370 
This note being written with a pencil, 
the name of the place from whence it: 
was dated was nearly obliterated. It 
appeared to Dr. Laidley to be Simbing ; 
but no fuch place can be traced on any 
exifting map, or in any part of the in- 
telligence communicated to the Afioci- 
ation. Major Rennell has therefore fug- 
gefied, that, if it could be fuppofed, a 
part of the initial had been defaced, the 
name might have been written Timoing ; 
in which cafe, it would nearly anfwer to 
the Timbi of D’Anville, placed about 
eight journies fhort of Tombuctcoo. 
That major Houghton was within a 
Thort diftance of Tombuétog, there is, in- 
deed, no room to doubt; and it'was with 
inexpreflible concern, that the next com- 
munication from the Gambia’ brought 
advice ofhis death. It was reported, at 
firft among the'traders on'the river, that 
he had been murdered, by means of the 
king of Bambara; but Dr. Laidley writes, 
that this report was afterwards contra- 
digted. Subfequent accounts, however, 
confirmed the circumflance of his death ; 
but neither the 
an the wildernefs. . 
Tt would feem, from various info 
mation, that this unfortunate : 
-notwithfanding the hofpitable reception 
“he had met with from the king of 
houk, was no favourite of the nati 
general. It was flated, ona former oc- 
cafion, that he derived an affurance of 
fafety fiom bis poverty; but, unhappily, 
he had no fuch fecurity. Contrary to all 
the fuggeftions of prudence, and the re- 
monftrance of his friends in England, 
the major had encumbered himfelf with 
an aflortment of bale goods, confifting of 
linens, {carlet cloth, cutlery, beads, am- 
ber, and other merchandize, which pre- 
fented to the ignorant negroes fuch 
temptations as favage virtue could not 
refift.. He complains, in all his letters, 
of the pilfering difpofition of the natives; 
and it appears, that he was involved in 
perpetual contefts with them on that ac- 
count. Circumftances of this nature, 
without doubt, deprived him of thofe 
kindneffes and attentions which might 
have contributed to his prefervation. 
Dr. Laidley offered rewards for the re- 
covery of his books and papers, but with- 
gut efect. 
rs 
i 
Interefting Proceedings of the African Affociation. [ Nov? 
In deploring the melancholy iffue of 
this unhappy expedition, it muft, how- 
ever, be: obferved, that the mifcarriage 
of Major Houghton furnifhes no proof 
that the difficulties of proceeding to 
Tombuétoo, by way of the Gambia, are 
infuperable: on the contrary, there is 
reafon to believe, that a traveller of good 
temper and conciliating manners, who has 
nothing with him to tempt rapacity, may 
expect every afliftance from the natives, 
and the fulleft prereétion from their 
chiefs. All doubts, indeed, on this 
head, are obviated by a letrer of Major 
Houghton himfelf, referred to in page 
fix, of the laf memoir; which, befides 
acknowledging, in the moft explicit 
terms, his hofpitable reception by all 
ranks of people, contains {o many cu- 
rious and important particulars that it is _ 
thought neceflary to lay before the foci- 
ety, in a poitfcript to this account, the 
material parts of its contents, in the ma- 
jor’s own words. . 
As foon as the comimittee were con- 
vinced, that the intelligence of Major 
Houghton’s death was but too well 
founded, they took the firft opportunity 
hat prefented itfelf, of engaging ano- 
ther perfon to follow the fame route. 
Mr. Muxco Park, a native of Scot- 
land, a young man of no mean talents, 
who had been educated in the medical 
line, and was lately’ returned’ from a 
royage to India, offered himfelf for this 
fervice; and the committee, finding him 
fufficiently inftruéted in the ufe of Had- 
ley’s quadrant to make the neceffary ob- 
fetvations, geographer enough to, trace 
out his path in ‘the wildernefs, and not 
unacquainted with natural hiftery, ac- 
cepted his offer. 
He fet out accordingly in May, 1795, 
and {oon afterwatds arrived at the Gam- 
bia, when Dr. Laidley, to. whofe good 
offices the Affociation are -under the 
greateft obligations, received him more 
as a fon than a ftranger : and itis to be 
lamented, that the river Gambia having 
been for more than a year blocked vp by 
French privateers, many letters from him 
and the doétor, of which notice has been 
obtained through various channels, have 
mifcarried : in particular, the difpatches, 
by a veffel called the Endeavour, which 
was captured on her paflage home ; but 
the crew making their efcape in the long 
boat in the night, have given advice, 
that there were letters on board to the 
Affociation, both from Mr. Park and Dr. 
Laidley. In another cafe, it is known 
that the difpatches were thrown over 
board. 



