470 
PARKAS SECOND JOURNEY. 
to pass through this country. Park enumerated 
all the circumstances, which made it improbable 
that he should come with any but the most lauda- 
ble intentions ; and concluded with the remark, 
that he had a few presents which might be worthy 
of the acceptance of his majesty. The presents 
were accordingly displayed ; and, though view- 
ed with extreme apparent indifference, they had 
the effect of relieving the difficulties under which 
the king's mind laboured ; and he no longer he- 
sitated to grant permission to pass through his 
territories. 
Mr Park remained three days at Bangassi, in 
hopes of in some degree restoring the health of 
the soldiers, but it became continually worse. 
One of them died, and it was necessary to leave 
another at Bangassi. Soon after their departure, 
on the 27th July, four men lay down, and declar- 
ed themselves unable to proceed. Mr Park him- 
self felt very sick and faint ; and seems to have 
been about to give way to despondence, till com- 
ing to an eminence, he had a view of some very 
distant mountains to the south-east. Then, in- 
deed, " the certainty that the Niger washed the 
" southern base of these mountains made him 
" forget his fever ; and he thought of nothing 
" but how to climb over their blue summits." 
The party now reached Nummasoolo, formerly 
a large town, but having been destroyed in a re- 
