LIFE OF MUlSlGO PARK. 
xlix 
himself to have experienced during his former journey, on 
the first view of that mighty river,* will be enabled to form 
some idea of the enthusiasm on this subject which he inti- 
mates at the close of the foregoing Memoir, and which 
was now become his ruling passion. Nor can we be sur- 
prised that the question, respecting the termination of the 
Niger, associated as it was, with so many personal feelings, 
had such entire possession of Park's mind ; since the sub- 
ject itself, considered as a matter of geographical enquiry, 
is one of the most interesting that can easily be conceived. 
The idea of a great river, rising in the western mountains 
of Africa and flowing towards the centre of that vast con- 
tinent ; whose course in that direction is ascertained for a 
considerable distance, beyond which information is silent, 
and speculation is left at large to indulge in the wildest 
conjectures — has something of the unbounded and myste- 
rious, which powerfully attracts curiosity and takes a strong 
hold of the imagination. t 
A short time after Park had delivered his Memoir at the 
Colonial Office, he had an audience of Lord Camden, who 
* While we were riding togetlier, and I was auxiously looking around for the 
river, one of the Negroes called out, " Geo affilli" (see the water) ; and looking 
forwards, I saw with infinite pleasure, the great object of my misgion, the long 
sought for, majestic Niger, glittering to the morning sun, as broad as the 
Thames at Westminster, and flowing slowly to the eastward, I hastened to 
the brink, and having drank of the water, lifted up my fervent thanks in prayer to 
the great Ruler of all things for having thus far crowned roy endeavours with suc- 
cess." Park's Travels, p. 194. 
t See Appendix. No. IV. 
VOL. II. h 
