440 MR park's second journey. 
his retirement in Scotland, he had formed an inti- 
mate acquaintance with a Mr Maxwell, who, as a 
trader, had frequented the coast of Congo, and 
particularly the mouth of the river which bears the 
name of that kingdom ; a grand natural feature, 
which, from the little intercourse maintained with 
this part of Africa, had been nearly forgotten in 
Europe. As the two friends compared their re- 
marks on the rivers which had come respectively 
under their observation, of one of which, the termi- 
nation — of the other, the source, — was unknown ; 
the hypothesis very naturally arose, that those two 
might be one only ; that the Niger, after a circui- 
tous course through central Africa, might, by the 
channel of the Congo, discharge its waters into the 
Atlantic. Neither Park nor Maxwell were men 
of speculation ; but when such characters do spe- 
culate, it is always with a confidence and enthusi- 
asm unknown to those to whom such an operation 
of mind is familiar. The idea was soon ripened 
in the mind of Park, into the fullest and firmest 
conviction ; and, with reference to it, the whole 
plan of his expedition was arranged. He propo- 
sed to proceed into JBambarra by nearly his former 
route ; there to construct two boats 40 feet long, 8 
feet broad, and drawing 9\ feet of water. With 
these vesselshe was to navigate downwards into Wan- 
gara ; and, as he hoped, thence onward to Congo, 
