344 Geography. 



been productive of much new and curious infor* 

 mation concerning the countries which they visited. 

 The last of these gentlemen, in particular, has re- 

 cently brought to our knowledge a more interest- 

 mg and important number of facts concerning the 

 moral, political, and physical condition of Western 

 Africa, than had been done by any preceding tra- 

 veller/ Nor is it a circumstance of small moment, 

 in estimating the value of Mr. Park's travels, 

 that they have called forth, from Major Rennell, a 

 most learned and instructive body of remarks, and 

 other materials for throwing light on the geography 

 of that extensive country. The succession of maps, 

 delineating important portions of Africa, pub- 

 lished by this last named gentleman, between 

 1790 and 1800, forms a curious series of documents 

 respecting our progressive knowledge of that 

 quarter of the globe. The publications of Loy- 

 ART and Degrandpre also contain some valuable 

 information concerning Western Africa, particu- 

 larly the large territory included under the names 

 of Congo and Loango. 



In 1791 a society was formed in Great-Britain, 

 by a number of benevolent persons, under the name 

 of the Sierra Leona Company. The principal de- 

 sign of this society was to obtain a settlement, on 

 that part of the coast of Africa called by the name, 

 which they assumed, for a large body of destitute 

 Africans, or descendants of Africans, then in the 

 British dominions; and, through the medium of 

 this colonial establishment, to do something to- 

 ward the introduction of knowledge and civiliza- 



ciatlon, for the purpose of exploring the interior of that country. In pur- 

 suance of this agreement, he reached Cairo, in Egypt, in the month of 

 August of the same year. He had, however, proceeded but little way on 

 his travels, when death unexpectedly terminated his career. 



t The narrative of Park's journey is said to have been written by the 

 late Bryan Edwards. See History of ihe IVest-InJies, vol. iii. Adver- 

 tiscment by Sir William Youn«, 



