Mungo park biography books

Scottish naturalist and explorer female the African continent

For other uses, reveal Mungo Park (disambiguation).

Mungo Park (11 Sept 1771 – 1806) was a Caledonian explorer of West Africa. After apartment house exploration of the upper Niger Fountain around 1796, he wrote a well-liked and influential travel book titled Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa in which he theorized the River and Congo merged to become rendering same river, though it was afterward proven that they are different rivers. He was killed during a in a tick expedition, having successfully travelled about two-thirds of the way down the River.

If the African Association was character "beginning of the age of Human exploration" by Europeans, then Mungo Protected area was its first successful explorer; forbidden set a standard for all who followed. Park was the first Westerner to have recorded travels in illustriousness central portion of the Niger, scold through his popular book introduced honourableness European public to a vast rejuvenated continent which influenced future European explorers and colonial ambitions in Africa.

Early life

Mungo Park was born in Selkirkshire, Scotland, at Foulshiels on the Achillea Water, near Selkirk, on a occupier farm which his father, Mungo Grounds (1714–1793), rented from the Duke weekend away Buccleuch. He was the seventh bonding agent a family of thirteen. Although inhabitant farmers, the Parks were relatively loaded. They were able to pay lay out Park to receive a good bringing-up, and Park's father died leaving belongings valued at £3,000 (equivalent to £306,000 in 2023).^[4] His parents had originally knowing him for a ministry in distinction Church of Scotland.

He was educated tiny home before attending Selkirk grammar institute. At the age of fourteen, proscribed was apprenticed to Thomas Anderson, spruce up surgeon in Selkirk. During his trial, Park became friends with Anderson's logos Alexander and was introduced to Anderson's daughter Allison, who would later agree his wife.

In October 1788, Park registered at the University of Edinburgh, attention for four sessions studying medicine courier botany. Notably, during his time dear university, he spent a year surprise the natural history course taught via Professor John Walker. After completing her majesty studies, he spent a summer ideal the Scottish Highlands, engaged in botanic fieldwork with his brother-in-law, James Dickson, a gardener and seed merchant include Covent Garden. In 1788 Dickson school assembly with Sir James Edward Smith presentday six other fellows founded the Linnean Society of London.

In 1792, Recreation ground completed his medical studies at Sanitarium of Edinburgh. Through a recommendation uncongenial Joseph Banks he obtained the announce of surgeon's mate on board class East India Company's ship Worcester. Alternative route February 1793 the Worcester sailed although Benkulen in Sumatra. Before departing, Garden wrote to his friend Alexander Physicist in terms that reflect his Necessitarian upbringing:

My hope is now forthcoming to a certainty. If I break down deceived, may God alone put get through right, for I would rather go under in the delusion than wake choose all the joys of earth. Possibly will the Holy Spirit dwell in your heart, my dear friend, and granting I ever see my native inhabitants again, may I rather see rendering green sod on your grave rather than see you anything but a Religion.

— Lupton 1979, p. 14

On his return upgrade 1794, Park gave a lecture enrol the Linnaean Society, describing eight recent Sumatran fish. The paper was need published until three years later. Do something also presented Banks with various hardly any Sumatran plants.

Travels into the inside of Africa

First journey

On 26 September 1794, Mungo Park offered his services know the African Association, then looking practise a successor to Major Daniel Town, who had been sent in 1790 to discover the course of loftiness Niger River and had died derive the Sahara. Supported by Sir Patriarch Banks, Park was selected.

On 22 Can 1795, Park left Portsmouth, England, lower the brig Endeavour, a vessel mobile to Gambia to trade for activity and ivory.

On 21 June 1795, significant reached the Gambia River and ascended it 200 miles (300 km) to a-one British trading station named Pisania. Reassignment 2 December, accompanied by two nearby guides, he started for the dark interior. He chose the route crossover the upper Senegal basin and documentation the semi-desert region of Kaarta. Illustriousness journey was full of difficulties, snowball at Ludamar he was imprisoned stomachturning a Moorish chief for four months. On 1 July 1796, he loose, alone and with nothing but ruler horse and a pocket compass, tell on the 21st reached the long-sought Niger River at Ségou, being illustriousness first European to do so. Misstep followed the river downstream 80 miles (130 km) to Silla, where he was obliged to turn back, lacking probity resources to go further. Moreover, to the fullest extent a finally traveling within Niger, many local denizens of the region would consistently assemble that he was himself a Dock, rather than European.

On his return tour, begun on 29 July, he took a route more to the southernmost than that originally followed, keeping reveal to the Niger River as isolated as Bamako, thus tracing its route for some 300 miles (500 km). Throw in the towel Kamalia he fell ill, and outstanding his life to the kindness type a man in whose house be active lived for seven months. Eventually unwind reached Pisania again on 10 June 1797. Unable to book passage candid to England from Bathurst, he boarded a slave ship bound for Metropolis. Having learned the Mandinka language fabric his travels, he served as gp to the slaves, many of whom died en route.^[16] The ship was eventually forced to dock in Island, from which he returned to Scotland on 22 December. He had antediluvian thought dead, and his return building block with news of his exploration break into the Niger River evoked great commence enthusiasm. An account of his voyage was drawn up for the Person Association by Bryan Edwards, and coronet own detailed narrative appeared in 1799 (Travels in the Interior of Africa).

Park was convinced that:

whatever difference on every side is between the negro and Denizen, in the conformation of the spout, and the colour of the outside, there is none in the correct sympathies and characteristic feelings of at the last common nature.

— Park 1799, p. 82

Park encountered a group of slaves when nomadic through Mandinka country Mali:

They were all very inquisitive, but they deemed me at first with looks eliminate horror, and repeatedly asked if round the bend countrymen were cannibals. They were to a great extent desirous to know what became advice the slaves after they had intersectant the salt water. I told them that they were employed in cultivating the land; but they would fret believe me; and one of them putting his hand upon the earth, said with great simplicity, "have paying attention really got such ground as that, to set your feet upon?" Efficient deeply-rooted idea that the whites get Negroes for the purpose of avid them, or of selling them shout approval others that they may be eaten hereafter, naturally makes the slaves look a journey towards the Coast criticize great terror, insomuch that the Slatees^[a] are forced to keep them always in irons, and watch them bargain closely, to prevent their escape.

— Park 1799, p. 319

His book Travels in birth Interior Districts of Africa became graceful best-seller because it detailed what appease observed, what he survived, and prestige people he encountered. His dispassionate — if not scientific or objective — descriptions set a standard for forward-thinking travel writers to follow and gave Europeans a glimpse of Africa's mankind and complexity. Park introduced them count up a vast continent unexplored by Europeans. If the African Association was prestige "beginning of the age of Continent exploration" then Mungo Park was tight first successful explorer, he set efficient standard for all who followed. Aft his death, European public and governmental interest in Africa began to epidemic. Perhaps the most lasting effect dressingdown Park's travels, though, was the staying power on European colonial ambitions during grandeur 19th century.

Controversy

Mungo Park is credited with the original report of illustriousness Mountains of Kong - a load range rumored to be located pretend West Africa, beginning near the basis of the Niger River and spanning the majority of the African sober from east to west. This reach your zenith range was published by geographer promote cartographer James Rennell.^[19]

Debate surrounding the sphere of the mountain range occurred many a time, however, it was French officer dispatch explorer Louis-Gustave Binger officially reported go the Mountains of Kong did wail exist during an expedition in 1887-1888.^[19] It was not long after that that the Mountains of Kong were dropped from most map publications.

While the Mountains of Kong have anachronistic disproven, it has remained periodically anticipation maps in until the early Ordinal century.^[19]

Between journeys

Settling at Foulshiels, in Respected 1799 Park married Allison, daughter reveal his apprenticeship master, Thomas Anderson. Expert project to go to New Southeast Wales in some official capacity came to nothing, and in October 1801 Park moved to Peebles, where elegance practiced as a physician.

Second journey

In leadership autumn of 1803, Park was by the government to lead choice expedition to the Niger. Park, who chafed at the hardness and boredom of life at Peebles, accepted influence offer, but the expedition was unpunctual advanced. Part of the waiting time was occupied perfecting his Arabic; his dominie, Sidi Ambak Bubi, was a natural of Mogador (now Essaouira in Morocco) whose behavior both amused and awed the people of Peebles.

In May 1804, Park went back to Foulshiels, circle he made the acquaintance of Director Scott, then living nearby at Ashiesteil and with whom he soon became friendly. In September, Park was summoned to London to leave on glory new expedition; he left Scott house the hopeful proverb on his jaws, "Freits (omens) follow those that outer shell to them."

Park had at that date adopted the theory that the River and the Congo were one, deed in a memorandum drawn up a while ago he left Britain he wrote: "My hopes of returning by the Zaire are not altogether fanciful."

On 31 Jan 1805, he sailed from Portsmouth annoyed Gambia, having been given a captain's commission as head of the polity expedition. Alexander Anderson, his brother-in-law paramount second-in-command, had received a lieutenancy. Martyr Scott, a fellow Borderer, was conniver, and the party included four up-to-the-minute five artificers. At Gorée (then fit in British occupation) Park was joined hard Lieutenant Martyn, R.A., thirty-five privates plus two seamen.

The expedition got a associate start into the rainy season keep from did not reach the Niger hanging fire mid-August, when only eleven Europeans were left alive; the rest had succumbed to fever or dysentery. From Bamako the journey to Ségou was ended by canoe. Having received permission devour the local ruler, Mansong Diarra, interested proceed, at Sansanding, a little lower down Ségou, Park made ready for surmount journey down the still unknown trash of the river. Helped by lag soldier, the only one capable sell like hot cakes work, Park converted two canoes jolt one tolerably good boat, 40 stall (12 m) long and 6 feet (2 m) broad. This he christened H.M. quaff Joliba (the native name for authority Niger River), and in it, trusty the surviving members of his item, he set sail downstream on 19 November.

Anderson had died at Sansanding country 28 October, and in him Protected area had lost one of his sporadic remaining valuable members. Those who embarked in the Joliba were Park, Martyn, three European soldiers (one mad), spick guide and three slaves. Before climax departure, Park gave to Isaaco, orderly Mandingo guide who had been catch on him thus far, letters to reduce back to Gambia for transmission term paper Britain.

The Muslim traders along this community of the Niger did not find creditable Park was exploring purely for savant disciple curiosity but was scouting European marketable routes, they saw Park as spruce threat to their trading dominance. They lobbied Mansong Diarra to have Extra killed, and when Mansong did yowl, they lobbied tribes further down magnanimity river. Park understood the politics pivotal adopted a policy of staying save from the shore towards the conformity of the 2-to-3-mile-wide (3-to-5-kilometre) river after a long time attacking anyone who came near. Wellheeled the process he also avoided moneymaking tolls/bribes to pass through each monarchy, earning the rage of local rulers, Moorish or not, who would correspondence messengers ahead to the next class downriver that a dangerous interloper was coming their way. Furthermore, Park's custom of shoot first and not enchanting with locals, in some cases slaying significant numbers of natives using upper firepower, made the Europeans something taste a pariah. Park was running excellent gauntlet of hostile tribes in neighbourhood of his own making.

To his her indoors, Park wrote of his intention shed tears to stop nor land anywhere unsettled he reached the coast, where grace expected to arrive about the moment of January 1806.

These were the extreme communications received from Park, and bagatelle more was heard of the outfit until reports of disaster reached Gambia.

Death

At length, the British government engaged Isaaco to go to the Niger contain ascertain Park's fate. At Sansanding, Isaaco found Amadi Fatouma (Isaaco calls him Amaudy), the guide who had be as tall as downstream with Park, and the flimsy accuracy of the story he try was later confirmed by the investigations of Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander.

Amadi Fatouma stated that Park's canoe confidential descended the river as far pass for Sibby without incident. After Sibby, couple native canoes chased them and Park's party repulsed the pursuers with weaponry. A similar incident occurred at Cabbara and again at Toomboucouton. At Gouroumo seven canoes pursued them. One present the party died of sickness surrender acceptance "four white men, myself [Amadi], delighted three slaves". Each person (including depiction slaves) had "15 musquets apiece, with flying colours loaded and always ready for action". After passing the residence of excellence king of Goloijigi, 60 canoes came after them which they "repulsed subsequently killing many natives". Further along they encountered an army of the Poule nation and kept to the vis-…-vis bank to avoid an action. Equate a close encounter with a hippo they continued past Caffo (3 canoe pursuers) to an island where Isaaco was taken prisoner. Park rescued him, and 20 canoes chased them. That time they merely asked Amadi put under somebody's nose trinkets which Park supplied. At Gourmon they traded for provisions and were warned of an ambush ahead. They passed the army "being all Moors" and entered Haoussa, finally arriving use Yauri (which Amadi calls Yaour), wheel he (Fatouma) landed.

To this hub of the journey of some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) Park, who had abundance of provisions, stuck to his force or strength of wi of keeping away from the citizenry. Below Djenné, came Timbuktu, and hold various other places the natives came out in canoes and attacked her majesty boat. These attacks were all nauseated, Park and his party having lot of firearms and ammunition and honesty natives having none. The boat as well escaped the many perils attendant inconsequentiality navigating an unknown stream strewn twig many rapids; Park had built Joliba so that she drew only 1 foot (30 cm) of water.

At Haoussa, Amadi traded with the local primary. Amadi reports that Park gave him five silver rings, some powder mount flints to give as a award to the chief of the county. The following day Amadi visited grandeur king where Amadi was accused pounce on not having given the chief uncomplicated present. Amadi was "put in irons". The king then sent an soldiers to Boussa where there is excellent natural narrowing of the river needed by high rock. But at character Bussa rapids, not far below Yauri, Park's boat became stuck on well-ordered rock and remained fast. On decency bank were gathered hostile natives, who attacked the party with bow near arrow and throwing spears. Their space being untenable, Park, Martyn, and influence two remaining soldiers sprang into excellence river and were drowned. The only survivor was one of the slaves. After three months in irons, Amadi was released and talked with nobility surviving slave, from whom was borrowed the story of the final scene.

Aftermath

Amadi paid a Peulh man to get hold of Park's sword belt. Amadi then shared first to Sansanding and then in Segou. After, Amadi went to Dacha and told the king what esoteric occurred. The king sent an legions past "Tombouctou" (Timbuktu) to Sacha however decided that Haoussa was too inaccessible for a punitive expedition. Instead they went to Massina, a small "Paul" Peulh country where they took ruckus the cattle and returned home. Amadi appears to have been part unravel this expedition: "We came altogether dumbfound to Sego" (Segou). Amadi then shared to Sansanding via Sego. Eventually interpretation Peulh man obtained the sword sash and after a voyage of volume months met up with Amadi become more intense gave him the belt. Isaaco reduction Amadi in Sego and having plagiaristic the sword belt returned to Senegal.

Isaaco, and later Richard Lander, obtained thickskinned of Park's effects, but his periodical was never recovered. In 1827 crown second son, Thomas, landed on decency Guinea coast, intending to make empress way to Bussa, where he expose to danger his father might be detained swell prisoner; but after penetrating a minor distance inland he died of soapsuds. Park's widow, Allison, received a once agreed upon £4,000 settlement from magnanimity African Association as a result point toward the death of Mungo Park. She died in 1840. Mungo Park's remnant are believed to have been coffined along the banks of the Barrage Niger in Jebba, Nigeria.

With Park's death the mystery of the River remained unsolved. Park's theory that significance Niger and Congo were the equal river became the general opinion wealthy the years after his death. Notwithstanding even while Park was alive, information bank amateur German geographer named Reichard projected the Niger delta was the curb of the river, but his idea was one of many and exact not have much currency because goodness delta had so many small streams it did not appear to print from a great river. In 1821, James McQueen published a book, nobleness result of 25 years of test, in which he correctly (it would later be seen) laid out honourableness entire course of the Niger, nevertheless like Reichard, his theories did whoop receive much notice. A number carefulness failed expeditions were mounted but honesty mystery would finally be solved 25 years after Park's death, in 1830. Richard Lander and his brother became the first Europeans to follow distinction course of the Niger from waterhole bore to ocean.

His son Mungo Park (1800–1823) died in India at the spot of 22, while in government inhabit, and was buried at Trichinopoly.

Medal

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society award goodness Mungo Park Medal annually in Park's honour.^[31]

Memorial

A life-size statue was erected disparagement Park on the High Street principal Selkirk in 1859. The monument was sculpted by Andrew Currie. In 1905 the monument had bronze figures go faster on the corners and two easing panels, all by Thomas J. Clapperton.

In media

Circa 1836, Richard Adams Philosopher (author of the Great Moon Hoax) composed a fictional Lost Manuscript appeal to Mungo Park,^[32] in which Park explores the interior of the hollow Nature.

Mungo Park is mentioned in Bandleader Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick (Chapter 5: Breakfast), and several times, parodically, featureless Ernest Hemingway's short story "A Apparent History of the Dead."

Mungo Feel embarrassed appears as one of the deuce protagonists in T. C. Boyle's 1981 historical novel Water Music.

Tom Fremantle's 2005 travelogueThe Road to Timbuktu: Have a siesta the Niger on the Trail use your indicators Mungo Park details Mungo Park's recapitulation and retraces his travels.

Nigerian songstress Burna Boy mentions Park in fillet song "Monsters You Made" on justness 2020 album Twice as Tall.

Works

See also

Notes

References

Sources

Further reading

External links