33» Mr. Parkas Travels in the unexplored Tarts S)f Africa. 



eaftern direction, which was not received by geographers without difficulty and hefitatiofl. 

 Mr. Park's teftimony is decifive, not only that the two names denote the fame dream, but 

 tlfothat it flows from weit toeaft, which he afcertaincd by a perilous ambulation of fome 

 hundred miles along its bank. All quedion refpefting the fource, the exillence, and the 

 diredion of this g'reat river is therefore obviated, but its termination ftill remains unknown. 



The city of Sego, at which Mr. Park now arrived, confifts of four divifions or quarters, 

 two on each fide of the water. The houfes are built of clay with flat roofs : fome of them 

 have two (lories, and many are white-waflied. Moorifh Mofques are feen in every quarter. 

 Thefe objefts, with the numerous boats on the river, a crowded population, and the culti- 

 Tated date of the furrounding country, formed altogether a profpeft of civilization and 

 magnificence, which our traveller little expeded to find in the bofom of Africa. From 

 the beft enquiries he could make, he had reafon to believe that Sego contained thirty 

 thoufand inhabitants. 



The boats on the Niger are of a fingular conftruflion, each being formed of the trunk 

 of two large trees, hollowed out and joined together endways, the jundion being exa£lly 

 acrofs the middle of the boat. They are, therefore, very long and narrow, and have 

 neither decks nor mafts. Mr. Park proceeded to the ferry, in order to crofs to the King's 

 refidence, which was on the other fide ; but before he could obtain a paflage, the King had 

 fent to enquire concerning the objeft of his journey. Mr. Park gave the beft anfwer he could, 

 adding, that he had been robbed of all he pofleflcd, and implored the King's bounty and 

 proteclionv The meflenger told him to go to a diftant village, which he .pointed out, and 

 wait for the King's further orders. He found the inhabitants either afraid or unwilling to 

 give him lodging or entertainment, and having turned his horfe loofe, he fought (belter 

 from a dorm of thunder and rain under a tree. At length as night approached, thatkind- 

 nefs and humanity inherent in the female fex, to which Tie had often been indebted on 

 former occafions, came to his relief on the prefent. A poor Negro woman returning from 

 the labours of the field, obferved that he was wet, weary, and dejefted ; and taking up his 

 faddle and bridle told him to follow her. She led him to her cottage, lighted up a lamp, 

 procured him an excellent fupper of fifh, and plenty of corn for his horfe ; after which, (he 

 fpread a mat upon the floor, and faid he might remain there for the night. Vox this well- 

 timed bounty our traveller prefented her with two of the four brafs buttons which remain- 

 ed on his waiftcoat. 



"Mr. Park adds other particulars Concerning his'benefaflrefs, which heigliten the pi£lure. 

 He relates, that the good woman having performed .the rites of hofpitality towards himfelf, 

 called in the female part of the family, and made ihemfpin cotton for a greatpart of thenight. 

 They lightened their labours by fongs: one of which mud have beencompofed extempore, 

 for our traveller was himfelf the fubje£l of it ; and the air was, in his opinion, the fweeteft 

 and mod plaintive he ever heard. The words, as may be expected, were fimple ; and may 

 be literally tranflated as follows- " The winds roared, and the rain fell. The poor white 

 *' man faint and weary, came and fat under our tree. He has no mother to bring liim milk, 

 "no wife to grind his corn." — Chorus — " Let us pity the white man, no mother has he, 

 •• &c. &c." Simple as thefe words are, they are natural and affecting; and contain a cu- 

 rious allufion to the date of manners in favage life, in which the women perform all the do- 

 jneftic duties. 



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