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

This collection brings together the original journal of a pioneering 1805 expedition into the interior of Africa, supplemented by official dispatches, private letters, and vivid sketches drawn by the explorer himself. Also included is a rare Arabic translation made by an African guide sent years later to trace the explorer’s fate. The material offers a frank, unembellished view of the terrain, the peoples encountered, and the logistical hurdles of early nineteenth‑century travel.

Listeners will hear the explorer’s own voice as he records daily observations, from the rhythm of river crossings to the customs of villages along the way, all intended as a personal record rather than a polished narrative. The unfinished nature of the account, cut short by his disappearance, adds a poignant sense of mystery and urgency to each entry. A concise memoir of his life frames the journal, giving context to his ambitions and the broader hopes of the African Institution that sponsored the venture.