12 
EXPEDITION TO THE CONGO. 
navigated the river as far as Bussah ; but here, taking 
advantage of its being much obstructed by rocks and 
rapids, the natives — by command of the King — attacked 
the little band with bows and arrows. They defended 
themselves gallantly a long while, and at last perished, 
in an attempt to escape by swimming.* 
With this great sacrifice, a step was gained to the 
knowledge of the course of the Niger. Although the 
details of the voyage were unknown, the continuity of 
the river was ascertained as far as Bussah, also the 
unexpected change of its direction from an easterly 
course, which puzzled all geographers, to one nearly 
south. This led to the wild supposition, that the waters 
of the Niger might discharge themselves in the River 
Congo or Zaire, and an expedition was sent thither 
under Captain Tuckey, R.N. At the same time, 
another expedition was to follow the route of Mungo 
Park, in the hope of meeting at some point on the river. 
v' w v^y^-'v/'wvv'* 
* Mr. Duncan in his “ Travels in Western Africa,” vol. n. p, 181 , 
gives another version of this tragical event, received from Terrasso- 
Weea; who was an eye-witness of it. By this it appears, that the 
pilot Amadi Fatuma, having appealed to the King of Yauri, on a false 
charge, that Park had not paid him his wages, the canoe was ordered 
to be stopped. Park resisted this, and a general attack was made on 
him, in which this unfortunate traveller having been mortally wounded, 
was brought into the presence of the King, where he died. Besides 
the disagreement of this account with that of Isaaco respecting Park 
having lost his life in the water, there is a discrepancy in the locality. 
Isaaco said, that the catastrophe took place at Bussah, which is 
confirmed by Lander, who sat on the rocks which overlook the place 
where the intrepid Park lost his life. 
