60 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
the Proceedings of the African Society. At this time 
Mungo Park, a young Scotch surgeon, who had just 
returned from a voyage to the East Indies on board the 
Worcester, learnt that the African Society were anxious 
to find an explorer willing to penetrate to the interior 
of the country watered by the Gambia. Mungo Park, 
who had long wished to acquaint himself with the pro¬ 
ductions of the country, and the manners and customs 
of the inhabitants, offered his services. He was not 
deterred by the apprehension that his predecessor, 
Houghton, had probably perished. 
At once accepted by the Society, Mungo Park 
hastened his preparations, and left Portsmouth upon the 
22nd of May, 1795. He was furnished with introduc¬ 
tions to Dr. Laiclley, and a credit of two hundred pounds 
sterling. Landing at Jillifree, at the mouth of the 
Gambia, in the kingdom of Barra, and following the 
river, he reached Pisania, an English factory belonging 
to Dr. Laidley. He directed his attention first to 
acquiring a knowledge of the Mandingo language, which 
was most generally used, and in collecting the facts most 
likely to be useful in the execution of his plans. 
His stay here enabled him to obtain more accurate 
information than his predecessors with regard to the 
Feloups, the Yolofs, the Foulahs, and the Mandingoes. 
The Feloups are morose, quarrelsome, and vindictive, 
but faithful and courageous. The Yolofs are a powerful 
and warlike nation, with very black skins. Except in 
colour and speech, they resemble the Mandingoes, who 
are gentle and sociable. Tall and well-made, their 
women are, comparatively speaking, pretty. Lastly, 
the Foulahs, who are the lightest in colour, seem much 
attached to a pastoral and agricultural life. The greater 
part of these populations are Mohammedans, and practise 
polygamy. 
Upon the 2nd of December, Mungo Park, accom¬ 
panied by two negro interpreters, and with a small 
quantity of baggage, started for the interior. He first 
reached the small kingdom of Woolli, the capital of 
which, Medina, comprises a thousand houses. He then 
