X 
ACCOUNT OF THE 
their first establishment in 1788, had employed several 
persons, well qualified for such undertakings, upon missions 
into various parts of the African Continent. vSeveral of 
these were known to have perished, either as victims of 
the climate, or in contests with the natives ;* and intelli- 
gence had lately been received of the death of Major 
Houghton, who had been sent out to explore the course 
of the Niger, and to penetrate, if possible, to Tombuctoo 
and Houssa. The Association appear to have found con- 
siderable difficulty in supplying Major Houghton's place; 
and had made known their readiness to give a liberal com- 
pensation to any person, competently qualified, who might 
be willing to proceed on thisimportant and arduous mission. 
The attention of Park was naturally drawn to this 
subject, in consequence of his connection with Sir Joseph 
Banks, who had received him with great kindness and 
cordiality on his return from the East Indies, and with 
whom he was now in habits of frequent intercourse. Sir 
Joseph Banks was one of the most active and leading 
members of the African Association, and with his accus- 
tomed zeal for the promotion of scientific discovery, was 
earnest in his endeavours to find out a proper person to 
undertake the mission in search of the Niger. There was 
nothing in Park's previous studies which had particularly 
led him towards geographical pursuits ; but he had a ge- 
neral passion for travelling ; he was in the full vigour of 
life ; his constitution had been in some degree inured to 
* The persons who had been sent out prior to this period, were Mr. Ledyard, 
Mr. Lucas, Major Houghton, and Mr. Horneman : subsequently to which, 
several others have been employed ; viz. Mr. Nichols, Mr. Bourcard, &c. 
