Life and Travels of Mungo Park in Central Africa | Page 6

Morocco, and spent there sixteen years, during which he
acquired a great knowledge of the chief African languages. On his
return to England, he was made oriental interpreter to the British court.
Upon his expressing a desire to set out on a journey in furtherance of
the objects of the Association, his Majesty not only granted his request,
but also promised to continue his salary as oriental interpreter during
his absence. He set out by Tripoli, and obtained from the Bey some
promise of assistance. He likewise made an arrangement with two
Shereefs, or followers of the Prophet, whose persons are held sacred, to
join a caravan with which they travelled. He went with them as far as
Mesurata; but the Arabs of the neighbourhood being in a state of revolt,
the party could obtain neither camels nor guides. Mr. Lucas therefore
returned to Tripoli without making further efforts to penetrate into the
interior. He, however, obtained from one of the Shereefs some
particulars respecting the countries to the south of Tripoli, and a
memoir from his notes was drawn up by Mr. Beaufoy, which, though in
many respects imperfect and erroneous, nevertheless threw a little
additional light upon the condition of Africa. No correct information
was obtained concerning the Niger.
Enough of knowledge, however, was possessed to show that the
districts along the Gambia, stretching into the interior, afforded the
most direct method of reaching the Niger, and the countries through
which it rolled. Accordingly this was the route taken by the next

adventurer, Major Houghton, who seemed qualified for the task by the
most ardent courage, and by a considerable acquaintance with the
manners both of the Moors and negroes during his residence as consul
at Morocco, and afterwards as fort-major at Goree. But it would appear
that this gallant officer was strikingly deficient in the prudent and
calculating temper which such an arduous journey demanded. Having
set out early in 1791, he speedily reached Medina, the residence of the
king of Wooli, who gave him information respecting the best route to
Timbuctoo, and promised to furnish him with guides. During his
residence Medina was entirely destroyed by a conflagration, and Major
Houghton was forced, along with the inhabitants, to flee into the fields,
carrying with him only a few such articles as he could hastily snatch up.
Thence he journeyed on to Bambouk, and after crossing the Faleme
arrived at Ferbanna, where the king sent a guide along with him, and
likewise furnished him with money to defray the expenses of the
journey. He was imprudent enough to carry with him a quantity of
merchandise, and thereby excited the cupidity off the natives, with
whom he was engaged in constant disputes. After a complication of
difficulties, he took a northern route, intending to penetrate through
Ludamar. The last intelligence received from him was dated from
Simbing, the frontier village of this state, and was merely comprised in
the following brief note, addressed to Dr. Laidley of Pisania:--"Major
Houghton's compliments to Dr. Laidley, is in good health, on his way
to Timbuctoo; robbed of all his goods by Fenda Bucar's son." Soon
after this, rumours of his death reached Pisania; but the particulars were
not known till Mr. Park's return, who brought certain intelligence. It
appeared that at Jarra he had engaged some Moorish merchants to
accompany him. They persuaded him to go to Tisheet, a place
frequented for its salt mines, without informing him that it was much
out of the direct road to Timbuctoo, intending to rob him by the way. In
a few days he suspected their treachery, and resolved to return to Jarra,
but, upon refusing to advance, he was stripped of every article, and then
deserted. He wandered about the desert, alone, and famishing, till,
utterly exhausted, he lay down under a tree and expired.
The next person who offered his services to the Association was
Mungo Park, who has acquired such celebrity by the important
acquisitions which he made to African Geography. As introductory to

the narrative of his first expedition, we present our readers with a brief
sketch of his early life.
PARK'S EARLY LIFE.
Mungo Park, the celebrated African traveller, was born at Fowlshiels,
near the town of Selkirk, on the 10th September 1771. His father was a
respectable farmer on the Duke of Buccleuch's estate; and his mother,
the daughter of a neighbouring farmer of the name of Hislop, a woman
of great good sense and prudence, who anxiously and faithfully
discharged the duties which she owed to a large family of thirteen
children, of whom Mungo, the subject of this memoir, was the seventh.
Park's father died before his son had won that renown which so
honourably distinguishes his name, though not without the satisfaction
of witnessing a fair promise