344. 
park's first journey. 
and, after satisfying the committee with respect 
to his skill in astronomy, geography, and natu- 
ral history, sailed from Portsmouth on May 2^. 
1795, and on the ^ 1st of June arrived at Jillifree, 
on the northern bank of the Gambia. Jillifree, 
in N. lat. 13° 16^ and W. long. 16° 7', is situated 
in the fertile kingdom of Barra, the inhabitants of 
which trade up the Gambia in canoes, as high as 
Barraconda, with salt, which they exchange for 
maize, cotton-cloth, ivory, and gold dust. The 
number of persons employed in this trade renders 
the king of Barra the most powerful chief on the 
Gambia, and enables him to impose 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 ex- 
pected by Dr Laidley, who invited him to reside 
at his own house, till an opportunity occurred 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 natural produc- 
tions of the country, and the procuring infor- 
mation 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 him* 
