Mungo Park, West African
Explorer by Mark Duffill Published in the
UK by NMS Publishing of Edinburgh. ISBN 1 901663 15 9 This book is one in a series of books
about Scottish people which is called Scot's Lives.
Published in 1999. 144 pages Price
£6.99.
Mark Duffil's book is an addition to those already in existence about Mungo
Park, and might appeal to people interested in the history of West Africa.
About 10 of the 144 pages refer to The Gambia.
Mungo Park, born in 1771, trained as a doctor and surgeon. He was
very interested in exploration and wildlife. He made one expedition to
Sumatra and two better known expeditions to West Africa in 1795 - 97 and 1805 -
06 and he was drowned there at the age of 35, in the year 1806.
This book includes a few excerpts from Travels in the Interior
Districts of Africa, Mungo Park's own book published in 1799,
including 7 pages of Park's description of the Mandingo.
Written for general reading, in level it is
suitable for Senior Secondary Schools.
Mike Carrick (near Birmingham, UK).