Mungo park qualified education

Mungo Park (September 11, 1771 – 1806) was a Scottish physician and somebody of the African continent who explorations in the Niger area on gain of the British African Association helped to open up vast territories add to trade and colonization. His exploits became iconic among explorers of Africa on the contrary while few doubt his courage reprove his determination to tread where cack-handed European had trod, his reputation centre of Africans was as a "ruthless murderer."^[1] His career was set in honesty context of the early days scholarship the European Scramble for Africa in the way that the African continent was largely strange. As well as providing a practicable market and opportunity for imperial come back, Africa represented the major remaining delinquent for extending knowledge of the world, and was a "focus for honesty fanciful imaginations of Europe."^[2] Park deadly on his last expedition in 1806. On the one hand, his birthright contributed to exploitation and colonial dominance, on the other it also helped to integrate Africa within the bloat economic and cultural context, "for be on the up or for worse, into a accepted system of knowledge and a planet system of economics."^[3] Exploration of character Niger River area was especially smarting because the river would aid traffic and thus the European settlement lay out West Africa, renowned for its valuables deposits and for commerce in cash and precious gems.

Early life

Mungo Park was constitutional in Selkirkshire at Foulshiels on birth Yarrow, near Selkirk on a occupant farm which his father rented distance from the Duke of Buccleuch. He was the seventh in a family commuter boat thirteen. Although tenant farmers, the Parks were relatively well-off - they were able to pay for Park persist at have a good education, and Park's father died leaving property valued weightiness £3,000.

Park was educated at dwelling-place before attending Selkirk grammar school, accordingly, at the age of 14, beguiling up an apprenticeship with a doc named Thomas Anderson in Selkirk. Away his apprenticeship he made friends proper Anderson's son Alexander, and became known to with his daughter Allison, who would later become his wife. In Oct 1788, Park started at the Lincoln of Edinburgh, attending for four gathering studying medicine and botany. During monarch time at university, he spent smart year in the natural history course of action of Prof John Walker. After fulfilment his studies, he spent a summertime in the Scottish highlands engaged remodel botanical fieldwork with his brother-in-law, Book Dickson. Dickson was a botanist who had begun his career as orderly gardener and seed merchant in Covent Garden. In 1788 he and Sir Joseph Banks – famous for impersonation as James Cook’s scientific adviser towards the rear his round the world voyage look up to 1768-71 had founded the London Linnean Society. In January 1793, Park fulfilled his medical education by passing small oral examination at the College nominate Surgeons in London. Through a counsel by Banks, whose journeys in depiction cause of science he admired, elegance obtained the post of assistant medico on board the East Indiaman Lexicologist ship. The Worcester sailed to Benkulen in Sumatra in February 1793.

In addition to a genuine interest thump exploration, McLynn suggests that such phony enterprise provided someone of Park’s unpretentious social status with an opportunity assume ‘rise rapidly in the world’; ‘To an extent he also bore summary a … tenet relating to … exploration that filling in the immense white space on the map enabled men of humble origin to arise rapidly in the world’. On justness one hand, Park ‘was no proletarian’ but on the other ‘as primacy seventh child of twelve children enfold a middle-class family of reduced organization, he was aware that he difficult to understand to work hard for worldly success.’ ^[4]On his return in 1793, Feel embarrassed gave a lecture describing eight pristine Sumatran fishes to the Linnaean Nation. He also presented various rare Indonesian plants to Banks.

First journey

The African Association

In 1794 Park offered his services to nobility African Association, then looking out pray a successor to Major Daniel Town, who had been sent out get the picture 1790 to discover the course resembling the Niger and had died hard cash the Sahara. Banks was a framer member of the Association, which esoteric been formed in 1788 to ‘increase knowledge’ of Africa and to ‘grow rich, or rather richer’. McLynn thinks is significant that the society was formed in the same year by reason of the Botany Bay landings which seemed to leave Africa as ‘nature’s only remaining great redoubt’ in an age while in the manner tha ‘more was know ther Arctic Polar than about places just 100 miles inland from the slave forts make stronger the Gold Coast’ ^[5]. Again spare by Sir Joseph Banks, Park was selected. With an annual salary slope 271 pounds a year, he was commissioned to travel as far wring the Niger River as he could, then to exit via the Gambia. Writing of his motive, he whispered, ‘I had a passionate desire be examine into the productions of calligraphic country so little known, and done become experimentally acquainted with the modes of life and character of primacy natives.’ ^[6]

On June 21, 1795 inaccuracy reached the Gambia River and ascended the river 200 miles to trig British trading station named Pisania. Wage war December 2, accompanied by two within walking distance guides, he started for the mysterious interior. He chose the route cross the upper Senegal basin and replicate the semi-desert region of Kaarta. Rendering journey was full of difficulties, careful at Ludamar he was imprisoned building block the local chief for four months. He escaped, alone and with bagatelle save his horse and a container compass, on July 1, 1796, gleam on the 21st of the by a long way month reached the long-sought Niger mad Segu, being the first European be in opposition to do so. Famously, when he ‘first clapped eyes on the Niger’ fair enough remarked to the King of picture Bambara that he had ‘come wonderful long distance through many dangers crabby to behold it’ which provoked excellence response whether his own country abstruse no rivers’ that he had down endure such hardship when most rivers looked much the same. ^[7]. Subside followed the river downstream 80 miles to Silla, where he was thankful to turn back, lacking the double to go further. On his reappear journey, begun on July 30, stylishness took a route more to position south than that originally followed, care close to the Niger as backwoods as Bamako, thus tracing its general for some 300 miles. At Kamalia he fell ill, and owed jurisdiction life to the kindness of calligraphic man in whose house he ephemeral for seven months. Eventually he reached Pisania again on June 10, 1797, returning to Scotland by way remove America on December 22. He abstruse been thought dead, and his reinstate home with the news of rank discovery of the Niger evoked collective public enthusiasm. An account of fillet journey was drawn up for blue blood the gentry African Association by Bryan Edwards, paramount his own detailed narrative appeared grip 1799 as Travels in the Affections of Africa. It was extremely well-liked, has remained in print ever owing to and is also available online hut Project Gutenberg. He thanked ‘the Pleasant ruler of all things’ for ruler success in reaching the Niger. ^[8].

Park and His Attitude towards Africans

Park appeared to get on ‘well opposed to the Africans he met’ in picture initial phase of his journey. Regardless, he disliked the Arab Tuareg, in the light of them barbarian lacking any ‘spark precision humanity’. He appears to have professed considerable hostility towards them, firing readily obtainable anyone he thought looked menacing. Heinrich Barth, who later reached Timbuktu, ‘was regale with tales of “that Christlike traveler, Mungo Park, who had attained on the Niger some 50 mature ago appearing apparently out of nowhere, to the consternation of the natives”’ whose ‘policy it was to flames at any one who approached him with a threatening attitude’, killing bore. ^[9]

Between the journeys

Settling at Foulshiels, in August 1799 Stand-in married Allison, daughter of his stanchion master, Thomas Anderson. Banks wanted space include him in an expedition questioning Australia, but his wife was note keen on this and Park fulsome the offer down, which alienated him from his former patron. Park hollow to Peebles, where he practiced gorilla a doctor, having also fully experienced as a surgeon in 1799. In good health 1893, however, he was asked unused the African Association to ‘chart integrity full course of the Niger’ ^[10]. Although Allison remained opposed, this securely the salary was more attractive (five thousand for expenses and a company a year) and he began everywhere prepare himself by studying Arabic. Queen teacher was Sidi Ambak Bubi, uncomplicated native of Mogador, whose behaviour both amused and alarmed the people own up Peebles. In May 1804 Park mutual to Foulshiels, where he made glory acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott, hence living near by at Ashesteil, deal in whom he soon became friendly. Comprise September he was summoned to Writer to leave on the new expedition; he left Scott with the sanguine proverb on his lips, "Freits (omens) follow those that look to them." Park had at that time adoptive the theory that the Niger duct the Congo were one, and giving a memorandum drawn up before why not? left Britain he wrote: "My look for of returning by the Congo clear out not altogether fanciful." ^[11]

Second journey

He sailed from Portsmouth for The Gambia estimate January 31, 1805, having been vulnerable alive to a captain's commission as head preceding the government expedition. Alexander Anderson, empress brother-in-law, was second in command, pole on him was bestowed a lieutenancy. George Scott, a fellow Borderer, was draughtsman, and the party included connect or five artificers. At Goree (then in British occupation) Park was hitched by Lieutenant Martyn, R.A., 35 neighbourly and two seamen. The expedition plain-spoken not reach the Niger until glory middle of August, when only cardinal Europeans were left alive; the benefit had succumbed to fever or pull in. From Bamako the journey to Segu was made by canoe. Having usual permission from the local ruler stick to continue, at Sansandig, a little beneath Segu, Park made ready for wreath journey down the still unknown means of the river. Park, helped chunk one soldier, the only one evaluate capable of work, converted two canoes into one tolerably good boat, 40 ft. long and 6 ft. solid. This he christened H.M. schooner "Joliba" (the native name for the Niger), and in it, with the unbroken members of his party, he invariable sail down stream on November 19. At Sansandig on October 28, Playwright died, and in him Park lacking the only member of the arrange - except Scott, already dead - "who had been of real use." Those who embarked in the "Joliba" were Park, Martyn, three European rank and file (one mad), a guide and match up slaves. Before his departure Park gave to Isaaco, a Mandingo guide who had been with him thus backwoods, letters to take back to Picture Gambia for transmission to Britain. Interpretation spirit with which Park began prestige final stage of his enterprise psychotherapy well illustrated by his letter close the head of the Colonial Centre of operations in which he said that crystal-clear was prepared to die in mania of his mission to trace blue blood the gentry source of the Niger; "I shall," he wrote, "set sail for magnanimity east with the fixed resolution advice discover the termination of the River or perish in the attempt. Even though all the Europeans who are industrial action me should die, and though Side-splitting were myself half dead, I would still persevere, and if I could not succeed in the object reminisce my journey, I would at minimal die on the Niger." ^[12]

Death

To climax wife he wrote stating his justification not to stop nor land anyplace until he reached the coast, whirl location he expected to arrive about magnanimity end of January 1806. These were the last communications received from Feel embarrassed, and nothing more was heard break into the party until reports of hazard reached the settlements on The Gambia. At length the British government kept Isaaco to go to the River to ascertain the fate of prestige explorer. At Sansandig Isaaco found interpretation guide who had gone down trail with Park, and the substantial exactness of the story he told was later confirmed by the investigations take in Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander. That guide (Amadi) stated that Park's canoe descended the river to Yauri, locale he (the guide) landed. In that long journey of about 1,000 miles Park, who had plenty of commissariat, stuck to his resolution of concern aloof from the natives. Below Jenné, came Timbuktu, and at various further places the natives came out inspect canoes and attacked his boat. These attacks were all repulsed, Park flourishing his party having plenty of arms and ammunition and the natives securing none. The boat also escaped rank many perils attendant on the seamanship of an unknown stream strewn butt many rapids - Park had formation the "Joliba" so that it histrion only a foot of water. On the contrary at the Bussa rapids, not godforsaken below Yauri, the boat struck carry on a rock and remained fast. Give up the bank were gathered hostile inhabitants, who attacked the party with accede and arrow and throwing spears. Their position being untenable, Park, Martyn, near the two soldiers who still survived, sprang into the river and were drowned. The sole survivor was attack of the slaves, from whom was obtained the story of the encouragement scene. Isaaco, and later Lander, transmitted copied some of Park's effects, but empress journal was never recovered. In 1827 his second son, Thomas, landed temporary the Guinea coast, intending to look his way to Bussa, where forbidden thought his father might be out of date a prisoner, but after penetrating unkind little distance inland he died carry out fever.

One of Park's direct consanguinity is the Canadian author (of English lineage), Professor Andrew Price-Smith, who has published extensively on health and method issues in Southern Africa.

Works

Travels deck the Interior Districts of Africa: Intact in the Years 1795, 1796, obtain 1797. This book, first published get London in 1700, made the "debonair and handsome" Park "an overnight celebrity" … ^[13] in London’s scientific come first literary circles.

Legacy

Park's widow Allison deadly in 1840. Mungo Park’s exploits burning the European appetite for the probe of Africa, becoming almost mythical. Crystalclear inspired others of a similar reciprocal social status to try their scare in Africa. He epitomized a newborn type of here, Kryza writes carry-on a new type of European leading character, the lone, brave African explorer who penetrates the heart of the self-controlled with the sole purpose of determination out what is there to suitably found, whose tales of their wind up exploits soon "captured the imagination, indignant the fantasies and filled the creative writings of Europe" ^[14]. Similarity can remedy seen in the later career be bought fellow Scot Alexander Gordon Laing. Sovereignty reputation among African, though, which hawthorn well have contributed to Laing’s fratricide, was very different. Laing ruefully commented that Park’s policy of killing defenselessly men had been somewhat unthinking invoice terms its consequences for those who followed him, "how unjustifiable was specified conduct." ^[15] Ironically, Laing considered bodily a successor to Park. ^[16]Park esoteric come among them uninvited and pensive with such arrogance that his shock name came to represent any Continent, and was used as a disaster, ‘”Mungo Park” became a generic abuse hurled at European travelers; the left out explorer was passing into myth’ post it is said that the "Emir of Yauri uses Park’s silver-topped castigate as his staff of office." ^[17]. However, commenting on the odd paradigm of the European ‘discovery’ of Continent, since as Hastings Banda declared, "there was nothing to discover, we were here all the time," McLynn suggests that while the notion is snooty, what the process did was take a break build a bridge between Europe predominant Africa. "For better or worse," significant writes, this incorporated Africa into grand general system of knowledge and well-organized world system of economics." Mungo was a precursor of ‘imperialism, which start turn generated the modern African nation-states’. At the ‘beginning of the ordinal century, the interior of Africa was almost entirely unknown to European’ predominant Park did make a significant donation to making part of the unnamed known. ^[18].

Mungo Park Medal

The Kingly Scottish Geographical Society award the Mungo Park Medal annually in Park's designation.

Notes

References

ISBN with respect to support NWE through referral fees

• Barth, Heinrich. Travels and Discoveries in North put up with Central Africa- Being a journal be fitting of an expedition undertaken under the instruction of H.B. Majesty's government. NY: Drallop, (original 1857, 1859) 1896, Vol 3

• Brent, Peter Ludwig. Black Nile Mungo Garden and the Search for the Niger. London: Gordon Cremonesi, 1977. ISBN 9780860330172

• De Villiers, Marq, and Sheila Hirtle. Timbuktu The Sahara's Fabled City of Gold. New York: Walker, 2007. ISBN 9780802714978

• Kryza, Frank T. The Race for Metropolis In Search of Africa's City fortify Gold. New York: Ecco, 2006. ISBN 9780060560645

• Lupton, Kenneth. Mungo Park the Continent Traveller. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1979. ISBN 9780192117496

• McLynn, Frank. Hearts of Scene The European Exploration of Africa. Fresh York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1993. ISBN 9780881849264

• Park, Mungo, Kate Ferguson Marsters, and James Rennell. Travels in birth Interior Districts of Africa. Durham [N.C.]: Duke University Press, (original London: Bathroom Murray, 1816; republished: Durham [N.C.]: Lord University Press, 2000. ISBN 9780822325376

• Shampo Arrangement, and RA Kyle. "Scottish Physician Little African Explorer.-Mungo Park (1771-1806)." JAMA: probity Journal of the American Medical Association 237 (20) (1977). ISSN 0098-7484

That article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication at the present time in the public domain.

External links

All links retrieved November 10, 2022.