Scotland/Scots > Last years of Livingstone

APPENDIX 1.
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at length reached the Niger, accompanied only by seven
of his party, all of whom were in a state of great weak¬
ness from the effects of the climate. They built one vessel,
and, on the 17th November, 1805, were ready to embark
on the river, previous to which Park sent despatches to
England. His party was now reduced to five, his brother-
in-law having died a few days before. Park’s spirit, how¬
ever, remained undaunted. “ Though all the Europeans
who are with me should die,” said he, in his last letters
to England, “ and though I myself were half dead, I would
still persevere ; and, if I could not succeed in the object
of my journey, I would at least die in the Niger.” He em¬
barked, therefore, with the intention of sailing down the
river to its mouth, wherever that might be; but, after
passing Timbuctoo and several other cities, he was killed
on the Niger, at a place called Boussa, a short distance be¬
low Yaouri. No part of his journal after he left Sansand-
ing has ever been recovered.
In 1797, the African Association had engaged Mr.
Hornemann, a German, who left Cairo in September, 1798,
with the intention of carrying into effect the objects of
the Association by proceeding as far southward and west¬
ward as he could get. In his last despatches he expressed
himself confident in being able to succeed in reaching a
greater distance into the interior than any other European
traveller; but, after reaching Bomou, no certain inteUi-
gence was ever afterwards heard concerning him. Mr.
Hornemann learned many particulars which had not be¬
fore been known in Europe respecting the countries to the
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