Travels in the Interior of Africa — Volume 02
by Mungo Park
- Pages
- about 164
- Category
- History
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 3 h at 250 wpm
From the opening
THE first of the two volumes which contain Mungo Park’s “Travels in the
Interior of Africa” brought him through many perils to the first sight of
the Niger, and left him sick and solitary, stripped of nearly all that he
possessed, a half-starved white man on a half-starved horse. He was
helped on by a bag of cowries from a kindly chief; but in this volume he
has not advanced far before he is stripped of all.
There is not in the range of English literature a more interesting
traveller’s tale than was given to the world in this book which this
volume completes. It took the deeper hold upon its readers, because it
appeared at a time when English hearts began to be stirred by the wrongs
of slavery. But at any time there would be strong human interest in the
unconscious painting of the writer’s character, as he makes his way over
far regions in which no white man had before been seen, with firm resolve
and with good temper as well as courage and prudence, which bring him
safe through many a hair-breadth escape. There was a true kindness in
Mungo Park that found answering kindness and brought out the spirit of
humanity in those upon whose goodwill his life depends; in the negroes
often, although never in the Moors. There was no flinching in the man,
who, when robbed of his horse, stripped to the shirt in a forest and left
upon a lion’s track, looked down with a botanist’s eye on the beauty of a
tiny moss at his feet, drew comfort from it, and laboured on with quiet
faith in God. The same eye was as quick to recognise the diverse
characters of men. In Mungo Park shrewd humour and right feeling went
together. Whatever he had to say he said clearly and simply; and it went
straight home. He had the good fortune to be born before “picturesque
writing” was invented.
A short sample. Read the whole book
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