Where was mungo park buried

1. Biography of Mungo Park
2. Exploring Gambia and Senegal
3. Journey to the Niger River
4. Second Expedition and Tragic End

Biography of Mungo Park

Mungo Park was a Scottish explorer who made significant contributions to the exploration of Central Africa. Born as the seventh child in a family of thirteen, Park initially studied medicine under a doctor and later pursued medical studies in Edinburgh. His interest in botany, as well as his brother's work as a gardener in London, led to his acquaintance with Sir Joseph Banks, who helped the young man secure a position as a ship's surgeon on a voyage to the East Indies. While serving as a ship's doctor in Indonesia, Park conducted scientific research and upon his return, presented his findings to the Linnean Society in London, which recommended him to the African Association. In May 1795, Park embarked on an expedition to Gambia on behalf of the association. Despite the risks involved, Park accepted the task as he was in need of work and the expedition cost the association only 200 pounds sterling.

Exploring Gambia and Senegal

In June 1795, Park arrived in Gambia, where he encountered the Mandinka people who were engaged in rice cultivation and acted as intermediaries in the trade of slaves, gold dust, ivory, and beeswax. Park described the Mandinka as strong, hardworking, and friendly people, while the women adorned themselves with large copper jewelry as a sign of their husbands' wealth. He also observed their practice of shaping their teeth into pointed ends as a form of adornment. Mandinka women wore clothing embroidered with seashell star patterns. Park provided detailed descriptions of the clay-coated huts and the domestic arrangements, including sleeping mats and utensils, he encountered during his journey.

After reaching the trading settlement of Pisania, Park was forced to wait until December due to heavy rains and his contraction of tropical fever. In early December, he set off towards the east, attempting to explore regions that had not yet been reached by Islam. However, he was captured multiple times by Muslims, and his journey became increasingly perilous once he ran out of gifts to appease them. Eventually, he was seized by Bedouins and taken to the court of the "Mauritanian king," where he was mocked and mistreated. Park spent three months in captivity, during which he learned Arabic, and then made his escape, heading inland towards what he believed to be the course of the Niger River.

Journey to the Niger River

On July 21, 1796, while traveling eastward, Park reached a large river near Mount Segu that the Africans called Joliba, which he identified as the Niger River. Along its banks, he encountered the city of Segu, with its brown clay houses and mosques, and numerous boats on the river. However, Park was not allowed to enter the city due to the ruler's fear of reprisals from the Berbers. Once again, he found refuge with sympathetic African women, to whom he gave two buttons from his vest as gifts. Park continued his journey downstream, hoping to reach Timbuktu or Djenné. During this time, he contracted tropical malaria and became extremely weak. His clothes were in tatters, and his supplies had been depleted or stolen. Park decided to forgo further exploration and instead gather information about the river's course. He learned that it took about two weeks to travel from Segu to Timbuktu, but could not ascertain the river's ultimate destination. After traveling approximately 50 kilometers along the Joliba, Park turned back, citing the onset of the rainy season and the potential danger from "ruthless fanatics" as reasons for his decision.

Second Expedition and Tragic End

In October 1801, after publishing his book "Travels in the Interior of Africa, 1795-1797," which brought him international fame, Park opened a medical practice in Peebles. However, the earnings were not sufficient, and he was summoned by Lord Hobart, the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This time, Park was tasked with exploring the Niger River with substantial financial backing from the British government, recognizing the importance of such expeditions for the country's economic interests.

In April 1805, Park landed at the mouth of the Gambia River and began his journey eastward with a group of seven English companions and an escort of 35 soldiers. However, the large expedition faced numerous difficulties, including provisions, porters, and pack animals. In addition, their presence attracted robbers at rest stops, and the rainy season brought an influx of mosquitoes and malaria. By the time they reached the city of Bamako near the Joliba (Niger) River in November 1805, the expedition had dwindled to eleven men from the original forty. Park's confrontations with local inhabitants became increasingly hostile, exacerbated by his reliance on the strength of his armed escort.

In November 1805, Park wrote to his wife about the death of her brother, who had accompanied him on the expedition. This was his last known correspondence. Before embarking on a final voyage downstream on the Joliba (Niger) River, Park sent his diary of the first stage of his journey back to Gambia. The diary, published in 1815, contained information about the river's further course, indicating that it turned southward and supported Park's belief in the connection between the Niger and the Nile.

Unfortunately, as they approached the rapids of Bussa in the lower reaches of the river, a dispute over passage arose between Park and a local chief. When they refused to surrender their firearms to the chief, he ordered his archers to shoot at the boat. In an attempt to evade the arrows, Park and his companion officer jumped into the water and drowned.

Mungo Park's adventurous life and tragic death have made him a colorful figure in the history of African exploration. His writings have garnered more attention than many other explorers of Africa, despite their lesser contributions to the continent's study.