HOUGHTON. MUNGO PARK. 
9 
and the River Niger, induced the Association to send 
Major Houghton, with instructions to penetrate to the 
Niger by way of the Gambia. 
This enterprising officer did not, however, get beyond 
the kingdom of Bambouk, where the quantity of mei’- 
chandise which he imprudently carried with him excited 
the cupidity of the native traders, whom he had engaged 
as guides, and who, after stripping him of everything, 
left him to perish. 
The melancholy end of Major Houghton’s enterprise 
did not deter a new adventurer from offering his services 
to the African Association. Mungo Park’s simple and 
touching narrative is so well known to all who read, 
that it will be only necessaiy to refer to the achievement 
which has placed him at the head of African travellers — 
namely, the discovery of a great river which we call the 
Niger. He ascended the River Gambia, and after having 
with incredible difficulty crossed several kingdoms, he 
arrived on the 21st of July, 1796, at Sego, the capital of 
Bambarra, where he had the gratification of seeing “ the 
majestic Niger glittering in the morning sun, as broad 
as the Thames at Westminster, and flowing slowly to the 
eastward.” He traced the direction of this noble river — 
which the natives called Joliba — a short distance to the 
eastward, and having obtained some information, though 
vague, of its further course, he returned to England. 
Although much had been accomplished, yet the mys- 
terious Niger remained almost in as great obscurity as 
ever. To endeavour to unveil this mystery, other 
