XX 
INTRODUCTION. 
reduced to little more than a degree of latitude, or about seventy miles ; but 
it is seventy miles of a mountainous country. By our occupation of the beauti- 
ful and fertile island of Fernando Po, and the extension of African commerce 
which may be anticipated in consequence thereof, there can be little doubt that 
this question of their identity or otherwise will ere long be decided. 
From a variety of notices obtained byClapperton, it is pretty clear, that the 
particulars of the death of Mungo Park, and the spot where the fatal event 
happened, are not very different from what was originally reported by Amadoo 
Fatima, and has since been repeated in various parts of the continent. The 
following correspondence, which was found in one of Clapperton’s memoran- 
dum books, and translated from the Arabic by Mr. Abraham Salami, is highly 
interesting; and the more important, from the avowal of an individual, that he 
is in possession of the books of that enterprising traveller, and is ready to 
deliver them up to any person duly authorised by the sovereign of England 
to receive them. 
TRANSLATION OF SOME DOCUMENTS RELATIVE 1 O MUNGO PARK’S DEATH 
AND PAPERS. 
No. 1. 
“ Praise is due to God alone ! — As to the subject of the Christians who 
were drowned in the river of Boossy, they consisted of two freemen, and two 
slaves, their own property. The event thus happened in the month of Rajab : 
As their ship or vessel w r as proceeding down the river, it came to a narrow 
place or creek, into which they pushed it, and remained there three days ; 
but the people of Boossy, having observed them, assembled, and went and 
fought them for three days. When the fight became severe, they (the 
Christians) began to take up their goods, and throw them into the river, till 
they had thrown a great quantity ; and on the fight becoming still more 
severe (desperate), one of them got out, and threw himself into the river, and 
died ; and, in the same manner, the other followed him, leaving their two 
slaves imprisoned in the ship ; so that the hands of the people of Boossy did 
not reach so far as to kill them (i. e. they died in drowning, and were not 
murdered). Thus I have heard, and do herein write it myself. 
“ The Sharif of Bokhara.” 
