and of the difficulties with which such expeditions are attended, than a
more elaborate and polished narrative.

With a view of rendering the present publication more complete, and of
gratifying in a certain degree that reasonable curiosity, which will
naturally be felt by many readers of this Journal and the former
Travels, it has been thought advisable to add a biographical Memoir of
the Author. But as the events of Mr. Park's life, with the exception of
those contained in the works just alluded to, are few and unimportant,
the editor has been induced, in the course of this undertaking, to
deviate occasionally into other topics, more or less connected with the
principal subject; in the discussion of which he has inadvertently
exceeded the limits which he had originally assigned to himself. This
circumstance has added considerably to the length of the Memoir and its
Appendix; for which, he would willingly believe, that the interest
belonging to the topics themselves, will be deemed a sufficient apology.

In preparing this Memoir, the editor naturally applied for information
to Mr. Park's family, and was much gratified by discovering, that some
materials, with a view to a similar undertaking, had been collected by a
brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr. Archibald Buchanan of Glasgow; who, on
being made acquainted with the editor's intention, immediately and with
the greatest candour, transmitted to him the whole of his papers.

These materials have been of great use in preparing the Memoir; in which
the editor has likewise been assisted by much useful information which
he has received from another brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr. James
Dickson, whose name will occur in the course of the ensuing Memoir; and
also from Mr. Park's two brothers, Mr. Adam Park of Gravesend, and Mr.
Alexander Park of Selkirk, the latter of whom is unfortunately since