Travels in the Interior of Africa, vol 2

Travels in the Interior of Africa,
vol 2

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Volume 2
by Mungo Park (#2 in our series by Mungo Park)
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Title: Travels in the Interior of Africa - Volume 2
Author: Mungo Park
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5305] [Yes, we are more than one

year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 25, 2002]
[Most recently updated: June 25, 2002]
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, TRAVELS
IN AFRICA - VOLUME 2 ***

Transcribed from the 1887 Cassell & Company edition by David Price,
email [email protected]

TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA--VOLUME 2 By
MUNGO PARK.

INTRODUCTION

The first of the two volumes which contain Mungo Park's "Travels in
the Interior of Africa" brought him through many perils to the first sight
of the Niger, and left him sick and solitary, stripped of nearly all that he
possessed, a half-starved white man on a half- starved horse. He was
helped on by a bag of cowries from a kindly chief; but in this volume
he has not advanced far before he is stripped of all.
There is not in the range of English literature a more interesting
traveller's tale than was given to the world in this book which this
volume completes. It took the deeper hold upon its readers, because it
appeared at a time when English hearts began to be stirred by the
wrongs of slavery. But at any time there would be strong human
interest in the unconscious painting of the writer's character, as he
makes his way over far regions in which no white man had before been
seen, with firm resolve and with good temper as well as courage and
prudence, which bring him safe through many a hair-breadth escape.
There was a true kindness in Mungo Park that found answering

kindness and brought out the spirit of humanity in those upon whose
goodwill his life depends; in the negroes often, although never in the
Moors. There was no flinching in the man, who, when robbed of his
horse, stripped to the shirt in a forest and left upon a lion's track, looked
down with a botanist's eye on the beauty of a tiny moss at his feet, drew
comfort from it, and laboured on with quiet faith in God. The same eye
was as quick to recognise the diverse characters of men. In Mungo Park
shrewd humour and right feeling went together. Whatever he had to say
he said clearly and simply; and it went straight home. He had the good
fortune to be born before "picturesque writing" was invented. When we
return to the Gambia with Mungo Park under the same escort with a
coffle of slaves on their way to be shipped for the use of Christians,
from the strength of his unlaboured narrative we get clear knowledge
unclouded by a rainbow mist of words. He is of one blood with the
sailors in whom Hakluyt delighted.

CHAPTER XVI
--VILLAGES ON THE NIGER--DETERMINES TO GO NO
FARTHER EASTWARD

Being, in the manner that has been related, compelled to leave Sego, I
was conducted the same evening to a village about seven miles to the
eastward, with some of the inhabitants of which my guide was
acquainted, and by whom we were well received. {1} He was very
friendly and communicative, and spoke highly of the hospitality of his
countrymen, but withal told me that if Jenne was the place of my
destination, which he seemed to have hitherto doubted, I had
undertaken an enterprise of greater danger than probably I was apprised
of; for, although the town of Jenne was nominally a part of the king of
Bambarra's dominions, it was in fact, he said, a city of the Moors--the
leading part of the inhabitants being bushreens, and even