Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa ... With an Appendix containing Geographical illustrations of Africa by Major Rennell
Folding map engraved by Scoles after Major Rennell as frontispiece. 261, 94 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
1813 · New York
by Park, Mungo, Dr
New York: Published by Evert Duyckinck, J Oram, Printer, 1813. Later American edition. Folding map engraved by Scoles after Major Rennell as frontispiece. 261, 94 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Early mottled sheep. Later American edition. Folding map engraved by Scoles after Major Rennell as frontispiece. 261, 94 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Park, a surgeon, at the recommendation of Sir Joseph Banks and for the African Association, set out to find the source of the Niger. Park suffered through many hardships. Finally with the aid of the slave trader Karfa Taura, he reached Gambia from whence he took an American slave ship, the "Charlestown" to the West Indies and then home. After his return, Bryan Edwards, Secretary of the African Association, published an "Abstract from the Travels into the Interior of Africa" based upon Park's account and notes. This created quite an interest and Park expanded his notes into this work. Park, wanting to complete his search for the source of the Niger returned to Africa in 1805 and journeyed once again. He perished during this expedition and it was not until 1831 that the source was finally reached by John and Richard Lander. This work was very popular and "has become a classic of travel literature, and its scientific observations on the botany and meteorology of the region, and on the social and domestic life of the negroes, have remained of lasting value." (PMM). Library Company of Philadelphia "Negro History 1553-1903" 13; PMM 253 (first edition) (Inventory #: 226394)