The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-22
Africa-MungO Park.

peninsula of Africa-whether to the student of
history, geography, or botany, to the philan-
thropist, to the philosopher, or to the Christian
once the seat of literature, science, and the
arts,it is now almost blank except to those row.
ing. tribes of savages who inhabit its luxuriant
forests-whose wants being supplied by the
prolific hand of nature, without the least exer-
ton ON their part, have degenerated to the
lowest scale Of humanity-a scale but one re-
move from the brute creation. The strange
accounts given of the grandeur, of the vegetable
productions, the beauty and variety of it's
feathered inhabitants, the size and ferceness
Of the animals which rove in undsturbed free
dom through the dark and gloomy, yet majestic
forests. the mixtare of artless simplicity and
cunning ferocity that characterize the numer-
Gus nomadic tribes Of these regions, by the
very few who have been enabled-though at
the expense of unparalleled suffering-to re-
turn from these regions of mystery, have served
rather to excite than satisfy the curiosity of the
inquirer. Although portions of this vast
country have been known from the earliest
ages, and although once the seat Of literature
and the cradle Of science yet it is less known
than the American continent, the very ex-
istence of which was unknown. except in what
was then viewed as the idle dream of name
less adventurer, three hundred and sixty-fve
years ago. But the time will doubtless come,
and perhaps is not far distant, when the now
despised sons of Africa shall take an honorable
stand among the inhabitants of the earth
when Ethiopia shall arise from her long degrad
alton and assume an honorable position among
those nations which now known her not, or,
look upon her as cursed Tie spirit of inquiry
in regard to this country which has for the
last few years risen in prophetic Of better
times in store for her
Prominent among those who have gone forth
to explore this vast country, stand the names
Of Ledyard, Lucas, Houghton, Park, Clapper-
ton, and the Landers OF these, perhaps no
one is more universally known andadmired than
Mungo Park. His indomitable spirit of perse-
verance, his romantic adventures, his almost
unparalleled sufferings, and his tragic fate, al
have tendency to excite IN interest in his
narrative.
To Scotland belong, the honor Of having
given birth to Mungo Park. He was born in
the year 1771 being the seventh of family Of
thirteen brothers and sisters. He was origin
ally destined by his father for the Scottish
Church; but, as his own predictions tended
towards the medical profession, he was educat-
ed with the view of making that his calling.
After having acquired knowledge of the pro-
fesSion it seems to have lost its attractions for
him, and he sought and obtained, through the
influence of Sir Joseph Banks, the appointment
Of assistant surgeon on board an East Indiaman.
Subsequently the African Association for pro-
noting discoveries in the interior Of Africa,
being desirous to engage some persons to prose-
cute their plans in that country, he offered
himself for the service, and, after due consider
alton by the Association, was accepted. He
sailed from Portsmouth for Gambia, in May
Of 1895, being then, of course, but twenty five
years of age. He returned to London in Dec
Of 1897 After various vicissitudes, in Scot
land and England, Park set out, in January
of 1906, from Portsmouth, on a second expeii-
ton. The last communication received from
him, was dated, Sansanding, Africa, Novem-
Der 1s, 1905, near which place he was probably
soon after drowned by jumping from a canoe
on being attacked by the natives.
There is mysteriousness in the fate of Park,
which, taken in connection with his hardy en-
terprise, his unwearied industry, his treless
perseverance, can but excite the sympathy and
admiration Of those who read the narr ative of
his explorations, The bravery of the man who
could, for the benefit of science, venture, almost
entirely unaccompanied, into the vast unknown
wids of that country which was swarming with
venomous reptiles, savage beasts, and tribes Of
men as much more dangerous than the beasts
as their superior intellect rendered them more
cunning, the climate of which had already
proved fatal to such Europeans as had placed
themselves for length of time within its inau-
ence, can scarcely be too highly e1tolled. His
mama should be nlaced bi0h among thoaa Who |