Mungo Park, a Scottish surgeon and explorer, was sent out by the 'Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior of Africa' after Major Houghton failed to return, to discover the if the River Niger was a tributary of either the river Senegal or Gambia in South Africa. This is the story of his first trip. The journey had many challenges, such as language, religions, imprisonment and robbery. Most of the trip he had nothing but his tattered clothes, a horse, a pocket compass and his hat where he kept his notes. After first following the Gambia River, he finally was the first European to reached the Niger River at Ségou. He continued along the Niger another 80 miles to Silla, where he had to turn around as he had no way of continuing without procuring more supplies. He then returned to England by boat, via America.
s native country. As he
was known to Dr. Laidley, the Doctor recommended him to me, and I hired
him as my interpreter, at the rate of ten bars monthly to be paid to
himself, and five bars a month to be paid to his wife during his absence.
Dr. Laidley furthermore provided me with a negro boy of his own, named
Demba, a sprightly youth, who, besides Mandingo, spoke the language
of the Serawoollies, an inland people (of whom mention will hereafter
be made) residing on the banks of the Senegal; and to induce him to
behave well, the Doctor promised him his freedom on his return, in case
I should report favourably of his fidelity and services. I was
furnished with a horse for myself (a small but very hardy and spirited
beast, which cost me to the value of £7 10s), and two asses for
my interpreter and servant. My baggage was light, consisting chiefly
of provisions for two days; a small assortment of beads, amber, and
tobacco, for the purchase of a fresh supply as I proceeded; a few changes
of linen, and other necessary apparel; an umbrella, a pocket sextant,
a magnetic compass, and a thermometer; together with two fowling-pieces,
two pair of pistols, and some other small articles.
A free man (a bashreen, or Mohammedan) named Madiboo, who was
travelling to the kingdom of Bambara, and two slatees, or slave merchants,
of the Serawoolli nation, and of the same sect, who were going to Bondou,
offered their services, as far as they intended respectively to proceed,
as did likewise a negro named Tami (also a Mohammedan), a native of
Kasson, who had been employed some years by Dr. Laidley as a blacksmith,
and was returning to his native country with the savings of his labours.
All these men travelled on foot, driving their asses before them.
Thus I had no less than six attendants, all of whom had been taught
to regard me with great respect, and to consider that their safe return
hereafter to the countries on the Gambia wo
