Mr. Park's travels in Jfricth 37<> 



Proceedings of the Aflbclation for promoting the Difcovery in the Interior Parts of 



Africa, &c. 



Abftraft of Mr. Park's Travels. [Concluded from page 332.] 



AFTER travelling upwards of a month, afcending by the fide of the Niger till it ceafed to 

 be navigable, he at length funk, under his fatigues, and the difficulties of his enterprife ; and 

 at Kamalia, five hundred miles (hort of any friendly country, on the Gambia, he fell into a 

 fcvere and dangerous fit of ficknc<s> If in this fituation had he been able to travel, great 

 part of his way Jay through a defert. He had therefore no other refource but to wait for 

 the firft caravan of flaves which might travel the fame track. Such a one was cxpefted to 

 pafs through Kamalia at the end of three months, and the chief direftor refided at the 

 place. To hinij therefore, Mr. Park applied ; and for the value of one flave, to be paid on 

 his fafe arrival at the Gambia, this worthy negro, whofe name was Karfa Taura, not only 

 undertook to conduct him fafe to Pifania, but offered him likewife the accommodation of 

 his houfe until the time of the caravan's departure. Under this man's roof our traveller 

 was confined to his mat (his only bed), by a fevcre and dangerous fever, for upwards of a 

 month. Five months longer was he detained for the- caravan. During this long interval, 

 not a murmur efcaped the lips of Kai ra, nor of any of his wives, at the trouble and expence 

 which their inmate brought upon them. To the kind attentions, the tender folicitude, the 

 cheerful afliduity, and flowing hofpitality, of thefe poor Pagans, Mr. Park declares that he 

 is indebted, not only for his fafe return to Great Britain, but alfo for the prefervation o£ 

 his life ; aiwl he admits that he made his friend Karfa but an inadequate return (though 

 the beft in his power), by prefenting him, on their arrival at the Gambia, with double the 

 fum that he had originally promifed. 



During this long confinement of Mr. Park, he acquired much information refpedling the 

 trade in flaves and gold-duft, the vegetable producStions of Africa, the character of the na- 

 tives, their agriculture and manufactures, their modes of living, manners, fuperflitions, 

 wars, police, and government, which have never yet been competently defcribed, and for 

 which we muft wait for the appearance. of his work. In the mean time it may be re- 

 marked, that though the climate on the borders of the defert is prodigioufly hot, yet in the 

 fouthern diftriiSVs, which abound with wood and water, the climate improves, and in the 

 mornings and evenings the air is ferene, temperate and pleafant. Some of the vegetable 

 produdts have been noticed. To thefe may be added the Lotus, of ancient renown, afford- 

 ing a fmall, yellow, farinaceous berry about the fize of an olive, which being poimded 

 in a wooden vefTel, and afterwards dried in the fun, is made into excellent cakes refem- 

 bling the fweeteR gingerbread. JMoft of the edible roots of the Weft Indies are likewife 

 found here, together with indigo, cotton and tobacco; but neither the fugar-cane, 

 coffee, cacao, the pine-apple, nor a variety of other fruits, were feen by him, nor known to 

 the natives. Uncultivated lands belong to the ftate ; but in other refpedls landed property 

 is admitted, without, as it fhould appear, any particular feodal or other limitations. Among 

 their manufaftures may be reckoned, an excellent beer made from corn -y the fabrics of 

 cotton cloth, which are dyed with indigo ; the tanning of leather, which is flained both 

 yellow and red ; the fmelting of iron, though imperfedly j, and the calling and working o£ 

 gold. 



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