NACTIUR AL HISTORY: 
$ Thefe are the moft remarkable 
-points.of information that I have 
been able to collect concerning the 
route. 1 haye got no information 
refpecting the termination of the 
Niger; and I am forry it is fo lame 
in other-parts. 
© T think it is but juftice to ac- 
‘knowledge the many obligations I 
am under to Dr. Laidley, who re- 
ceived me, on my arrival in Africa, 
wiih an invitation to his houfe, 
where I have been ever fince; and 
it has been entirely owing to his 
exertions that I am now enabled 
to put my dcfigns in execution, and 
attempt, with fome probability of 
fucceis, to fulfil my engagements 
to the Affociation. 
_ *Iam, Genilemen, 
* Your obedient fervant, 
‘Munco Park.’ 
Dr. Laidley to Mr, Millis. 
Sir, River Gambia, May 22, 1796. 
‘Your efteemed note, per the 
Robert, Captain Grandifon, I duly 
received. Your letter to Mr. Park 
will be fent off immediately, al- 
though 1 have but little hopes of 
jts reaching him. A meffenger, 
who arrived here yefterday, informs 
me that he had’ paffed Gyttim, in 
his way to Sego, two months ago, 
and had paffed the territories of 
Deffy previoufly to the breaking 
out of the war that now rages be- 
tween him and'the king of Sego: 
had that not been the cafe, he 
would have been under the dif- 
agreeable neceflity of returning 
hither, or endeavour to peneirate, 
by 4 long, perilous, and circuitous 
route, his way to Genné. I am 
havpy he has in time reached the 
territories of the king of Sego; and 
1 hope, if all is well with him, he 
‘ 
403 
muft, by this time, have reached 
Tombuttoo. For farther particu- 
lars re{peGting his outfit, and the 
engagements I have entered into 
on his account, Irefer you to his 
letter to Sir Jofeph Banks, which 
accompanies this. 1 underftand 
there are letters at Galambole and 
at Deffer for the Affociation, which 
I am in. daily expectation of. 
Should they arrive in time, they 
will be forwarded by the Robert. 
I remain, 
* With great deference, 
‘ Sir, your moft humble fervant, 
‘Joun Larprey.’ 
James Willis, E/q. 
Dr. Laidley to Mr. Willis.” 
Sir, River Gambia, Aug. 1, 1796. 
* Your. efteemed favour, per the 
Robert, was delivered me by Cap- 
tain Grandifon; in anfwer to which, 
I beg leave to acquaint you, that 
Mr. Park left me on the 2d of De- 
cember, 1795, completely equipped 
for his intended journey; fince 
which have received no difpatches 
from him, which rather furprifes 
me, as he promifed to write to the 
Affociation from Galambole. I 
have lately learned that he has 
reached the refidence of an Arabian 
king, fituate to the northward, and 
confiderably to the eaftward, .of 
Sego. The northward route, I judge, 
he has found neceflary to take, to 
avoid the territories of Defleg, 
which have been depopulated by a 
numerous army of the king of 
Sego. _I cannot account for his 
taking fuch a circuit, in any other 
manner than tovavoid the feat of 
war, which has been carried on with 
unabated fury between thofe two 
powerlul princes, for feyeral months’ 
Cc2 paft. 
