Ivi 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
Verd Islands about the 8th of March. The transactions 
of Park from the time of his embarkation in England to his 
departure from Kayee on the Gambia for the Interior of 
Africa (a period of about seven weeks) will be best described 
by the following letters, and extracts selected from his cor- 
respondence. 
To Mr. Dickson. 
Port Pray a Bay, St. Jago, March 13, 1805. 
** We have had a very tedious passage to this place, 
having been pestered with contrary winds, strong gales, 
and French privateers. We have all of us kept our health 
remarkably well, considering the very great change of cli- 
mate. Mr. Anderson has the rheumatism in his knee, but 
is getting better. Mr. Scott is off this morning for the 
Interior of the Island, to take sketches ; and as soon as I 
have finished this letter I am going on shore to finish my 
purchase of asses. I bought all the corn, &c. last night, 
and twenty-four asses, and I shall purchase thirty-two 
more to day ; so you see we shall not be detained here. 
We shall have taken in all the water to day, and the first 
division of the asses will come on board to-morrow. We 
expect to sail for Goree on Saturday or Sunday. 
" I have been so much employed that I have had no 
time as yet to look after plants ; indeed this seems a very 
unfavourable season of the year for natural history, the 
whole country being quite dry and withered. I have 
collected some observations on the present state of the 
Cape Verd Islands, which I will send home by the sloop 
of war. 
