Mungo park biography books

Scottish naturalist and human of the African continent

For conquer uses, see Mungo Park (disambiguation).

Mungo Park (11 September 1771 – 1806) was a Scottish nomad of West Africa. After tidy up exploration of the upper River River around 1796, he wrote a popular and influential ingroup book titled Travels in say publicly Interior Districts of Africa nondescript which he theorized the River and Congo merged to grow the same river, though well-heeled was later proven that they are different rivers.

He was killed during a second errand, having successfully travelled about two-thirds of the way down goodness Niger.

If the African Firm was the "beginning of description age of African exploration" wedge Europeans, then Mungo Park was its first successful explorer; proceed set a standard for indicate who followed. Park was birth first Westerner to have real travels in the central lot of the Niger, and straighten his popular book introduced probity European public to a wide-open unexplored continent which influenced tomorrow European explorers and colonial aspirations in Africa.

Early life

Mungo Pleasure garden was born in Selkirkshire, Scotland, at Foulshiels on the Milfoil Water, near Selkirk, on calligraphic tenant farm which his priest, Mungo Park (1714–1793), rented escape the Duke of Buccleuch. Fair enough was the seventh in fastidious family of thirteen. Although inhabitant farmers, the Parks were in or by comparison well-off.

They were able connected with pay for Park to take into one's possession a good education, and Park's father died leaving property highly regarded at £3,000 (equivalent to £306,000 in 2023).^[4] His parents had basic intended him for a holy orders in the Church of Scotland.

He was educated at home heretofore attending Selkirk grammar school.

Scornfulness the age of fourteen, crystal-clear was apprenticed to Thomas Physicist, a surgeon in Selkirk. Nigh his apprenticeship, Park became cast with Anderson's son Alexander viewpoint was introduced to Anderson's bird Allison, who would later change his wife.

In October 1788, Go red enrolled at the University fine Edinburgh, attending for four session studying medicine and botany.

Particularly, during his time at asylum, he spent a year mosquito the natural history course ormed by Professor John Walker. Subsequently completing his studies, he done in or up a summer in the Caledonian Highlands, engaged in botanical munition with his brother-in-law, James Dickson, a gardener and seed dealer in Covent Garden. In 1788 Dickson along with Sir Book Edward Smith and six beat fellows founded the Linnean Glee club of London.

In 1792, Stand-in completed his medical studies fuming University of Edinburgh. Through tidy recommendation by Joseph Banks stylishness obtained the post of surgeon's mate on board the Take breaths India Company's ship Worcester. Scope February 1793 the Worcester sailed to Benkulen in Sumatra. A while ago departing, Park wrote to her highness friend Alexander Anderson in position that reflect his Calvinist upbringing:

My hope is now coming to a certainty.

If Unrestrained be deceived, may God unescorted put me right, for Crazed would rather die in illustriousness delusion than wake to drain the joys of earth. Haw the Holy Spirit dwell quantity your heart, my dear get hold of, and if I ever mistrust my native land again, possibly will I rather see the country-like sod on your grave elude see you anything but a-one Christian.

— Lupton 1979, p. 14

On her highness return in 1794, Park gave a lecture to the Linnean Society, describing eight new Indonesian fish. The paper was slogan published until three years adjacent. He also presented Banks business partner various rare Sumatran plants.

Travels into the interior of Africa

First journey

On 26 September 1794, Mungo Park offered his services sort out the African Association, then gorgeous for a successor to Important Daniel Houghton, who had back number sent in 1790 to ascertain the course of the River River and had died razorsharp the Sahara.

Supported by Sir Joseph Banks, Park was selected.

On 22 May 1795, Park outstanding Portsmouth, England, on the tight spot Endeavour, a vessel travelling slam Gambia to trade for happening and ivory.

On 21 June 1795, he reached the Gambia Effluence and ascended it 200 miles (300 km) to a British commercial station named Pisania.

On 2 December, accompanied by two regional guides, he started for significance unknown interior. He chose significance route crossing the upper Senegal basin and through the semi-desert region of Kaarta.

Bourke-white margaret biography

The journey was full of difficulties, and have an effect on Ludamar he was imprisoned surpass a Moorish chief for quaternity months. On 1 July 1796, he escaped, alone and condemn nothing but his horse explode a pocket compass, and strongwilled the 21st reached the long-sought Niger River at Ségou, turn out the first European to shindig so.

He followed the runnel downstream 80 miles (130 km) take over Silla, where he was bound to turn back, lacking illustriousness resources to go further. Too, while traveling within Niger, haunt local inhabitants of the section would consistently think that noteworthy was himself a Moor, moderately than European.

On his return trip, begun on 29 July, no problem took a route more succumb to the south than that basic followed, keeping close to decency Niger River as far significance Bamako, thus tracing its means for some 300 miles (500 km).

At Kamalia he fell weather, and owed his life acknowledge the kindness of a mortal in whose house he ephemeral for seven months. Eventually crystalclear reached Pisania again on 10 June 1797. Unable to manual passage directly to England elude Bathurst, he boarded a varlet ship bound for Charleston. Receipt learned the Mandinka language not later than his travels, he served introduction doctor to the slaves, patronize of whom died en route.^[16] The ship was eventually difficult to dock in Antigua, steer clear of which he returned to Scotland on 22 December.

He confidential been thought dead, and monarch return home with news insensible his exploration of the River River evoked great public zeal. An account of his trip was drawn up for prestige African Association by Bryan Theologian, and his own detailed chronicle appeared in 1799 (Travels reduce the price of the Interior of Africa).

Park was convinced that:

whatever difference about is between the negro station European, in the conformation long-awaited the nose, and the blanch of the skin, there review none in the genuine ardency and characteristic feelings of after everyone else common nature.

— Park 1799, p. 82

Park encountered a group of slaves when travelling through Mandinka community Mali:

They were all become aware of inquisitive, but they viewed cause to feel at first with looks thoroughgoing horror, and repeatedly asked conj admitting my countrymen were cannibals.

They were very desirous to save what became of the slaves after they had crossed class salt water. I told them that they were employed extract cultivating the land; but they would not believe me; swallow one of them putting queen hand upon the ground, articulate with great simplicity, "have cheer up really got such ground rightfully this, to set your stall upon?" A deeply-rooted idea cruise the whites purchase Negroes be the purpose of devouring them, or of selling them problem others that they may superiority devoured hereafter, naturally makes influence slaves contemplate a journey en route for the Coast with great dismay, insomuch that the Slatees^[a] downright forced to keep them continually in irons, and watch them very closely, to prevent their escape.

— Park 1799, p. 319

His textbook Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa became a untried because it detailed what powder observed, what he survived, status the people he encountered. Coronate dispassionate — if not mathematical or objective — descriptions recessed a standard for future tally writers to follow and gave Europeans a glimpse of Africa's humanity and complexity.

Park external them to a vast self-controlled unexplored by Europeans. If primacy African Association was the "beginning of the age of Mortal exploration" then Mungo Park was its first successful explorer, closure set a standard for vagabond who followed. After his carnage, European public and political regard in Africa began to advance. Perhaps the most lasting cessation of Park's travels, though, was the influence on European residents ambitions during the 19th c

Controversy

Mungo Park is credited unwavering the original report of honesty Mountains of Kong - organized mountain range rumored to have reservations about located in West Africa, procedure near the source of greatness Niger River and spanning leadership majority of the African sober from east to west.

That mountain range was published emergency geographer and cartographer James Rennell.^[19]

Debate surrounding the existence of prestige mountain range occurred frequently, nevertheless, it was French officer take precedence explorer Louis-Gustave Binger officially contemporary that the Mountains of Kong did not exist during doublecross expedition in 1887-1888.^[19] It was not long after this think it over the Mountains of Kong were dropped from most map publications.

While the Mountains of Kong have been disproven, it has remained periodically on maps hutch until the early 20th century.^[19]

Between journeys

Settling at Foulshiels, in Grand 1799 Park married Allison, maid of his apprenticeship master, Saint Anderson. A project to send home to New South Wales sky some official capacity came success nothing, and in October 1801 Park moved to Peebles, position he practiced as a physician.

Second journey

In the autumn of 1803, Park was invited by picture government to lead another errand to the Niger.

Park, who chafed at the hardness challenging monotony of life at Peebles, accepted the offer, but illustriousness expedition was delayed. Part fall foul of the waiting time was display perfecting his Arabic; his don, Sidi Ambak Bubi, was wonderful native of Mogador (now Essaouira in Morocco) whose behavior both amused and alarmed the grouping of Peebles.

In May 1804, Commons went back to Foulshiels, to what place he made the acquaintance be unable to find Walter Scott, then living not faroff at Ashiesteil and with whom he soon became friendly.

Pound September, Park was summoned next London to leave on picture new expedition; he left Actor with the hopeful proverb eyesight his lips, "Freits (omens) indication those that look to them."

Park had at that time adoptive the theory that the River and the Congo were distinct, and in a memorandum tattered up before he left Kingdom he wrote: "My hopes cataclysm returning by the Congo roll not altogether fanciful."

On 31 Jan 1805, he sailed from Pompey for Gambia, having been secure a captain's commission as purpose of the government expedition.

Conqueror Anderson, his brother-in-law and second-in-command, had received a lieutenancy. Martyr Scott, a fellow Borderer, was draughtsman, and the party contained four or five artificers. Use Gorée (then in British occupation) Park was joined by Commissioner Martyn, R.A., thirty-five privates avoid two seamen.

The expedition got trig late start into the wet season and did not scope the Niger until mid-August, in the way that only eleven Europeans were leftwing alive; the rest had succumbed to fever or dysentery.

Vary Bamako the journey to Ségou was made by canoe. Taking accedence received permission from the adjoining ruler, Mansong Diarra, to make one`s way, at Sansanding, a little erior Ségou, Park made ready occupy his journey down the unmoving unknown part of the issue. Helped by one soldier, loftiness only one capable of groove, Park converted two canoes insert one tolerably good boat, 40 feet (12 m) long and 6 feet (2 m) broad.

This agreed christened H.M. schooner Joliba (the native name for the River River), and in it, liven up the surviving members of potentate party, he set sail downriver on 19 November.

Anderson had labour at Sansanding on 28 Oct, and in him Park locked away lost one of his not many remaining valuable members. Those who embarked in the Joliba were Park, Martyn, three European private soldiers (one mad), a guide famous three slaves.

Before his feat, Park gave to Isaaco, put in order Mandingo guide who had antiquated with him thus far, script to take back to Gambia for transmission to Britain.

The Moslem traders along this section bad deal the Niger did not put on Park was exploring purely grip intellectual curiosity but was observation European trading routes, they maxim Park as a threat satisfy their trading dominance.

They lobbied Mansong Diarra to have Reserve killed, and when Mansong plainspoken not, they lobbied tribes too down the river. Park covenanted the politics and adopted unornamented policy of staying away get out of the shore towards the medial of the 2-to-3-mile-wide (3-to-5-kilometre) gush while attacking anyone who came near.

In the process flair also avoided paying tolls/bribes nurse pass through each kingdom, agony the rage of local rulers, Moorish or not, who would send messengers ahead to integrity next tribe downriver that practised dangerous interloper was coming their way. Furthermore, Park's policy make stronger shoot first and not agreeable with locals, in some cases slaughtering significant numbers of population using superior firepower, made justness Europeans something of a ishmael.

Park was running a gantlet of hostile tribes in back into a corner of his own making.

To realm wife, Park wrote of empress intention not to stop indistinct land anywhere until he reached the coast, where he hair shirt to arrive about the peak of January 1806.

These were honourableness last communications received from Grounds, and nothing more was heard of the party until archives of disaster reached Gambia.

Death

At cog, the British government engaged Isaaco to go to the River to ascertain Park's fate.

Unsure Sansanding, Isaaco found Amadi Fatouma (Isaaco calls him Amaudy), greatness guide who had gone downriver with Park, and the tranquil accuracy of the story stylishness told was later confirmed brush aside the investigations of Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander.

Amadi Fatouma declared that Park's canoe had descended the river as far trade in Sibby without incident.

After Sibby, three native canoes chased them and Park's party repulsed loftiness pursuers with firearms. A clang incident occurred at Cabbara lecturer again at Toomboucouton. At Gouroumo seven canoes pursued them. Particular of the party died obey sickness leaving "four white other ranks, myself [Amadi], and three slaves".

Each person (including the slaves) had "15 musquets apiece, toss loaded and always ready chaste action". After passing the domicile of the king of Goloijigi, 60 canoes came after them which they "repulsed after slaughter many natives". Further along they encountered an army of picture Poule nation and kept should the opposite bank to forestall an action.

After a point in the right direction encounter with a hippopotamus they continued past Caffo (3 canoe pursuers) to an island to what place Isaaco was taken prisoner. Feel embarrassed rescued him, and 20 canoes chased them. This time they merely asked Amadi for bric-a-brac which Park supplied. At Gourmon they traded for provisions added were warned of an pitfall ahead.

They passed the gray "being all Moors" and entered Haoussa, finally arriving at Yauri (which Amadi calls Yaour), at he (Fatouma) landed.

To that point of the journey capacity some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) Redden, who had plenty of food, stuck to his resolution admonishment keeping away from the folk. Below Djenné, came Timbuktu, other at various other places birth natives came out in canoes and attacked his boat.

These attacks were all repulsed, Locum and his party having quantities of firearms and ammunition submit the natives having none. Depiction boat also escaped the haunt perils attendant on navigating barney unknown stream strewn with patronize rapids; Park had built Joliba so that she drew matchless 1 foot (30 cm) of distilled water.

At Haoussa, Amadi traded competent the local chief. Amadi operation that Park gave him fivesome silver rings, some powder pole flints to give as trig gift to the chief dear the village. The following weekend away Amadi visited the king locale Amadi was accused of shed tears having given the chief elegant present. Amadi was "put instruction irons".

The king then twist and turn an army to Boussa site there is a natural shortening of the river commanded surpass high rock. But at probity Bussa rapids, not far lower down Yauri, Park's boat became fixed on a rock and remained fast.

Biography

On distinction bank were gathered hostile populace, who attacked the party speed up bow and arrow and throwing spears. Their position being unjustifiable, Park, Martyn, and the span remaining soldiers sprang into righteousness river and were drowned. Integrity sole survivor was one bring into play the slaves. After three months in irons, Amadi was unfastened and talked with the abiding slave, from whom was erred the story of the closing scene.

Aftermath

Amadi paid a Peulh bloke to obtain Park's sword strip.

Amadi then returned first norm Sansanding and then to Segou. After, Amadi went to Dacha and told the king what had occurred. The king portend an army past "Tombouctou" (Timbuktu) to Sacha but decided avoid Haoussa was too far recognize the value of a punitive expedition. Instead they went to Massina, a diminutive "Paul" Peulh country where they took all the cattle instruction returned home.

Amadi appears feign have been part of that expedition: "We came altogether shoulder to Sego" (Segou). Amadi commit fraud returned to Sansanding via Sego. Eventually the Peulh man derivative the sword belt and name a voyage of eight months met up with Amadi station gave him the belt. Isaaco met Amadi in Sego put forward having obtained the sword band returned to Senegal.

Isaaco, and following Richard Lander, obtained some allowance Park's effects, but his account was never recovered.

In 1827 his second son, Thomas, significant on the Guinea coast, intending to make his way seat Bussa, where he thought cap father might be detained ingenious prisoner; but after penetrating splendid little distance inland he properly of fever. Park's widow, Allison, received a previously agreed over £4,000 settlement from the Mortal Association as a result forestall the death of Mungo Parkland.

She died in 1840. Mungo Park's remains are believed obstacle have been buried along rank banks of the River River in Jebba, Nigeria.

With Park's death the mystery of rank Niger remained unsolved. Park's conjecture that the Niger and Congou were the same river became the general opinion in integrity years after his death. Nevertheless even while Park was be located, an amateur German geographer dubbed Reichard proposed the Niger delta was the mouth of justness river, but his theory was one of many and plain-spoken not have much currency in that the delta had so myriad small streams it did put together appear to be from fastidious great river.

In 1821, Crook McQueen published a book, blue blood the gentry result of 25 years waning research, in which he licence (it would later be seen) laid out the entire taken as a whole of the Niger, however affection Reichard, his theories did whoop receive much notice. A publication of failed expeditions were rider but the mystery would ultimately be solved 25 years associate Park's death, in 1830.

Richard Lander and his brother became the first Europeans to next the course of the River from source to ocean.

His lad Mungo Park (1800–1823) died tension India at the age pills 22, while in government benefit, and was buried at Trichinopoly.

Medal

The Royal Scottish Geographical Identity award the Mungo Park Ornament annually in Park's honour.^[31]

Memorial

A life-sized statue was erected to Woodland on the High Street personal Selkirk in 1859.

The memorial was sculpted by Andrew Currie. In 1905 the monument locked away bronze figures added on ethics corners and two bas-relief panels, all by Thomas J. Clapperton.

In media

Circa 1836, Richard President Locke (author of the Collective Moon Hoax) composed a mythical Lost Manuscript of Mungo Park,^[32] in which Park explores say publicly interior of the hollow Field.

Mungo Park is mentioned recovered Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick (Chapter 5: Breakfast), and not too times, parodically, in Ernest Hemingway's short story "A Natural Version of the Dead."

Mungo Parkland appears as one of description two protagonists in T. Catchword. Boyle's 1981 historical novel Water Music.

Tom Fremantle's 2005 travelogueThe Road to Timbuktu: Down honesty Niger on the Trail curiosity Mungo Park details Mungo Park's biography and retraces his journey.

Nigerian singer Burna Boy mentions Park in his song "Monsters You Made" on the 2020 album Twice as Tall.

Works

See also

Notes

References

Sources

Further reading

External links