- Hardcover: 372 pages
- Publisher: New York Arno Press; Fine Facsimile Reprint edition (1971)
- ISBN-10: 0405017189
- ISBN-13: 978-0405017186
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa
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First Sentence
Soon after my return from the East Indies in 1793, having learnt that the Noblemen and Gentlemen, associated for the purpose of prosecuting Discoveries in the Interior of Africa, were desirous of engaging a person to explore that continent, by the way of the Gambia river, I took occasion, through means of the President of the Royal Society, to whom I had the honour to be known, of offering myself for that service. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Soon after my return from the East Indies in 1793, having learnt that the Noblemen and Gentlemen, associated for the purpose of prosecuting Discoveries in the Interior of Africa, were desirous of engaging a person to explore that continent, by the way of the Gambia river, I took occasion, through means of the President of the Royal Society, to whom I had the honour to be known, of offering myself for that service. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book depicts a trip to the West of Africa is a must for anyone who is interested in travel writing and history. It is the narrative of an educated Scottish man called Mungo Park, who is sponsored by the African Association, to adventure into the wilderness of the West of Africa in 1795 with the aim to find out which way the river Niger flowed.
The African Association, consisting of a group of professional men, desired to expand the country's knowledge of the interior of Africa. The Association's thirst for knowledge was related to the commercial links that it hoped to establish with the African countries. The information that the Association instructed Park to record contained imperialistic implications, which later were to form the basis for colonisation.
Park remained faithful to his employers throughout his trip, despite not reaching Timbuktu, but the real hard work as a narrator began when he was surrounded by a group of African ladies, who want to ascertain, 'by actual inspection,' whether the act of circumsision extended to Christian men....
How does he prevent the reader from peering over his shoulder?
This edition contains an excellent introduction by Kate Marsters, and is put together in the format of the original edition, including Park's instructions by the Association, list of subscribers and a picture of Mungo Park himself.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book has 388 pages, 8 B/W drawings and no maps. Park was born in 1771 in Selkirk, Scotland. In 1788, he joined Edinburgh Medical School. After qualifying as a surgoen, he sailed to Sumatra. Then he was sent to Gambia and he travelled light. In Benown, Park was forcibly detained for 2 months by Ali. He was sent back to West Africa to discover Niger River and in 1810 died after jumping into a river and drowned.
Park , on 22.5.1795 left Portsmouth for Gambia. In August, he was laid with fever. On 2.12.1795, he travels to the interior. He finds out the fate of Major Houghton. This time he is robed by the moors, because "he was a stranger,unprotected and a christian". Park escapes to Bambarra. He comes to Magestic Niger (the great water) flowing towards the rising Sun, eastwards.
After traveling with no provisions, Park decides to go no further, and starts westwards(homewards). At Wonda, he is laid with fever for 9 days and again 5 weeks. Then on 10 th June, he arrives back in Pasania. He takes off his beard and embarkes on american ship 'Charlestown'. As the ship surgeon dies, Park takes over the doctors role. From Antigua, he sails to England (22.12.1799). He travels to Scotland, writes his book and marries on 2.8.1799.
On 30.1.1805, Park starts his 2nd journey to West Africa, rather then practice at Peebles. Being a rainy season, most of his soldiers die of fever or dysentry. Park is attacked in his canoe, jumps into a river and drowns.
It is an excellent story of courage,suffering and dangerous expedition, very worth reading. Having born in Kenya, I would reccomend it.
Read and ENJOY.
Park , on 22.5.1795 left Portsmouth for Gambia. In August, he was laid with fever. On 2.12.1795, he travels to the interior. He finds out the fate of Major Houghton. This time he is robed by the moors, because "he was a stranger,unprotected and a christian". Park escapes to Bambarra. He comes to Magestic Niger (the great water) flowing towards the rising Sun, eastwards.
After traveling with no provisions, Park decides to go no further, and starts westwards(homewards). At Wonda, he is laid with fever for 9 days and again 5 weeks. Then on 10 th June, he arrives back in Pasania. He takes off his beard and embarkes on american ship 'Charlestown'. As the ship surgeon dies, Park takes over the doctors role. From Antigua, he sails to England (22.12.1799). He travels to Scotland, writes his book and marries on 2.8.1799.
On 30.1.1805, Park starts his 2nd journey to West Africa, rather then practice at Peebles. Being a rainy season, most of his soldiers die of fever or dysentry. Park is attacked in his canoe, jumps into a river and drowns.
It is an excellent story of courage,suffering and dangerous expedition, very worth reading. Having born in Kenya, I would reccomend it.
Read and ENJOY.
Format:Hardcover
A properly annotated version of Park by someone more well aquainted with the history and geography of West Africa is still badly needed. The present volume is entirely uncritical or reflective on the original text, which is filled with some highly questionable statements. A prime example is Park's claim that of the 'four Segous' two are north of the Niger river and two south, when all are in fact located south of the river - if he invented or was mistaken in this then what other errors or embellishments might there be? A critical point by point following of Park's journey using historic and modern data for the same landscape would be fascinating. Sadly, this book supplies little more than the text of a good original edition coupled with a rather literary introduction.
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