Ixiv 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
The soldiers are in good health and spirits. They are the 
most dashing men I ever saw; and if they preserve their 
health, we may keep ourselves perfectly secure from any 
hostile attempt on the part of the natives. I have little 
doubt but that I shall be able with presents and fair words 
to pass th rough the country to the Niger ; and if once we 
are fairly afloat, the day is won. — Give my kind regards f o 
Sir Joseph and Mr. Greville; and if they should think that 
I have paid too little attention to natural objects, you may 
mention that I had forty men and forty-two asses to look 
after, besides the constant trouble of packing and weighing 
bundles, palavering with the Negroes, and laying plans for 
our future success. I never was so busy in my life." 
On reading this correspondence it is impossible not to 
1)6 struck with the satisfaction expressed by Park, and 
the confidence with which he appears to have looked 
forward to a favourable termination of his journey. Yet 
in reality nothing could be much less promising than his 
actual situation and prospects at the time of writing these 
letters. 
The detachment of the Royal African Corps, which was 
to escort the expedition, consisted of a Lieutenant and 
thirty-five privates. It was not to be expected that troops 
of a very superior quality could be furnished from a regi- 
ment which had been serving for any considerable time at 
a tropical station, such as Goree. But there is too much 
reason to beHeve that the men selected on the present 
occasion, notwithstanding the favourable opinion of them 
expressed by Park, and although they were the best that 
