3r 
coat of Tombuétso; that the canoes are 
Jarge, and wot miade of one treé, but of 
many planks put together ; and, what is 
more furprifing, that they are navigated 
by people as wile as I api. 
© Thefe are the moft remarkable points 
of infoymatior that I have been able to 
colleé&t concerning the route. I have 
got no information refpeéting the termi- 
nation of the Niger, and I am forry it 
js fo lame in other parts. 
‘ [ think it is but juftice, to acknow- 
ledge the many obligations | am under 
to Dr. Laidley, who received me, on my 
arrival in Africa, with an invitation to 
his houfe, where I have been ever finee.’ 
and it has been entirely owing to his 
exertions, that | am now enabled to put. 
my defigns in execution, and attempt, 
with fome probability of fuccefs, to ful- 
&l my engagements to the Affociation. 
- ‘ I am, gentlemen, 
¢ Your obedient fervant, 
‘ Munco Park, 
SS eee 
pR. LAIDLEY TO MR. WILLIS. 
* STR, River Gambia, May 22,1796 
© Your efteemed note, per the Ro- 
bert, Captain Grandifon, I duly re- 
ceived. Your letter to Mr. Park will be 
fent off immediately, although I have 
but little hopes of its reaching him. A 
meffenger, who arrived here yefterday, 
informs me, that he had paffed Gyttim, 
in his way to Sego, two months ago, and 
had paffed the territories of Deffy, pre- 
vioufly to the breaking out of the war 
that now rages between himand the king 
of Sego: had that not been the cafe, he 
would have been under the difagreeable 
neceffiry of returning hither, or endea- 
yourto penetrate, by a long, perilous, 
end circuitous route, his way to Genne. 
Tam happy he has in time reached the 
territories of the king of Sego; and I 
hope, if all is-well with him. he muft, 
by this time, have reached Tom buétoo. 
For farther particulars refpeéting his 
outfit, and the engagements I have en- 
tered into on his account, I refer you to 
his letter to fir Jofeph Banks, which 
accompanies this. I) underftand there 
are letters at Galamboh and at Defier, 
For the Affociation, which I am in. daily 
expeétation of. Should they arrive in 
time, they will be forwarded by the Ro- 
pert.’ [-remain; ; 
©MWith great deference, 
£ Sir, your nioft humble fervant, 
| ‘ Jomn LAIDLEY.’ 
~ 
ONIESES  Be es = loe 
ace VP EiLESy LG 0 
~ New Difcovertes, &e. in Africa. 
f Nov 
_ DR. LAIDLEY TO MR. WILLIS. 
* STR,’ River Gambia, Aug. 1, 1796. 
‘Your efteemed favour,per the Robert, 
was delivered me by captain Grandifon ; 
in anfwer to which. I beg leave to ac- 
quaint you, that*Mr. Park left me on the 
2d December, 1795, completely equip- 
ped for his intendéd journey ; fince which 
1 have received no difpatclies from him, 
which rather furprifes me as he pro- 
‘mifed to write to the Affociation, from 
Galambole. I have lately learned, that he 
has reached the refidence of an Arabian 
king, fituate to the northward, and con- 
fiderably to the eaftward, of Sego—the 
northward route, I judge, he has found 
neceflary to take, to avoid the territories 
of Deffeg, which have been depoptilated 
by a numerous army of the king of Se- 
go’s. £ cannot account for his taking 
fuch a circuit, in any other manner than 
to avoid the feat of war, which has been 
carried on with unabated fury between 
thofe two powerful princes, for feyeral 
months paft: this may, perhaps, account 
for his filence ; or, he may haye left let- 
ters in the hands of feveral people that 
may not have reached me. I hope he 
has long ere ‘this reached Tombuctoo-; 
and I flatter myfelf he will find great in- 
ducement to penetrate as far as Houfla, 
From every information I have FECEIVEA, 
Soips come there of about 100 tons burthen, 
(according to the defcription given of 
them’) but from whence, and by whom 
navigated, cannot learn. - 
‘ f have written to Mr. Park feveral 
times, but from the rapidity of his jour- 
ney, I have little hope of any of my let- 
ters reaching him. Your letter will be 
forwarded the firft opportunity. . 
¢ I have alfo,fince the death of my friend, 
Mr. H. Beaufoy, written by different cp- 
portunities to Sir Jofeph Banks, acquaint- 
ing him of every particular. refpecting 
Mr. Park, and the engage mits 1- have 
entered into on his account,fome of which 
may not have reached him, as feveral let- 
ters have been déitroyed, to prevent their 
falling into the hands of the French. 
‘Having nothing farther to communi- 
cate, 1 remain, with great deference, 
. ‘ Sir, your humble fervant, 
Ff. Wilhs, Efo.. —* JonN LAT Ley 
Ee 

Wits whatever hefitation fome of the J 
faéts, ftated in. the preceding: letters, 
may be received, concerning the fpecies 
of boats which are faid to navigate. tlie) 
river leading ec/fward from, Tombucto 
to Houffa, and the magnitude of th 
gil . thi 





