slave. Mr Park was thus seasonably delivered from all his troubles, and obtained a more certain prospect of reaching home in safety.

He no longer encountered those difficulties and vicissitudes which had rendered the former part of his journey so full of interest and adventure. In traversing the high countries of Manding, Konkodoo, and Dindikoo, the chief object which attracted his attention was the mode of extracting gold. This precious metal did not occur in the form of ore, or in large masses, but its grains were mingled with a species of dust or sand, which appears to be chiefly washed down by torrents from the summit of the neighbouring chain of mountains. It is nevertheless collected with most advantage after the ground is dry and the harvest removed. Being indicated by its reddish tinge, it is put into large baskets, called calabashes, and agitated with a rotatory motion, so that at every turn a portion of light sand mixed with water flies over the brim. The weightier parts then remaining are mixed with pure water, stirred, and carefully examined; and it is considered satisfactory if three or four grains are found in the whole basket. The dust is preserved in quills, which are often stuck in the hair as ornaments.

The most formidable part of the journey homeward was through the vast and very dense forest of Jallonka, in which the caravan travelled during five days without seeing a single human habitation. They marched in close and regular order, to protect the party against the attack of wild beasts, whose roarings were heard continually around them, and to which every one who straggled was sure to fall a victim. Such, too probably, was the lot of Nealee, a female slave, who, either from obstinacy or excessive fatigue, refused to proceed any farther; and after vain attempts to compel her by the whip, she was abandoned to her fate. On emerging from this wood, they had no difficulty in passing through the fine open country of Dentilla and the smaller wilderness of Tenda. Mr Park was now again on the

Gambia; and, on the 10th June 1797, reached Pisania, where he was received as one risen from the dead; for all the traders from the interior had believed and reported, that, like Major Houghton, he was murdered by the Moors of Ludamar. Karfa, his benefactor, received double the stipulated price, and was overpowered with gratitude; but when he saw the commodious furniture, the skilful manufactures, the superiority in all the arts of life, displayed by Europeans, compared with the attainments of his countrymen, he was deeply mortified, and exclaimed, “Black men are nothing!" expressing his surprise that any one could find a motive for coming to so miserable a land as Africa.

The traveller had some difficulty in reaching home. He was obliged to embark, on the 15th June, in a vessel bound to America, and was afterwards driven by stress of weather to the Island of Antigua, whence he sailed on the 24th November, and on the 22d December landed at Falmouth. He arrived in London before dawn on the morning of Christmas-day, and in the garden of the British Museum accidentally met his brother-in-law Mr Dickson. Two years having elapsed since any tidings of him reached England, he had been given up for lost; so that his friends and the public were equally astonished and delighted by his reappearance. The report of his unexpected return, after making such splendid discoveries, kindled throughout the nation a higher enthusiasm than had perhaps been excited by the result of any former mission of the same nature. To satisfy the public impatience, an outline was drawn up by Mr Bryan Edwards, accompanied with learned geographical illustrations by Major Rennell. The entire narrative was published early in 1799, and besides the interest inseparable from the remarkable events described, the merit of being written in a pleasing and animated style has rendered it one of the most popular books in the English language.

Views under which he was sent out-Departure-Overtaken by the rainy Season-Great Sickness and Distress-Embarks on the Niger-Negotiations with the King of BambarraObtains Permission to build a Vessel-Sansanding-Sets sail -Accounts of his Death.

THE discoveries of Park in his first journey, though the most splendid made by any modern traveller, rather excited than satisfied the national curiosity. The Niger had been seen flowing eastward into the interior of Africa; and hence a still deeper interest and mystery were suspended over the future course and termination of that great central stream. Kingdoms had been discovered, more flourishing and more populous than any formerly known in that continent; but other kingdoms, still greater and wealthier, were reported to exist in regions which he had vainly attempted to reach. The lustre of his achievements had diffused among the public in general an ardour for discovery, which was formerly confined to a few enlightened individuals. It was evident, however, that the efforts of no private association could penetrate the depths of the African continent, and overcome the obstacle presented by its distance, its deserts, and its barbarism. Hence, George III., the patron and employer of the celebrated Cook, was induced to come forward again as the promoter of discovery in this new sphere; and accordingly, in October 1801, Mr Park was invited by government to undertake an expedition on a larger scale. Having in the mean time mar

ried the daughter of Mr Anderson, with whom he had served his apprenticeship as a surgeon, and having entered with some success on the practice of his profession in the town of Peebles, it was supposed that, content with laurels so dearly earned, he had renounced a life of peril and adventure. But none of these ties could detain him, when the invitation was given to renew and complete his splendid career, on which, indeed, his mind had been brooding with enthusiastic ardour. He had held much intercourse with Mr Maxwell, a gentleman who had long commanded a vessel in the African trade, by whom he was persuaded that the Congo, which, since its discovery by the Portuguese, had been almost lost sight of by Europeans, would prove to be the channel by which the Niger, after watering all the regions of Interior Africa. enters the Atlantic. The scientific world were very much disposed to adopt the same views on this subject; and, accordingly, the whole plan of the expedition was adjusted with an avowed reference to them. But the agitation of the public mind, by the change of ministry and the war with France, delayed farther proceedings till 1804, when he was desired by Lord Camden, the colonial secretary, to form his arrangements, with an assurance of being supplied with every means necessary for their accomplishment. The course which he now suggested, as the result of his dearly-bought experience, was, that he should no longer travel as a single and unprotected wanderer. He proposed to take with him a small party, who, being well armed and disciplined, might face almost any force which the natives could oppose to them; with these he meant to proceed direct to Sego; where he intended to build two boats 40 feet long, and thence to sail downwards to the estuary of the Congo. Instructions were accordingly sent out to Goree, that he should be furnished liberally with men and every thing else of which he might stand in need.

Mr Park sailed from Portsmouth in the Crescent transport on the 30th January 1805. About the 8th March he arrived at the Cape Verd Islands; and on the

28th reached Goree. There he was joined by an officer and thirty-five soldiers, and he provided himself with asses from the Islands, where the breed of these animals is excellent, and which appeared well fitted for traversing the rugged hills of the high country whence issue the infant streams of the Senegal and Niger. He took with him also two sailors and four artificers, who had been sent from England. But before all these measures could be completed a month had elapsed, and it was then evident that the rainy season could not be far distant,a period in which travelling is very difficult and trying

to European constitutions. It is manifest, therefore,,5

that he ought to have remained at Goree or Pisania till that sickly period had passed; but, in his enthusiastic state of mind, it would have been extremely painful to linger so long on the eve of his grand and favourite undertaking. He hoped, and it seemed possible, that before the middle of June, when the rains usually begin, he might reach the Niger, which could then be navigated without any serious toil or exposure. He departed, therefore, with his little band on the fourth day of May, and proceeded through Medina, along the banks of the Gambia. With so strong a party, he was no longer dependent on the protection of the petty kings and mansas; but the natives, seeing him so well provided, thought he had now no claim on their hospitality; on the contrary, they eagerly seized every opportunity to obtain some of the valuable articles which they saw in his possession. Thefts were frequent; the kings drove a hard bargain for presents; and at one place the women, with immense labour, had emptied all the wells, that they might derive an advantage from selling the water. Submitting quietly to these little annoyances, Mr Park proceeded along the Gambia, till he saw it flowing from the south between the hills of Foota Jallo and a high mountain called Muianta. Turning his face almost due west, he passed the streams of the Ba Lee, the Ba Fing, and the Ba Woollima, the three principal tributaries of the Senegal. This change of direction led him through

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