Mungo Park
In many ways, Mungo Park’s biography reads like Dr. Livingstone’s. Park (1771-1806) was also a Scotsman, had a medical background, and also made it his mission to explore the unknown interior of Africa. However, Park’s motivations were far more vainglorious. Traveling to London to seek fame and fortune, he met the botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who had circumnavigated the globe with Captain James Cook (of Australia fame), and served as treasurer to The Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa. In 1795, Banks entrusted Park with the mission of exploring the course of the River Niger.
Park foolishly began his first expedition from Gambia in European dress – including a tall hat, into which he stuffed his notes, and an umbrella – and was swiftly relieved of some of his finer items of clothing by local tribesmen. Bereft of his umbrella and favourite blue coat, Park, who spoke no Arabic, was captured by local Muslims as soon as they clapped eyes upon him in Ludamar. He managed to escape after four months’ incarceration, and proceeded, armed with his compass and favourite hat astride a horse, towards the Niger. Park made it, but only because sympathetic locals fed him.
Upon his return to Britain, Park was lauded as a hero, and his account of the journey, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa, was a bestseller in 1799. He settled down to practice as a physician in Peebles, Scotland, for four years, but was convinced to return to the Niger in 1703 by government sponsorship. Put in charge of slaves and 40 Europeans, including four carpenters to make him a boat when he reached the river, Park again travelled to the Gambia. Ignoring advice to the contrary, Park made the foolish decision to travel in the rainy season.
Only 10 days into the expedition, Park’s men were suffering from dysentery. One man died, seven mules were lost and, despite the heavy rainfall, much of the expedition’s supplies were destroyed by fire. By the time they reached the Niger, only 11 of the original 40 men were still alive, and two months of rest somehow saw off another 6. Incredibly, Park then sent a native guide away to post his letters to Britain, and proceeded to travel the Niger by canoe. After a 1, 000-mile journey on the river, Park and his few remaining men were drowned.
The only survivor from the voyage, another local guide, later revealed what happened. The party had been attacked by natives on numerous occasions, fortunately being able to defend themselves with muskets, and avoided a furious hippopotamus, but came a cropper on some rocks at the Bussa rapids. This made the men sitting ducks for the locals with their bows and arrows, and they drowned in attempting to swim away. In addition to the season he chose to travel in, it is believed that Park’s failure came from his refusal to mingle with natives, who thus saw him as an enemy.