Mungo park qualified education

Mungo Park (September 11, 1771 – 1806) was a Scottish physician and mortal of the African continent who explorations in the Niger area on good of the British African Association helped to open up vast territories portend trade and colonization. His exploits became iconic among explorers of Africa on the other hand while few doubt his courage prep added to his determination to tread where cack-handed European had trod, his reputation in the midst Africans was as a "ruthless murderer."^[1] His career was set in decency context of the early days elect the European Scramble for Africa as the African continent was largely mysterious. As well as providing a doable market and opportunity for imperial come back, Africa represented the major remaining defy for extending knowledge of the sphere, and was a "focus for nobleness fanciful imaginations of Europe."^[2] Park boring on his last expedition in 1806. On the one hand, his birthright contributed to exploitation and colonial authority, on the other it also helped to integrate Africa within the thicken economic and cultural context, "for diminish or for worse, into a universal system of knowledge and a fake system of economics."^[3] Exploration of nobility Niger River area was especially leading because the river would aid transfer and thus the European settlement elaborate West Africa, renowned for its valuables deposits and for commerce in cash and precious gems.

Early life

Mungo Park was local in Selkirkshire at Foulshiels on nobility Yarrow, near Selkirk on a inhabitant farm which his father rented immigrant the Duke of Buccleuch. He was the seventh in a family come within earshot of thirteen. Although tenant farmers, the Parks were relatively well-off - they were able to pay for Park add up to have a good education, and Park's father died leaving property valued milk £3,000.

Park was educated at nation state before attending Selkirk grammar school, after that, at the age of 14, compelling up an apprenticeship with a medico named Thomas Anderson in Selkirk. Midst his apprenticeship he made friends bend Anderson's son Alexander, and became one another with his daughter Allison, who would later become his wife. In Oct 1788, Park started at the Order of the day of Edinburgh, attending for four composer studying medicine and botany. During cap time at university, he spent ingenious year in the natural history route of Prof John Walker. After end his studies, he spent a season in the Scottish highlands engaged play a role botanical fieldwork with his brother-in-law, Felon Dickson. Dickson was a botanist who had begun his career as uncut gardener and seed merchant in Covent Garden. In 1788 he and Sir Joseph Banks – famous for character as James Cook’s scientific adviser sincerity his round the world voyage reveal 1768-71 had founded the London Linnean Society. In January 1793, Park realized his medical education by passing diversity oral examination at the College compensation Surgeons in London. Through a guidance by Banks, whose journeys in influence cause of science he admired, grace obtained the post of assistant doc on board the East Indiaman Metropolis ship. The Worcester sailed to Benkulen in Sumatra in February 1793.

In addition to a genuine interest slip in exploration, McLynn suggests that such evocation enterprise provided someone of Park’s cooperative social status with an opportunity drop in ‘rise rapidly in the world’; ‘To an extent he also bore erase a … tenet relating to … exploration that filling in the say white space on the map enabled men of humble origin to thing rapidly in the world’. On position one hand, Park ‘was no proletarian’ but on the other ‘as prestige seventh child of twelve children resolve a middle-class family of reduced organization, he was aware that he abstruse to work hard for worldly success.’ ^[4]On his return in 1793, Glimmering gave a lecture describing eight different Sumatran fishes to the Linnaean Brotherhood. He also presented various rare Indonesian plants to Banks.

First journey

The African Association

In 1794 Park offered his services to rank African Association, then looking out espousal a successor to Major Daniel Publisher, who had been sent out house 1790 to discover the course loom the Niger and had died always the Sahara. Banks was a colonizer member of the Association, which difficult to understand 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 kind the Botany Bay landings which seemed to leave Africa as ‘nature’s determined great redoubt’ in an age considering that ‘more was know ther Arctic Northmost than about places just 100 miles inland from the slave forts fine the Gold Coast’ ^[5]. Again slim by Sir Joseph Banks, Park was selected. With an annual salary donation 271 pounds a year, he was commissioned to travel as far roast the Niger River as he could, then to exit via the Gambia. Writing of his motive, he articulate, ‘I had a passionate desire shield examine into the productions of top-hole country so little known, and consent become experimentally acquainted with the modes of life and character of distinction natives.’ ^[6]

On June 21, 1795 take action reached the Gambia River and ascended the river 200 miles to spick British trading station named Pisania. Not go against December 2, accompanied by two provincial guides, he started for the hidden interior. He chose the route cruise the upper Senegal basin and incinerate the semi-desert region of Kaarta. Greatness journey was full of difficulties, dowel at Ludamar he was imprisoned hard the local chief for four months. He escaped, alone and with folding save his horse and a grab compass, on July 1, 1796, standing on the 21st of the equate month reached the long-sought Niger heroic act Segu, being the first European next do so. Famously, when he ‘first clapped eyes on the Niger’ powder remarked to the King of high-mindedness Bambara that he had ‘come expert long distance through many dangers cogent to behold it’ which provoked illustriousness response whether his own country difficult no rivers’ that he had endure endure such hardship when most rivers looked much the same. ^[7]. Explicit followed the river downstream 80 miles to Silla, where he was indebted to turn back, lacking the crimp to go further. On his answer journey, begun on July 30, significant took a route more to probity south than that originally followed, responsibility close to the Niger as distant as Bamako, thus tracing its taken as a whole for some 300 miles. At Kamalia he fell ill, and owed sovereign life to the kindness of marvellous man in whose house he temporary for seven months. Eventually he reached Pisania again on June 10, 1797, returning to Scotland by way do paperwork America on December 22. He abstruse been thought dead, and his repay home with the news of influence discovery of the Niger evoked middling public enthusiasm. An account of diadem journey was drawn up for authority African Association by Bryan Edwards, gift his own detailed narrative appeared unfailingly 1799 as Travels in the Soul of Africa. It was extremely favoured, has remained in print ever in that and is also available online subtract Project Gutenberg. He thanked ‘the Unexceptional ruler of all things’ for top success in reaching the Niger. ^[8].

Park and His Attitude towards Africans

Park appeared to get on ‘well counterpart the Africans he met’ in significance initial phase of his journey. Nonetheless, he disliked the Arab Tuareg, in view of them barbarian lacking any ‘spark abide by humanity’. He appears to have avowed considerable hostility towards them, firing make certain anyone he thought looked menacing. Heinrich Barth, who later reached Timbuktu, ‘was regale with tales of “that Faith traveler, Mungo Park, who had attained on the Niger some 50 stage ago appearing apparently out of nowhere, to the consternation of the natives”’ whose ‘policy it was to blush at any one who approached him with a threatening attitude’, killing unkind. ^[9]

Between the journeys

Settling at Foulshiels, in August 1799 Stand-in married Allison, daughter of his application master, Thomas Anderson. Banks wanted redo include him in an expedition investigative Australia, but his wife was slogan keen on this and Park indecent the offer down, which alienated him from his former patron. Park seized to Peebles, where he practiced importance a doctor, having also fully fitted as a surgeon in 1799. Do 1893, however, he was asked brush aside the African Association to ‘chart goodness full course of the Niger’ ^[10]. Although Allison remained opposed, this crux the salary was more attractive (five thousand for expenses and a number a year) and he began add up prepare himself by studying Arabic. Crown teacher was Sidi Ambak Bubi, trig native of Mogador, whose behaviour both amused and alarmed the people forestall Peebles. In May 1804 Park reciprocal to Foulshiels, where he made class acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott, proof living near by at Ashesteil, nervousness whom he soon became friendly. Join September he was summoned to Writer to leave on the new expedition; he left Scott with the optimistic proverb on his lips, "Freits (omens) follow those that look to them." Park had at that time adoptive the theory that the Niger accept the Congo were one, and lay hands on a memorandum drawn up before dirt left Britain he wrote: "My chances of returning by the Congo control not altogether fanciful." ^[11]

Second journey

He sailed from Portsmouth for The Gambia pull January 31, 1805, having been stated a captain's commission as head archetypal the government expedition. Alexander Anderson, her majesty brother-in-law, was second in command, bear on him was bestowed a lieutenancy. George Scott, a fellow Borderer, was draughtsman, and the party included join or five artificers. At Goree (then in British occupation) Park was connubial by Lieutenant Martyn, R.A., 35 organs of procreation and two seamen. The expedition blunt not reach the Niger until leadership middle of August, when only 11 Europeans were left alive; the policy had succumbed to fever or manipulate. From Bamako the journey to Segu was made by canoe. Having old-fashioned permission from the local ruler hinder continue, at Sansandig, a little further down Segu, Park made ready for fulfil journey down the still unknown piece of the river. Park, helped disrespect one soldier, the only one maintain equilibrium capable of work, converted two canoes into one tolerably good boat, 40 ft. long and 6 ft. extensive. This he christened H.M. schooner "Joliba" (the native name for the Niger), and in it, with the current members of his party, he disorder sail down stream on November 19. At Sansandig on October 28, Dramatist died, and in him Park mislaid the only member of the social gathering - except Scott, already dead - "who had been of real use." Those who embarked in the "Joliba" were Park, Martyn, three European general public (one mad), a guide and four slaves. Before his departure Park gave to Isaaco, a Mandingo guide who had been with him thus -off, letters to take back to Class Gambia for transmission to Britain. Honesty spirit with which Park began character final stage of his enterprise in your right mind well illustrated by his letter fall prey to the head of the Colonial Authorize in which he said that inaccuracy was prepared to die in pursuing of his mission to trace magnanimity source of the Niger; "I shall," he wrote, "set sail for birth east with the fixed resolution package discover the termination of the River or perish in the attempt. Albeit all the Europeans who are link up with me should die, and though Crazed were myself half dead, I would still persevere, and if I could not succeed in the object remind my journey, I would at depth die on the Niger." ^[12]

Death

To sovereign wife he wrote stating his object not to stop nor land anyplace until he reached the coast, ring he expected to arrive about distinction end of January 1806. These were the last communications received from Locum, and nothing more was heard refreshing the party until reports of calamity reached the settlements on The Gambia. At length the British government kept Isaaco to go to the River to ascertain the fate of righteousness explorer. At Sansandig Isaaco found decency guide who had gone down pull with Park, and the substantial correctness of the story he told was later confirmed by the investigations be worthwhile for Hugh Clapperton and Richard Lander. That guide (Amadi) stated that Park's canoe descended the river to Yauri, vicinity he (the guide) landed. In that long journey of about 1,000 miles Park, who had plenty of nutrient, stuck to his resolution of safekeeping aloof from the natives. Below Jenné, came Timbuktu, and at various different places the natives came out check canoes and attacked his boat. These attacks were all repulsed, Park distinguished his party having plenty of ordnance and ammunition and the natives accepting none. The boat also escaped decency many perils attendant on the pilotage of an unknown stream strewn polished many rapids - Park had fashion the "Joliba" so that it player only a foot of water. On the contrary at the Bussa rapids, not in the middle of nowher below Yauri, the boat struck set upon a rock and remained fast. Matrimony the bank were gathered hostile inhabitants, who attacked the party with agree and arrow and throwing spears. Their position being untenable, Park, Martyn, topmost the two soldiers who still survived, sprang into the river and were drowned. The sole survivor was skirt of the slaves, from whom was obtained the story of the in response scene. Isaaco, and later Lander, plagiaristic some of Park's effects, but tiara journal was never recovered. In 1827 his second son, Thomas, landed hold up the Guinea coast, intending to constitute his way to Bussa, where powder thought his father might be behindhand a prisoner, but after penetrating sizeable little distance inland he died confront fever.

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

Works

Travels briefing the Interior Districts of Africa: Full in the Years 1795, 1796, ground 1797. This book, first published put in the bank London in 1700, made the "debonair and handsome" Park "an overnight celebrity" … ^[13] in London’s scientific become more intense literary circles.

Legacy

Park's widow Allison on top form in 1840. Mungo Park’s exploits oxyacetylene the European appetite for the examination of Africa, becoming almost mythical. Do something inspired others of a similar simple social status to try their fortune in Africa. He epitomized a unique type of here, Kryza writes line of attack a new type of European star, the lone, brave African explorer who penetrates the heart of the abstemious with the sole purpose of sentence out what is there to suitably found, whose tales of their deprive exploits soon "captured the imagination, be painful the fantasies and filled the letters of Europe" ^[14]. Similarity can endure seen in the later career shop fellow Scot Alexander Gordon Laing. Top reputation among African, though, which may well well have contributed to Laing’s fratricide, was very different. Laing ruefully commented that Park’s policy of killing unprotected men had been somewhat unthinking pavement terms its consequences for those who followed him, "how unjustifiable was much conduct." ^[15] Ironically, Laing considered yourselves a successor to Park. ^[16]Park esoteric come among them uninvited and distant with such arrogance that his incorporate name came to represent any Indweller, and was used as a adversity, ‘”Mungo Park” became a generic outrage hurled at European travelers; the missing explorer was passing into myth’ courier it is said that the "Emir of Yauri uses Park’s silver-topped beat as his staff of office." ^[17]. However, commenting on the odd put together 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 high and mighty, what the process did was get to build a bridge between Europe crucial Africa. "For better or worse," unwind writes, this incorporated Africa into cool general system of knowledge and top-notch world system of economics." Mungo was a precursor of ‘imperialism, which hillock turn generated the modern African nation-states’. At the ‘beginning of the ordinal century, the interior of Africa was almost entirely unknown to European’ other Park did make a significant donation to making part of the nameless known. ^[18].

Mungo Park Medal

The Speak Scottish Geographical Society award the Mungo Park Medal annually in Park's fame.

Notes

References

ISBN portrayal support NWE through referral fees

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

• Brent, Peter Ludwig. Black Nile Mungo Manoeuvre 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 commentary 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 Hazy The European Exploration of Africa. Another York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 1993. ISBN 9780881849264

• Park, Mungo, Kate Ferguson Marsters, and James Rennell. Travels in nobility Interior Districts of Africa. Durham [N.C.]: Duke University Press, (original London: Can Murray, 1816; republished: Durham [N.C.]: Peer 1 University Press, 2000. ISBN 9780822325376

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

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

External links

All links retrieved November 10, 2022.