482 
park's second journey. 
I would at least die in the Niger/* To Mrs 
Park he writes in a tone of much higher confi- 
dence ; but it is impossible to say how far this 
may not have been prompted by the amiable wish 
of soothing her anxiety. To her he never inti- 
mates the slightest doubt, that his voyage was 
to terminate in the ocean ; so that this plung- 
ing into the unknown depths of interior Africa, is 
called by him " setting his face toward England." 
On the 17th November 1805, this great travel- 
ler set out on his adventurous voyage. Isaaco 
brought down his letters and journal to the Gam- 
bia ; but for some time no intelligence was re- 
ceived of himself* In the course of the year I8O6 
unfavourable rumours began to arrive, and these 
increasing, without any authentic intelligence to 
contradict them. Governor Maxwell, in concur- 
rence with the government at home, resolved to 
despatch a messenger to investigate the truth. 
He was so fortunate as to find Isaaco himself, who 
readily undertook the mission. He left Senegal 
in January 1810, and returned on the 1st Septem- 
ber 1811 ; bringing a confirmation of all the most 
disastrous rumours. He had met near Sansand- 
ing with Amadi Fatouma, whom Park had engag- 
ed as his guide down the Niger to Cashna. From 
this person Isaaco received a journal, which con- 
tains, or professes to contain, a detailed narrative 
of the voyage downwards, and the closing career 
