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the most direct route into the interior. Being provided with letters from the Tripolitan ambassador, he obtained the bey's permission, and even promises of assistance for this expedition. At the same time he made an arrangement with two Shereefs, or descendants of the prophet, whose persons are held sacred, to join a caravan, with which they intended to travel. He proceeded with them to Mesurata; but the Arabs there, being in a state of rebellion, refused to furnish camels and guides, which, indeed, could scarcely be expected, as the bey had declined to grant them a safe conduct through his territories. Mr Lucas was therefore obliged to return to Tripoli, without being able to penetrate farther into the continent. He learned, however, from Imhammed, one of the shereefs, who had been an extensive traveller, a variety of particulars respecting the interior regions. The Society had at the same time made very particular inquiries of Ben Ali, a Morocco caravan-trader, who happened to be in London. From these two sources Mr Beaufoy was enabled to draw up a view of Central Africa, very imperfect indeed, yet superior to any that had ever before appeared.

According to the information thus obtained, Bornou and Kashna were the most powerful states in that part of the continent, and formed even empires holding sway over a number of tributary kingdoms, ―a statement at that time correct, though affairs have since greatly changed. The Kashna caravan often crossed the Niger, and went onwards to great kingdoms behind the Gold Coast, Gongah or Kong, Asiente or Ashantee, Yarba or Yarriba, through which last Clapperton recently travelled. Several extensive routes across the Desert were also delineated. In regard to the Niger, the report of Imhammed revived

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the error which represented that river as flowing westward towards the Atlantic. The reason on which this opinion was founded will be evident when we observe, that it was in Kashna that Ben Ali considered himself as having crossed that river. His Niger, then, was the Quarrama or river of Zirmie, which flows westward through Kashna and Sackatoo, and is only a tributary to the Quorra or Great River, which we call the Niger. He describes the stream as very broad and rapid, probably from having seen it during the rainy season, when all the tropical rivers of any magnitude assume an imposing appearance.

Mr Lucas made no farther effort to penetrate into Africa. The next expedition was made by a new agent, and from a different quarter. Major Houghton, who had resided for some time as consul at Morocco, and afterwards in a military capacity at Goree, undertook the attempt to reach the Niger by the route of the Gambia, not, like Jobson and Stibbs, ascending its stream in boats, but travelling singly and by land. He seems to have been endowed with a gay, active, and sanguine spirit, fitted to carry him through the boldest undertakings, but without that cool and calculating temper necessary for him who endeavours to make his way amid scenes of peril and treachery. He began his journey early in 1791, and soon reached Medina, the capital of Woolli, where the venerable chief received him with extreme kindness, promised to furnish guides, and assured him that he might go to Timbuctoo with his staff in his hand. The only evil that befell him at Medina arose from a fire which broke out there, and, spreading rapidly through buildings roofed with cane and matted grass, converted in an hour a town of a

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thousand houses into a heap of ashes. Major Houghton ran out with the rest of the people into the fields, saving only such few articles as could be carried with him. He writes, that by trading at Fattatenda a man may make 800 per cent., and may live in plenty on ten pounds a-year. Quitting the Gambia, he took the road through Bambouk, and arrived at Ferbanna on the Faleme. Here he was received with the most extraordinary kindness by the king, who gave him a guide and money to defray his expenses. A note was afterwards received from him, dated Simbing, and which contained merely these words," 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.” This was the last communication from him ; for afterwards the negroes brought down to Pisania the melancholy tidings of his death, of which Mr Park subsequently learned the particulars. Some Moors had persuaded the Major to accompany them to Tisheet, a place in the Great Desert, frequented on account of its salt-mines. In alluring him thither, their object, as appears from the result, was to rob him; for it was very much out of the direct route to Timbuctoo. Of this in a few days he became sensible, and insisted upon returning; but they would not permit him to leave their party until they had stripped him of every article in his possession. He wandered about for some time through the Desert without food or shelter, till, at length, quite exhausted, he sat down under a tree and expired. Mr Park was shown the very spot where his remains were abandoned to the fowls of the air.

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CHAPTER VIII.

Park's First Journey.

Park undertakes to explore Africa-Departure-Ill Treatment at Bondou and Joag-Kooniakary-Captivity among the MoorsEscape The Niger-Sego-Sansanding-Silla-Obliged to return-Various Misfortunes-Distressed State-Finds Relief at Kamalia-Arrival in England.

As soon as the Association were informed of the fate of Major Houghton, they accepted the offered services of Mr Mungo Park, a native of Scotland, regularly bred to the medical profession, and just returned from a voyage to India. The committee were satisfied that Mr Park possessed the requisite qualifications, though they could not yet be aware of the full extent of his courage and perseverance, nor of the unrivalled eminence to which, as a traveller, he was destined to rise under their auspices.

He set sail from Portsmouth on the 22d May 1795, and on the 21st June arrived at Jillifree on the Gambia. He then proceeded to Pisania, in the fertile kingdom of Yani, where he was detained five months by illness under the hospitable roof of Dr Laidley. While suffering from the fever of the climate, he acquired the Mandingo language, and obtained considerable information from the negro traders respecting the interior countries. The

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