Mungo Park

1771-1806

Scottish Explorer and Surgeon

Mungo Park was a Scottish surgeon best known for his explorations in Africa. In two expeditions he navigated large parts of the Niger River, writing a popular book between these journeys. Unfortunately, his second expedition ended disastrously, leading to the death of all members.

Mungo Park was born near the English-Scottish border in 1771. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating as a surgeon in 1791. He was then named an assistant surgeon on the Worcester, which sailed for Sumatra in 1792. During this journey he made many important observations about Sumatran plant and animal life, winning the respect of many British naturalists. This was sufficient to earn him command of a small expedition into Africa, which had the aim of following the Niger River as far as possible.

Park left Britain in May 1795 and, upon his arrival in Gambia, studied the local language for several months before setting out in December with an interpreter and a slave. By later standards, he had woefully little equipment for navigation, exploration, or scientific discovery. In fact, he left with a sextant, a compass, a thermometer, a few guns, and some pistols.

In spite of his relative lack of equipment and lack of knowledge of Africa, Park managed to make his way to the Niger and to ascend it for over 200 miles (322 km) into the African interior. During this part of his trip, he was forced to deal with thieves, obstinate village leaders, fearful Arab traders, and more. At times, only his medical training allowed him to pass, as he would treat villagers or village chiefs. Other times he was forced to use his supplies to bribe his way out of trouble. He finally realized that his original goal of reaching Timbuku was suicidal and, very ill and beset by unimaginable hardships (including being imprisoned for four months by an Arab chief), he halted and spent several months recovering from severe fevers. Much of this travel was on foot, his horse having died earlier. He finally made his way back to Britain in late 1797, where he wrote a book on his travels. This book, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa, became an instant success and earned him no small degree of fame. Unfortunately, he was not very polished socially in addition to being a poor public speaker, which kept him from acceptance as either a public lecturer or in the society of the times, so he concentrated on trying to find a wife and passing his medical exams.

In the next few years, Park married and established a medical practice in Scotland. However, in 1805, he was again asked to lead an expedition along the Niger and, against the wishes of his wife, accepted. This time he was commissioned as a Captain in the Army and was given 40 men to lead on the expedition. Unfortunately, this trip was even more difficult than the first, and only 11 men even reached the Niger River, finding it near what is now the city of Bamako (in Mali). The survivors set off in canoes, after obtaining permission from a local ruler, reaching the village of Sansanding, slightly down-river from Segou. Here they rested, then set out again in November 1805. Although no expedition members were seen again, their final trip can be reconstructed somewhat.

According to later reports, mostly from an expedition made in 1812, they traveled nearly 1,000 miles (1,609 km) down-river before they were attacked by natives. During this attack, most expedition members were killed, and Park was drowned in the river.

P. ANDREW KARAM