606 
SKETCH OP AFRICAN DISCOVERT 
all of whom wero in a state of great woaknoss from the 
effocts of tho climate. They built one vessel, and, on the 
17th of November, 1805, were ready to embark on tho 
river, previous to which Park sent despatches to England 
His party was now reduced to fivo, his brother-in-law having 
died a fow days boforo. Park’s spirit, however, remained 
andauntod. “ Though all the Europeans who are with me 
should die," said he, in his last letters to England, “ and 
though I myself wero half dead, I would still persevere; 
and, if I could not succeed in tho object of my journey, I 
would at least die in tho Niger.” Ho embarked, therefore, 
with tho intention of sailing down tho river to its mouth, 
wherever that might bo ; but, after passing Timbuctoo and 
several othor cities, ho was killed in tho Niger, at a place 
called Boussa, a short distanco below Yaouri. No part of 
his journal after he left Sansanding has over been recovered. 
In 1797, tho African Association had engaged Mr. Horno- 
mann, a German, who left Cairo in September, 1798, with 
tho intention of carrying into effect tho objects of tho As- 
sociation by proceeding as far southward and westward as 
no could got. In his last despatches ho expressed himself 
confident in being able to succeed in reaching a groator 
distanco into tho intorior than any other European traveller; 
but, aftor reaching Bornou, no certain intelligence was ever 
afterward hoard concerning him. Mr. Hornomann learned 
many particulars which had not beforo boon known in 
Europo respecting tho countries to the cast of Timbuctoo 
Mr . Nicholls, who was noxt engaged, arrived in tho Gulf 
of Bonin in November, 1804, and diod soon afterward of 
tho fever of tho country. Anothor Gorman, Boentzon, was 
next sent to Africa. Ho had bostowod extraordinary pains 
in maki ng himsolf acquainted with tho prevailing language*, 
ind, throwing off his costumo, proceeded in the character 
of a Mussulman, but unhappily was murdored by his guides 
on his way to Soudan. Tho noxt traveller sent out by the 
Association was Burckhardt, a Swiss. Ho spoilt several 
years in acquiring a knowlodgo of tho language and customs 
