CHAPTER III.

Construction of the Geography of Mr. Park's Expedition into Africa.

I NEXT proceed to the detail of Mr. Park's geographical

materials. Should it be objected that I have been too diffuse and particular in this part, I can only say, that since the information itself could not, from its nature, be correct, it became the more necessary to investigate it closely, and also to place, not only the result but the detail of the investigation, together with the original documents themselves, in the form of notes, in the hands of the public, that the true grounds of the construction might be known. For whether it may happen, that no further lights should ever be obtained concerning the subject; or whether some other traveller, more fortunate, for he cannot possess more zeal, enterprize, temper or firmness, should complete Mr. Park's work, in either case, the original documents, as well as the mode of working them up, should be recorded; in the former, that we may know how to appreciate them; in the latter, how best to improve them. The successor of Mr. Park, cannot have too extensive a knowledge of the detail of his predecessor's work, in order that he may know what parts require correction, and how to avoid delays, from a useless attention to objects that are already attained.

Two new Maps have been constructed for the occasion. The one contains the Progress of Discovery and Improvement in various parts of North Africa; the other, the Geography of Mr. Park's Expedition, as well as the result of his particular enquiries in the same quarter, on a more extended scale. The present remarks and discussions refer particularly to the latter.

In the construction of this map, it is first required to state those points on which Mr. Park's outset depends; as also

to a large water, which our eyes would not be able to reach across, but which to the taste was sweet and good; and that we should then coast along, touching at different, towns for refreshment; but that there was one country inhabited by bad people, who would rob and murder us, if they could; where we should not stop, but keep far out, at a distance from the shore ;" &c. They engaged to carry him thither for the price of four slaves. [Watt's Journal, MS. p. 118.]

those which affect the position of Fort St Joseph, near to which he passed, as they differ from the maps in present use And, as some positions in the journey of Mess. Watt and Winterbottom, serve very much to aid the improvement of the geography, it will be proper to speak of them also.

Cape Verd and Fort St. Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal river, are placed according to the observations and results of M Fleurieu.*

Jillifrey, on the Gambia river, is from the mean of the longitudes set forth by D'Anville, D'Apres and Woodville, and which do not differ amongst themselves, more than four and an half minutes +

The detail of the coasts, as well as the lower parts of the rivers between Cape Verd and Cape Verge, are also from the charts of M Woodville. That part between Cape Verd and latitude 18°, is adjusted to M. Fleurieu's result of longitude, whilst the particulars are from D'Anville and Woodville.

The course of the Rio Grande from the sea to the break near the river Dunso, is from Dr Wadstrom's map. The Dunso river, crossed by Mr. Watt, appears evidently to be a continuation of the same river, several branches of which flow from the south-east. And the high tract of mountainous land beyond it, is no doubt a branch of the great ridge above commemorated, under the name of Komri, in the work of Abulfeda.

The route of Mr Watt is described from a sketch communicated by the late Mr. Beaufoy,‡ in which the scale ap

*That is, Cape Verd in latitude 14° 48', longitude 17° 34′ west of Greenwich: St. Lewis in latitude 16° 5' (by D'Anville,) longitude 16° 8' by Fleurieu.

† D'Anville

D'Apres

Woodville

+ The public cannot but recollect the obligations due to this gentleman, on the score of his persevering industry and laudable zeal in the work of extending our knowledge of the interior parts of Africa. Accordingly this loss to society in this department, is likely to be felt for some time, if not forever; the researches in Africa being a path of his own choosing; a path which, more than any other person, he had contributed to open, and to render smooth, and in which he seemed destined to succeed!

pears, on a reference to the original journal, to be intended for British miles I have regarded them accordingly; whence Laby and Teembo are placed much nearer to the coast than Dr. Wadstrom's map represents; for it appears by the Journal that Kissey, at the head of the river of the same name, is no more than eight journies from Teembo. Nor has the map more than 120 geographic miles between them, admitting the scale to be British miles, as I have concluded.*

The nearest point in Mr. Park's route falls at 112 G. miles to the northward of the extreme point of Mr. Watt; and the river Gambia lay nearly midway between them. Thus, the map of Mr Watt forms a most useful comparison, and adds confirmation to the report of the natives respecting the course of the Gambia; for Mr. Park was told, that it was crossed in the way from the Felemé river to Footo Jallo, of which Teembo is the capital

Pisania, on the Gambia (called also Kuttijar Factory) the place of Mr. Park's outsett is stated by D'Anville to be 170 G. miles above Jillifrey, by the difference of longitude; but by M Woodville's map, no more than 156; which answers better to the statement of the land journey; for Mr. Park was told that it was no more than six and an half journies of a messenger.‡

Pisania then is placed in longitude 13° 28' according to this result; and in latitude 13° 35′ north, according to Mr. Park's observation by sextant.

* Dr. Afzelius supposes that the town of Kissey may be in direct distance, about 36 geographical miles to the north-east by east of Serra Leona. Hence, Teembo should be no more than 156 from Serra Leona. On the general map it is 170. I have adhered to the bearing lines on Mr. Watt's map; but think it probable that Teembo, and the whole route may be more to the south.

This is the residence of Dr. Laidley, a gentleman to whom Mr. Park and the Association are under great obligations. He received Mr. Park into his house, and treated him more like a child of the family than a stranger. He cured Mr. Park of a serious illness, which confined him for many weeks; and when Mr. Park was disappointed of the goods necessary for his expences, which were to have been sent out with Consul Wallis, the Doctor supplied him with every possible necessary he had occasion for, taking his bills upon the Association for the amount.

A journey of an ordinary traveller may be taken at about 17 geographical miles in direct distance; that of messengers in India, is equal to about 25, or 100 English miles by the road, in three days.

The causes of the apparent wanderings of Mr. Park having been explained in the former part of this work, it will be no farther necessary to trace his course, than merely to explain the connection of the different parts of the data for the general construction.

Since the scale of the Map is fixed by the computed distances arising on the intervals of time employed in Mr. Park's route, it is possible that some readers may be startled at the idea of following such an apparently vague authority. Those however, who have been much in the habit of observing their rate of travelling, will be easily convinced that distances may be approximated; and those in particular who have been much accustomed to travel in countries, where time regulates the distance; or who have been in habits of working up geographical materials of this kind, will be the most easily convinced. It will of course be understood, that calculations of this kind can only be received from persons of judgment and experience: And also, that when opportunities of checking them occur, they are always resorted to; after which, of course, no alternative remains but to adopt the corrected distance.

In the present case, the rate of travelling of camels,* does not apply; as Mr. Park's journey outwards was made on horseback, and his return chiefly on foot. Nor are camels indeed in use in that line of route. The checks to be employed, are the number of journies reported by the travelling merchants from different points of Mr. Park's route to Sego and Tombuctoo; and also those from the quarters of Morocco, Tunis and Fezzan to Tombuctoo; using as a scale the rate arising on the route between Fezzan and Egypt, Morocco and Jarra, as the best known lines of distance. These, altogether, furnish such kind of authority as will, I trust, lead to a satisfactory conclusion, as the general coincidence is certainly very striking.

My mode of procedure has been, to calculate in the first instance, Mr. Park's bearings and distances, and then to correct the bearings by his observed latitudes, as far as these extend, and beyond that, I have taken his bearings by compass, and allowed the supposed quantity of variation.

The result of these calculations, together with the addition of his line of distance from Sego to Tombuctoo, was

See Phil. Trans. for 1791.

then compared with the popular report of the distance be tween the several stations of Woolli, Fort St. Joseph, Bambouk, and Tombuctoo. It was found that these reports did not materially differ from the aggregate distance given by Mr. Park; although they fell short of it; a difference which might naturally have been expected, and which I have ventured to alter. The difference, however, does not exceed twenty-four geographic miles; a mere trifle in African geography. The position of Tombuctoo, so obtained, differs only half a degree in latitude, and still less in longitude, from that arising from the intersection of the lines of distance from Morocco on the N. W. and Fezzan on the N. E, of which a particular account will be given in the sequel

A great part of Mr. Park's geographical memorandums are totally lost, but fortunately his bearings by compass during a great part of the way, are preserved. In other parts, he has preserved only the calculation of latitude and longitude arising from them; which however, of course furnish the means of obtaining the bearings, if necessary. As he omitted to take observations to determine the quantity of the variation of the compass, after he lost the means of correcting his course by observations of latitude, which was at Jarra, about midway in his route it becomes a question of some importance, what quantity to allow on those long lines of distance between Jarra and Silla; Silla and Manding.

It appears on inquiry, that the quantity of variation is no more known, any where within the continent of Africa, than within that of New Holland. And it happens moreover, that the lines of equal quantities of variation, do not run across Africa with that degree of regularity and parallelism which takes place over great part of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, at least this is what appears clearly to my judgment, so that it became necessary to inquire what quantity prevails in the 'surrounding seas, and what the general direction, as well as the particular nature and tendency of the curves of the lines of equal quantities?

The variation lines on the globe have occupied a good deal of my attention at different periods of, my life, and therefore the application of such new observations, as the

* The places of observation are marked on the Map by asterisks.