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[AFRICA]. PARK, Mungo (1771-1806). The Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa in the Year 1805. Together with other documents, official and private, relating to the same mission. To which is prefixed an account of the life of Mr. Park. London: W. Bulmer and Co., 1815. 4to. Illustrated with folding engraved map with hand-colored routes by geographer Major Rennell. 373, [1, blank] pp. 2 volumes bound in 1. Bound in contemporary three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, gilt morocco lettering labels on spine (rebacked with spine preserved, some wear, scuffing, soiling to boards, title-page re-inserted, otherwise clean). Very good. SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED WITH ADDITIONS. Mungo Park was the first westerner to travel to the central portion of the Niger River. Until the publication of his book about his first African journey in 1799, hardly anything was known of the interior of the continent. His narrative, complete with scientific observations on the botany and meteorology of the region, and the social and domestic life of the natives, has become a classic of travel literature. He made the first great practical advance in opening up central Africa. Park returned to Africa for a second mission in 1805. This time he traveled on the Niger by canoe, but was stopped in his attempt to reach the source of the river by the rapids at Boussa. He and his companions were killed there in a fight with the natives. Fortunately, Park had sent his journals on to Gambia, and they were finally published in 1815.