MR PARKAS FIRST JOURNEY. 
329 
and natural history, sailed from Portsmouth on May 
22, I795, and, on the 21st of June, arrived at Jil- 
lifree, on the northern bank of the Gambia. Jil- 
lifree, in N. lat. 13° 16', and W. long. 16° 7', 
is situated in the fertile kingdom of Barra, the in- 
habitants of which trade up the Gambia in canoes, 
as high as Baraconda, with salt, which they ex- 
change for maize, cotton-cloth, ivory, and gold- 
dust. The number of persons employed in this 
trade, renders the king of Barra the most power- 
ful chief on the Gambia, and enables him to im- 
pose exorbitant duties on European traders, who 
visit the river. After touching at Vintain, they 
sailed up the Gambia to Jonkakonda, a trading 
town within sixteen miles of Pisania, where Mr 
Park was expected by Dr Laidley, who invited him 
to reside at his own house, till an opportunity oc- 
curred of prosecuting his journey to the interior. 
During his residence at Pisania, the exertions of 
Mr Park were directed to the acquisition of the 
Mandingo language, the examination of the natu- 
ral productions of the country, and the procuring 
information concerning the interior regions from 
the free black traders, who all appeared averse to his 
proposed journey ; but these occupations were, for 
some time, interrupted by the country fever, or 
seasoning, which he caught by exposing himself to 
the night dew. Yani, and the adjacent Mandingo 
districts, present an immense level surface, where 
