigable courage. His second journey was rash , foolish and ill prepared. The rest of the book is mainly concerning those that followed him in the decades after his death.

[Tom G · Rating 3 out of 5]

“His thoughts had always continued to be haunted with Africa. He told Scott, that whenever he awoke suddenly in the night, owing to a nervous disorder with which he was troubled, he fancied himself still a prisoner in the tent of Ali; but when the Poet expressed some surprise that he should design again to revisit those scenes, he answered, that he would rather brave Africa and all its horrors, than wear out his life in long and toilsome rides over the hills of Scotland, for which the remuneration was hardly enough to keep soul and body together.”

Mungo Park had PTSD, but he would still rather die on an adventure in Africa than live a domestic life back home. Honestly inspiring.