Beschreibung:

67 2083 Park M 67/2083 Park, M. Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: Performed under the Direction and Patronage of the African Association, in the years 1795, 1796 and 1797. With an appendix, containing geographical illustrations of Africa By Major Rennell. London, W. Bulmer, 1799, 2nd ed., XXVIII,372,(6),XCIIp., stipple-engr. frontisp. portrait by T. DICKINSON after H. EDRIDGE, 3 fold. engr. maps (1x w. handcol. tracks), 5 (fold.) views/ plates, 2 lvs. w. engr. score, contemp. hcalf w. gilt spine and mor. letterpiece, 4to. - First map w. two tears on upper fold.; sm. stamp on first free endpaper. Joints split(ting). Nevertheless a fine, clean copy unif. bound with the preceding. = Cox I, p.394f; Henze IV, p.14; Kainbacher II, p.168; Gay 2788; Howgego P21: "In 1794 Park offered his services to the African Association, the intention being to follow the route pioneered by Daniel Houghton across West Africa in an attempt to reach the River Niger. (...) His offer was accepted and it was decided to recruit fifty more men to act as his escort. (...) Park eventually left Pisania (2.12.95) with an English-speaking Mandingo guide called Johnson, a slave called Demba, a horse and two asses, food supply for two days, an umbrella, a sextant, a compass, a thermometer and four firearms. (...) He reached Sego (= Segou) on the River Niger on 20.7.96, where he was at last able to confirm that the river flowed towards the east. (...) [He] arrived back at Pisania on 10.6.97 (...). Warmly received in London, Park spent the next year writing his immensely popular Travels in the Interior of Africa (1799) (...)." SEE ILLUSTRATION PLATE LXXXIX.