AFRICAN EXPLORATION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 26

AFRICAN EXPLORATION

-—- —» MEMORIAL TO MUNGO PARK AND LANDER. A project initiated as long ago as 1911 to commemorate the achievements of Mungo Park and Richard Lander, who traced the Niger River from near its source to its outlet to the sea, in the pioneer exploration of western and west central Africa, has now been realised. A statement recording its completion was recently made by Lord Scarborough, one of the originators of tbe scheme. The memorial has been erected on Jebba Island, in the Middle Niger; it is an obelisk 40ft. high and lift, square at the base, and standing on heavy steps. It is built of mass concrete faced with granite-quarried in Jebba Island. On the east face a bronze tablet is fixed bearing the following inscription: “To. Mungo Park, 1795, and Richard Lander, IS3O, who traced the Niger from iti source to tbe sea. Both died in Africa for Africa.” Lord Scarborough said -the memorial. is clearly visible from' both north and south for distances up to 15 miles and stands out boldly against the skyline, calling to the mind of’ every passing traveller by road, rail or river the wonderful and arduous journeys performed by each of these explorers—by Mungo Park in his first journey in 1795-97 from the Gambia to Silla and near to the sources of the Niger, and his second journey in 1805. which terminated in his death in the Bussa rapids not far above the site of tbe present memorial; and by Richard Lander, whose intrepid ■ journey •in 1830 connected the Upper Niger at'Bussa with the universal highway of the ocean. During his third journey Lander was killed near tbe mouth of the river and was buried at Fernando Po. Untilithis pregnant discovery was made, geographers were still disputing whether the great river was absorbed in the deserts in the heart of the continent, or crossed Africa and formed the Nile, the sources of which were then unknown, or (as Mungo Park believed up to his death) was the parent stream of the Congo.