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Document 85438 MUNGO PARK Early African explorer charges £40 for traveling expenses. Rare Manuscript DS: "Mungo Park", 1p, 7¼x4. No place, no date. In full: "Twenty pounds on account of my travelling (sic) Expences (sic) & Twenty pounds on account of the travelling (sic) expences (sic) of Mr. Anderson." Scottish surgeon and explorer Mungo Park (1771-1806) went to Africa in 1795 to explore the Niger River. He went 200 miles up the Gambia River upon arriving in present-day Gambia and then traveled east into unexplored territory. Park was captured by a local chief but escaped and returned to Scotland. His good friend Sir Walter Scott convinced him to return to Africa to uncover the secret of the mouth of the Niger River. In 1796, Park reached the Niger River at the town of Segou. After he traveled 80 miles downstream as far as Silla his supplies were exhausted. On January 31, 1805, Park set sail from Portsmouth, England to Africa, planning to navigate the Niger River from Segou to its mouth. It was to be his last voyage. On August 9th, he reached the town of Bamako. Park reached the town of Sansanding, where he planned to build boats to journey down the Niger, on September 27. On October 28, 1805, Alexander Anderson, the brother of Mungo Park's wife and most probably the "Mr. Anderson" in this document, died of fever at Sansanding. On November 20th, Park left Sansanding. In February 1806, after traveling about 1,500 miles down the Niger River, Mungo Park drowned in the river near the town of Bussa, now covered by the Kainji Dam; he was 35. Autographs of Mungo Park are rarely encountered. Folds, vertical fold touches the "k" in Park. Mounting remnants on verso (light show through to text). Overall, fine condition. SEE IF DOCUMENT 85438 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!
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