104 park's second jotjrnet. 



and, after a few shots had been discharged without pro- 

 ducing any fatal effects, the thieves hid themselves among 

 the rocks, and were merely seen peeping through the cre- 

 vices. 



The expedition continued to melt away beneath the deadly 

 influence of an African climate. Every day added to the 

 list of sick or dead, or of those who declared themselves 

 unable to proceed. Near Bangassi, four men lay down at 

 once ; it was even with difficulty that Mr. Park dragged for- 

 ward his brother-in-law, Mr. Anderson, while he himself 

 felt very sick and famt. His spirits were about to sink en- 

 tirely, when, coming to an eminence, he obtained a distant 

 view of the mountains, the southern base of which he knew 

 to be watered by the Niger. Then indeed he forgot his 

 fever, and thought only of climbing the blue hills which 

 delighted his eyes. 



But three weeks, during which he experienced the 

 greatest difficulty and suftering, elapsed before he could 

 arrive at that desired point. At length he reached the 

 summit of the ridge which divides the Senegal from the 

 Niger, and coming to the brow of the hill, saw again this 

 majestic river rolling its immense stream along the plain- 

 Yet his situation and prospects were gloomy indeed, when 

 compared to those with which he had left the banks of the 

 Gambia. Of thirty-eight men w^iom he then had with 

 him, there survived only seven, all suffering from severe 

 sickness, and some nearly at the last extremity. Still his 

 mind was full of the most sanguine hope, especially when, 

 on the 22d August, he felt himself floating on the waters 

 of the Niger, and advancing towards the ultimate object of 

 his ambition. He hired canoes to convey hi« party to 

 Marraboo ; and the river, here a mile in breadth, was so 

 fall and so deep, that its current carried him easily over the 

 rapids, but with a rapidity wliich was even in a certain de- 

 gree painful. 



At Marraboo he sent forward the interpreter Isaaco to 

 Mansong with part of the presents, and to treat with that 

 monarch for protection, as well as for permission to build 

 a boat. This envoy was absent several days, dunng 

 which great anxiety was felt, heightened by several unfa- 

 vourable rumours, among which was, that the king had 

 lulled him with his own hand and announced Ills purpose 



