Narrative of a voyage to Senegal in 1816 undertaken by order of the French Government : comprising an account of the shipwreck of the Medusa ... observations respecting the agriculture of the western coast of Africa

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NARRATIVE

OF A

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL

IN 1816;

UNDERTAKEN BY ORDER OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT,
COMPRISING AN ACCOUNT

of tt)e

THE SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW,
AND THE VARIOUS OCCURRENCES ON BOARD THE RAFT,

IN THE DESERT OF ZAARA, AT ST. LOUIS,
AND AT THE CAMP OF DACCARD.

TO WHICH ARE SUBJOINED

OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING THE AGRICULTURE

OF THE

WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA,
FROM CAPE BLANCO TO THE MOUTH OF THE GAMBIA.

BY

J. B. HENRY SAVIGNY,

AND

ALEXANDER CORR^ARD.

ILLUSTRATED WITH THE NOTES OF M. BREDIF,

AND EMBELLISHED WITH
A PLAN OF THE RAFT, AND A PORTRAIT OF KING ZAIDE.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR HENUY COLBUKN, CONDUIT-STREET,

1818.

London: Printed by Scbulze and Dean, is, Poland-Street.

NARRATIVE

OF A

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL

IN 1816.

No person can read this Interesting Narrative
without being deeply effected by the perils and mis-
fortunes to which the small remnant of persons, who
were saved from this deplorable Shipwreck, were
exposed. Of one hundred and fifty persons em-
barked upon the raft, and left to their fate, only
fifteen remained alive thirteen days afterwards;
but of these fifteen, so miraculously saved, life con-
stituted the sole possession, being literally stripped
of every thing. At Paris, some benevolent indi-
viduals have recently opened a subscription for
their relief. Should any persons, in this country,
feel disposed to contribute to this humane object,
Mr. Colburn will feel great pleasure in becoming
the medium for transmitting their subscriptions to
the unfortunate sufferers.

ADVERTISEMENT.

AT the moment that we publish a Second
Edition of onr Narrative, we learn that Mr.
Sevigny* is going to publish a pretended Ac-

f This Mr. Sevigny must not be confounded with
Mr. Savigny, one of the authors of this narrative.

This Mr. Sevigny is one of the directors of an anony-
mous company, which one of the King's Ministers has re-
commended in ihe following manner:

" The keeper of the seals has informed the magis-
" trates, that an anonymous company, which had formed
" itself under the name of the Colonial Philanthropic
" Society of Senegambia^ and which announced the pro-
" ject of procuring for all those who should confide in
" it, colonial establishments on the coasts near Cape Verd,
" has received no authority from the government, and
" that, on the steps which it has taken, to obtain such
" authority, it has been found that it was not in a condi-
" tion to fulfil its promises, which, therefore, were a kind
" of snare, for those whom they might have seduced. It
" has been, consequently, prohibited from making any
" enterprise, or any expedition. The agents of this Society
"having no other object than to deceive the public
*« credulity, must be denounced to his Majesty's Attorney-
" General, who will take against them the measures pre-
« scribed by the law."

( Journal des Debats, Novembre 24, 1817J
b

VI ADVERTISEMENT.

count, by Mr. Richefort, an auxiliary Ex-
Officer of the French Marine.

Our readers will not have forgotten a
certain pretended sea-officer who was partly
the cause of our misfortunes, and who, when
on board the Medusa, gave such unhappy
advice to the captain, who still more unhap-
pily, followed it too closely ; well ; this ex-
officer, this fatal auxiliary, who conducted
the frigate upon the bank of Arguin, is no
other than Mr. Richefort!

Having gone on board the governor's
boat, he remained a stranger to the disasters
which he had partly caused, and consequent-
ly, knew nothing of what passed, either upon
the raft, or on board the boats which stranded,
or in the desert.

We make no farther remarks ; the pub-
lic will judge of his account and ours.

CoRRfcARD AND SAVIGNY.

PREFACE.

THE annals of the marine, record no example of
a shipwreck so terrible as that of the Medusa fri-
gate. Two of the unfortunate crew, who have
miraculously escaped from the catastrophe, impose
upon themselves the painful and delicate task, of
describing all the circumstances which attended it.

It was in the midst of the most cruel sufferings
that we took the solemn resolution, to make known,
to the civilized world, all the details of our un-
happy adventure, if heaven permitted us again to see
our dear country. We should believe that we failed
in our duty to ourselves, and to our fellow citizens,
if we left buried in oblivion facts which the public
must be desirous to know. All the details of the
events at which we were not present, have been
communicated to us by respectable persons, who
have warranted their authenticity. We shall, be-
sides, advance nothing which cannot be proved.

Here, we hear some voices ask, what right we
have to make known to the government, men who
are, perhaps, guilty, but whom their places, and
their rank, entitle to more respect. They are ready
to make it a crime in us, that we have dared to say,
that officers of the marine had abandoned us. But

Viil PREFACE.

what interest, we ask, in our turn, should cause a
fatal indulgence to be claimed for those, who have
failed in their duties ; while the destruction of a
hundred and fifty wretches, left to the most cruel
fate, scarcely excited a murmur of disapprobation?
Are we still in those times, when men and things
were sacrificed to the caprices of favour ? Are the
resources and the dignities of the State, still the
exclusive patrimony of a privileged class? and are
there other titles to places and honours, besides
merit and talents?

Let us venture to advance another truth, a truth
useful to the Minister himself. There exists among
the officers of the Marine, an intractable esprit de
corps, a pretended point of honour, equally false
and arrogant, which leads them to consider as an
insult to the whole navy, the discovery of one
guilty individual. This inadmissible principle,
which is useful only to insignificance, to intrigue,
to people the least worthy to call on the name of
honour, has the most ruinous consequences for the
State, and the public service. By this, incapacity
and baseness are always covered with a guilty veil,
which they dare to attempt to render sacred ; by
this, the favours of government are bestowed at
random, upon persons, who impose upon it the
strange obligation of being perpetually in the dark
respecting them. Under the protection of this
obligation of officious silence, hitherto seconded

PREFACE. IX

by the slavery of the press, men without talents
survive every revolution t exhibit in every anti-
chamber their privileged incapacity, and braving
public opinion, even that of their comrades, who
are the first victims of a foolish and arrog'ant pre-
judice, which deceives them, shew themselves more
eager to monopolise favours and honours, in pro-
portion as they are less able to render themselves
worthy of them.

We shall believe that we have deserved well
of our government, if our faithful narrative can
make it sensible how much its confidence is abused.
Just, besides, and not animated by passion, it is
with real pleasure that we shall make those known,
who, by their conduct in our shipwreck, have
acquired a right to general esteem. Others will
doubtless complain of the severity of our accusing
language ; but honest men will grant us their ap-
probation. If we hear it said, that our frankness
may have been useful to our country, this success
will be, at once, our justification and our recom-
pence.

We have questioned, concerning the nautical
details, several gentlemen of the navy who were
on beard ; we confess, however, that on comparing
their accounts, we ha\e observed that they did not
always entirely agree ; but we have taken those
facts which had the most witnesses in their favour.
We shall be sometimes obliged to record cruel

X PREFACE.

truths; they will, however, be directed only to those,
whose unskilful ness, or pusillanimity have caused
these dreadful events. We venture to affirm, that
the numerous observations, which we have col-
lected, will give to our work all the accuracy ri-
gorously required in so interesting- a narrative.

We must observe to our readers that it has
been impossible for us to avoid the use of naval
terms, which will, perhaps, give a great degree of
roughness to our narrative, but we hope that the
public who are always indulgent, will be so on this
occasion, to two unfortunate men, who pretend only
to make them acquainted with the truth, arid not to
give them a superior work. 'Besides, as we in a
manner, submit these events, to the judgment of
the gentlemen of the French Navy, it was neces-
sary to make use of the technical terms, that they
might be able to understand us.

This second edition is enriched with notes,
which will give the reader interesting details on
many points, which in the former we could only
slightly touch upon. He will have nothing more
to desire, particularly respecting the march in the
desert after the stranding of the long-boat.

These notes begin with the moment that the
frigate stranded, and terminate with the arrival at
St. Louis.

They were communicated to us by Mr. Lan-
dry, an officer of the Royal University, Professor

PREFACE. XI

Emeritus of the Academy of Paris, and at pre-
sent at the head of a school or Academy, in the
Rue Cerisaye, No. 2, quarter of the Arsenal, at
Paris. He has had the kindness to extract them
for us from a narrative, written hy his nephew,
Mr. Bredif, Engineer of Mines, belonging to the
expedition to Senegal.

The Narrator sent this account to his family
above a year ago, addressing it to his sister The
reader will, therefore, not be surprised at the tone
of simplicity which prevails in this recital. Mr.
Landry would not take away any part for fear of
injuring the truth of the circumstances, by med-
dling with it. If Mr. Bredif, is always placed in
the fore-ground, that is not surprising; in a sister,
a brother is the principal object which she cannot
lose sight of for a moment.

He who loves to observe men, in all the cir-
cumstances, in which they may be placed, will
easily judge, after what Mr. Bredif did or felt,
what may have been done or felt by the sharers in
the same misfortunes, who are, besides, never
forgotten.

Mr. Bredif is now in the interior of Africa,
employed upon the Mission which the government
has entrusted to him ; the last accounts from him
are of the 14th of October, 1817. The mariner
in which he knows how to give an account of the
facts which he has observed, and still more the

Xll PREFACE.

courage, the prudence, and humanity, which he
displayed in the disaster of the Medusa, and in all
that followed it, give reason to hope, and this hope
cannot be deceived, that he will duly execute his
Mission, and render himself worthy of his Majesty's
favours.

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NARRATIVE

OP

A VOYAGE TO SENEGAL,

THE French settlements, situated on the
western coast of Africa, from Cape Blanco
to the mouth of the river Gambia, have
been alternately possessed by France
and England, and have remained de-
finitively in the hands of the French,
whose ancestors laid the foundations of
them previously to the fourteenth century,
when they discovered this country.

The English made themselves mas-
ters in 1758 of the Isle of St. Louis, the
seat of the general government of all the
settlements which the French have on that
part of the coast: we recovered it twenty
years after, in 1779 : and our possessions
were again confirmed to us by the treaty
of peace between France andEngland, ron •

B

Z INTRODUCTION.

eluded on the 3d of September, 1783. In
1808, our possessions fell again into the
power of the English, less by the supe-
riority of their arms, than by the trea-
chery of some individuals unworthy of
bearing the name of Frenchmen. They
were finally restored to us by the treaties
of peace of 1814, and 1815, which con-
firmed that of 1783 in its whole extent.

The stipulations of this treaty regu-
late the respective rights of the two nations
on the Western coast of Africa ; they fix
the possessions of France as follows: —
from Cape Blanco situated in longitude
19° 30/, and latitude 20° 55' 30", to the
mouth of the river Gambia in longitude
19° 9', and latitude 13° ; they guarantee
this properly exclusively to our country,
and only permit the English to trade
together with the French, for gum, from
the river St. John to Fort Portendick
inclusive, on condition, that they shall
not form establishments of any kind what-
soever in this river, or upon any point of this
coast. Only it is said, that the possession
of the factory of Albreda, situated at the

INTRODUCTION. 3

mouth of the river Gambia, and that of
fort James, are confirmed to England.

The rights of the two nations being
thus regulated, France thought of resum-
ing her possessions &nd the enjoyment of
her rights. The minister of the marine
after having long meditated, and taken
two years to prepare an expedition of
four vessels, at last gave orders that it
should sail for Senegal. The following
is a list of the persons who composed
the expedition.

A Colonel, to command in chief for
the king on the whole coast from Cape
Blanco to the mouth of the river Gambia,
and charged .with the superior direction
of the administration. 1

A Lieutenant-Colonel, (chef de
bataillon) commandant of Goree. ... 1

A Lieutenant-Colonel command-
ing the African battalion, composed
of three companies of 84 men each. . 253

A Lieutenant of Artillery, in-
spector of the powder magazines and
batteries, and' commanding ten work-
men of his arm . 11

INTRODUCTION.

A Commissary, inspector of the
marine, chief of the administration .

Four Store-keepers 4

Six Clerks 6

Four Scouts (guetteurs) 4

Two Cures 2

Two Schoolmasters (instituteurs) 2
Two Writers (greffiers, they sup-
ply the place of the notaries and even

of the mayors)

Two Hospital Directors 2

Two Apothecaries 2

Five Surgeons 5

Two Port Captains 2

Three Pilots 3

A Gardener I

Eighteen Women 18

Eight Children 8

Four Bakers 4

Farther for an intended expe-
dition into the country of Galam.

An Engineer of mines 1

A Geographical Engineer 1

A Naturalist (cultivateur natu-

Taliste) I

Farther for an expedition which

INTRODUCTION. 5

was to seek upon CapeVerd, or in its
neighbourhood for a spot proper for
the foundation of a colony.

A Physician 1

An Agriculturist for European

productions 1

An Agriculturist for colonial pro-
ductions 1

Two Geographical Engineers. . 2

A Naturalist -. 1

An officer of the marine 1

Twenty workmen 20

Three Women 3

Total 365

This expedition consisted therefore
of 365 persons, of whom about 240 were
embarked on board the Medusa frigate.

NARRATIVE,

ON the 17th of June, 1816, at seven in
the morning, the expedition for Senegal
sailed from the roads of the Island of
Aix, under the command of Captain
Chaumareys; the vessels composing it
were the Medusa* frigate of 44 guns,
Captain Chaumareys ; the Echo^ corvette.
Captain Cornet de Venancourt ; the flute
La Loire, commanded by Lieutenant
Giquel Destouches ; and the Argus J brig,
commanded by Lieutenant Parnajon. The
wind \*as northerly, blowing a fresh
breeze ; we carried all our sails ; but
had hardly cleared the port when the

* The Medusa was armed en flute, having only 14
guns on board ; it was equipped at Rochefort with the
Loire.

f Equipped at Brest.

J Came from L'Orient.

S NARRATIVE OF A

wind scanted a little, and we tacked to
double the Tower of Chassiron, which is
placed at the extremity of the Isle of
Oleron.* After having plied to windward
the whole day, in the evening about five
o'clock, the Loire being unable to stem the
currents which wrere at that time contrary,
and hindered her from entering the passes,
desired leave to cast anchor ; M. de Chau-
mareys granted it, and ordered the whole
squadron to anchor. We were then half
a league from the Isle of Rhe, within
what is called the " Pertuis d'Antioche."
We cast anchor the first, and all the other
vessels came and placed themselves near
us. The Loire being a dull sailer, was the
last which came to an anchor. The wea-
ther was fine : the wind N. W. and con-
sequently too near to allow us to double
Chassiron, with a contrary current. At
seven in the evening, at the beginning of
the ebb, we weighed anchor, and hoisted
our sails ; all the other vessels did the
same : the signal to get underway had been

* The town of Chassiron is on the point of Oleron,
opposite a bank of rocks called Les Antiochats.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 9

given them a few minutes before. At night
we found ourselves between the lights of
Chassiron and La Baleine.* A few mo-
ments sufficed to double them ; we were
scarcely clear, when the wind became
almost calm ; the vessels no longer obeyed
the helm, the sky grew dark, the sea was
very hollow, in short every thing an-
nounced a storm ; the wind threatened to
blow from the west, and consequently
to become contrary ; it was variable and
squally ; towards ten o'clock it was per-
ceived that we were running directly upon
a danger, called Les Roches Bonnes.^
We tacked to escape certain destruction ;
between eleven and twelve at night, a
storm arose in the north, and brought on
wind from that quarter ; we were then
able to advance; the clouds dispersed, and
the next day the weather was very fine,
with a breeze from the N. E. but very faint;

1 The light house of La Baleine is placed at the
other end of the Pertuis d'Antioche, on the coast of the
Isle of line.

f Les Roches Bonnes are 8 or 9 leagues from the
Isle of Rhe, their position is not exactly determined on
the charts.

10 NARRATIVE OF A

for some days we made but very little
progress.

On the 21st or 22d we doubled Cape
Finisterre; beyond this point which bounds
the Gulph of Gascony, the Loire and the
Argus parted company ; these vessels
sailing very ill, it was impossible for them
to keep up with the frigate, which to
enable them to do so, would have been
obliged to take in her top-gallant sails
and studding sails.

The Echo alone was in sight, but at
a great distance, and carrying a press of
sail not to lose sight of us. The frigate
was so much a better sailer than the
corvette, that with a small quantity of
sail, she not only kept up with her, but
even got a-head of her in a surprising
manner; the wind had freshened and we
were going at the rate of nine knots. *

An unfortunate accident disturbed the
pleasure we felt at being so favoured by the
wind; a sailor lad 15 years of age, fell into
the sea, through one of the fore port-holes,

* Three knots make a marine league of 5556
meters.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 11

on the larboard side; a great many per-
sons were at the time, on the poop and the
breast work, looking at the gambols of the
porpoises.* The exclamations of pleasure
at beholding the sports of these animals,
were succeeded by cries of pity; for some
moments the unfortunate youth held by
the end of a rope, which he caught hold
of in his fall ; but the rapidity with which
the frigate sailed, soon forced him to let
go ; a signal was made to acquaint the
Echo with this accident ; that vessel was
at a considerable distance, and we were
going to fire a gun to second the signal,
but there was not one loaded, however we
threw out the life buoy.t The sails

* These are very large fish which every moment
appear on the surface of the water, where they tumble
about. They pass with such prodigious rapidity
that they will swim round a ship, when it is going at
the rate of nine or ten knots an hour.

f The life buoy, is made of cask staves hooped to-
gether, and is about a metre (something more than a
yard.) in diameter, in the middle of which is a little
mast to fix a flag to. It is thrown into the sea, as soon as
a man falls overboard, that he may place himself upon it
while the operation of lowering a boat down, or heav-
ing the vessel to, is performed.

12 NARRATIVE OF A

were clewed up, and the ship hove to.
This manoeuvre was long; we should
have come to the wind, as soon as they
cried, " a man overboard/' it is true that
somebody cried aloud from the poop, that
he was saved ; and a sailor had indeed
caught him by the arm, but he had been
obliged to let him go, because he would
have been pulled overboard himself: a
boat was however let down ; it was a six-
oared barge in which there were only three
men : it was all in vain ; and after having
looked for some time, the boat came on
board again without having found even
the buoy. If the unfortunate youth, who
seemed to swim pretty well, had strength
to reach it, he doubtless perished on it,
after having experienced the most cruel
sufferings. The ship was trimmed, and
we resumed our course.

The Echo rejoined us, and for some
time she kept within hail ; but we soon
lost her.On the 26th, we plied to windward
during the night, fearing lest we should
strike on the eight rocks, which are situated
the most Northerly, in 34° 4&, Latitude,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 13

and the most Southerly in latitude, 34°
SO7, so that the extent of this danger is
about five leagues from North to South
and about four leagues from East to
West : the most southerly rook is distant
about forty leagues to the North, 5°
East, from the East point of Madeira.

On the 27th, in the morning we expected
to see the island of Madeira, we however
proceeded to no purpose till noon, at
which hour we made an observation to
ascertain our situation. The solar obser-
vation made us East, and West of Porto
Santo ; we continued on the same tack,
and in the evening at sunset, the man at
the mast head discovered, land.* This error

* We do not know why the government makes
its vessels take this route ; when one can proceed di-
rectly to the Canaries : it is true they are often obscured
by mists, but there are no dangers in the principal
canals which they form, and they extend over so large
a space thflt it is impossible not to recognise them,
with facility. They have also the advantage of being
placed in the course of the monsoons; though how-
ever, westwinds sometimes blow for several days toge-
ther. We think that vessels going to the East Indies
might dispense with making Madeira and Porto
Santo, the more so as there are many shoals near

14 NARRATIVE OF A

in the arrival, was at least thirty leagues
in the East. It was attributed to the cur-
rents of the straits of Gibraltar ; if this
error really arises from the currents of the
strait, it merits the attention of vessels
which frequent these seas. The whole
night we proceeded with few sails up ; at
midnight we tacked, in order not to
approach too near to the land.

The next morning at day break we
saw very distinctly the islands of Madeira
and Porto Santo ; on the larboard, were
those called Desert; Madeira was at least
twelve leagues off: sailing before the
wind we made nine knots, and in a few
hours we were very near it. For a consi-
derable time we ran along the coast
of the island at a small distance from
shore : we passed before the principal
towns, Funchal and Do Sob.

Madeira appears like an amphitheatre ;

these islands; besides the rocks, of which we have
spoken above there is another, to the N. E. of Porto
Santo, on which many vessels have been loist ; by night
all these reefs are very dangerous, by day they are re-
cognised by tne breakers on them.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 15

the country houses which cover it seem
to be in a very good taste, and give it a
charming appearance. All these delight-
ful habitations are surrounded by fine
gardens, and fields covered with orange
and lemon trees, which when the wind
blows from the shore, diffuse for full half
a league in the open sea, the most agrees
able perfume. The hills are covered
with vineyards, bordered with banian
trees: in short every thing is combined to
render Madeira one of the most beautiful
islands of Africa. Its soil is only a
vegetable sand, mixed with an ash, which
gives it astonishing fertility; it shews
every where nothing but the remains of
a volcanised earth, the colour of which is
that of the element, by which it was long
consumed. Furichal, the capital town of
the islands is situated in long. 19°. 20".
30." in lat. 32° 37'. 40'. This town is
far from handsome, the streets are nar-
row, and the houses in general ill built :
the highest part of the island is the Pic
de Ruvio, which rises about two hundred
metres above the level of the sea. The

16 NARRATIVE OF A

population of Madeira is from 85,000 to
90,000, inhabitants as we are assured by
a person worthy of credit, who has resided
for some time in that fine colony.

We sailed in this manner along the coast
of Madeira, because the intention of the
commander was to send a boat on shore for
refreshments; but being surprised by a
calm under the land, we were afraid of
approaching too near, lest we should not
be able to stem the strong currents which
set towards it, A gentle breeze arising,
enabled us to get out to sea, where the
wind became favorable, and pretty brisk ;
it was resolved that the boat should not
go on shore : and we resumed our course
going at eight knots. We had remained
three hours opposite Funchal bay. At
nightfall Madeira was in full sight : the
next morning atsun-rise we sawthe islands
called Salvages, and in the evening we
descried the Pico of Teneriffe, on the
island of that name. This lofty moun-
tain, behind which the sun had just set,
presented a sight truly magnificent; its
summit seemed to be crowned with fire :

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. J7

its elevation above the level of the sea,
is 3711 metres; it is situated in lat. 28° 17'
and in long. 19°. Several persons on
board affirmed that they saw the Pico at
eight o'clock in the morning; and yet we
were at least thirty leagues distant from
it; the sky it is true, was extremely clear.
The commander resolved to send a
boat to St. Croix, one of the principal
towns in the island, to fetch fruits, and
some filtering stones, which are made in
that town ; they are only a kind of mor-
tar, made of the volcanic stone of the
country. In consequence, during the
whole night we made short tacks ; the
next morning we coasted the island, at
the distance of two musket shot, and
passed under the guns of a little fort,
called Fort Franqais. One of our com-
panions leaped for joy, at the sight of
this little fort, which was raised in haste
by a few Frenchmen, when the English,
under Admiral Nelson, attempted to take
possession of the Colony. It was there,
said he, that a numerous fleet, commanded
by one of the bravest Admirals of the

18 NARRATITE OF A

English navy, failed before a handful of
French, who covered themselves with
glory;and saved Teneriffe; the Admiral \qfs
obliged to take flight, after having lost an
arm in the contest, which was long and
obstinate.

Having doubled a point which ex-
tends into the sea, we entered the bay, at
the bottom of which is the town of St.
Croix. The appearance of Tenerifte is
majestic : the whole island is composed of
mountains, which are extremely high, and
crowned with rocks terrifying from their
size, which on the north side, seem to rise
perpendicularly above the surface of the
ocean, and to threaten every moment to
crush by their fall, the vessels which pass
near their base. Above them all rises
the Pico, the summit of which is lost in
the clouds. We did not perceive that the
Pic was constantly covered with snow as
som voyagers affirm, nor that it vomits
forth lava of melted metal ; for when we
observed it, its summit seemed intirely
destitute of snow and of volcanic eruptions.
At the foot of the mountain, and up to a

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 19

certain elevation excavations filled with
sulphur are observed; and in its neigh-
bourhood several of the sepulchral caverns
of the Guanches, the ancient inhabitants
of the island.

Towards noon the Echo corvette,
which had parted company, rejoined us,
and passed under the stern of the frigate :
she was ordered to imitate our manoeuvres,
which she instantly did ; she did not send
any boat on shore. Thus united, we lay
to together in the bay of St. Croix. About
four o'clock in the afternoon, the boat
having returned on board we directed
our course for Senegal. They had bought
in the town some earthen jars of a large
size, precious wines, oranges, lemons,
banian figs, and vegetables of all kinds.

Several unfortunate Frenchmen were
on the island who had been long prisoners
of war; they lived upon what the
Spaniards chose to give them. They had
been restored to liberty on the conclusion
of peace, and waited only for a favorable
opportunity to return to France. Their
entreaties to the officer who commanded

c 2

20 NARRATIVE OF A

the boat were useless ; he had the cruelty
to refuse to restore them to their country
and their families. In this boat there was
another officer M. Laperere, who strongly
insisted on bringing away these unfortu-
nate persons ; his entreaties cotild not
move him who commanded the boat.

The depravity of morals at St. Croix
is extreme ; so much so that when the
women heard that some Frenchmen were
arrived in the town, they placed themselves
at their doors, and when they passed,
urged them to enter. All this is usually
done in the presence of the husbands, who
have no right to oppose it, because the
Holy Inquisition will have it so, and
because the monks who are very numerous
in the island take care that this custom
is observed. They possess the art of
blinding the husbands, by means of the
prestiges of religion, which they abuse
in the highest degree ; they cure them of
their jealousy, to which they are much
inclined, by assuring them that their
passion, which they call ridiculous, or
conjugal mania, is nothing but the per-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 21

sedition of Satan which torments them,
and from which they alone are able to
deliver them, by inspiring their dear
consorts with some religious sentiments.
These abuses are almost inevitable in a
burning climate, where the passion of
love is often stronger than reason, and
sometimes breaks through the barriers
which religion attempts to oppose to it :
this depravity of morals must therefore
be attributed to inflamed passions, and
not to abuses facilitated by a religion so
sublime as ours.

The Island of Teneriffe is not equal
to that of Madeira: one cannot even com-
pare their agricultural productions, on
account of the great difference of their
soils : but in a commercial view, Teneriffe
has the advantage of Madeira, Its geo-
graphical position in the middle of the
Canaries, enables it to carry on an exten-
sive trade, while Madeira is confined to
the sale aud exchange of its wines for
articles of European manufacture.

The soil of Teneriffe is much drier;
a great part of it is too volcanic to be used

22 NARRATIVE OF A

for agriculture : every part of it however,
which is capable of producing anything
is very well cultivated, which should seem
to prove, that the Spaniards of this
country are naturally much less indolent
than they have been represented.

When we were in the open sea we
had favorable winds from the N. N.E.

In the night of the* 29th of June the
frigate caught fire between decks, by the
negligence of the master baker ; but being
discovered in lime, the fire was extin-
guished. In the following night the same
accident was repeated ; but this time it
was necessary, in order to stop the progress
of the fire, to pull down the oven which
was rebuilt the next day.

On the 1st of July we descried Cape
Bayados, situated in latitude 26° 12' 30",
and in longitude 16° 47'. We then saw
the skirts of the immense desert of Zaara,
and we thought we perceived the mouth
of the river St. John, which is very little
known. We passed the tropic at ten
o'clock in the morning; the usual cere-
mony was there performed with a certain

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 23

pomp ; the jokes of the sailors amused
us for some moments ; we were far from
thinking of the cruel event which was
soon to deprive of their lives a third of
the persons who were on board the frigate.
This custom of tropical baptism is strange
enough ; the chief object of it, is, to
procure the sailors some money.

From St. Croix, we had constantly
steered to the S.S. W. During the cere-
mony at the tropic we doubled Cape
Barbas, situated in lat. 22 6', and long.
19° 8': two officers suddenly had the
course changed, without informing the
captain; this led to a pretty warm dispute,
which however had no serious conse-
quences. These two officers affirmed that
we were running upon a group of rocks,
and that we were already very near to the
breakers. We had sailed the whole
morning in the Gulph of St. Cyprian, the
bottom of which is strewed with rocks,
so that at low water, brigantines cannot
frequent these seas, as we were told at
Senegal by M. Valentin, senior, who is
perfectly acquainted with this whole coast,,

24 NARRATIVE OF A

and could not conceive how the frigate
could have passed amidst all these reefs
without striking. The shore was within
half a cannon shot, and we clearly saw
enormous rocks over which the sea broke
violently.* If it had fallen culm, there
is no doubt but the strong currents which
set, in-shore, would have infallibly carried
us into danger.

In the evening we thought we des-
cried Cape Blanco, and according to the
instructions given by the Navy Office, we
steered W.S.W. During a part of the
night the Echo, with which we had con-
stantly kept company since we left Ma-
deira, burnt several charges of powder
and hung a lanthorn at the mizen-masl ;
her signals were not answered in the same
manner; only a lanthorn was hung for
a few moments to the fore-mast; it went
out soon after, and was not replaced by
another light. M. Savigny was on deck

* This route was not recommended by the instruc-
tions, but there was on board an old sea officer, who
announced himself as a pilot in these seas; his advice
was unfortunately attended to.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

where he remained a part of the night :
he had full opportunity to perceive the
negligence of the officer of the watch,
who did not even deign to answer the
signals made by the Echo. Why, in the
neighbourhood of so formidable a danger,
not compare the points of the two ships,
as is usual when vessels sail in company ?
The captain of the frigate was not even
informed of the signals of the corvette.
At eleven o'clock, she bore off the lar-
board bow ; and soon after he perceived
that the direction of her course made a
pretty large angle with ours, and that it
tended to cross us passing a-head ; he
soon perceived her on the starboard : it is
affirmed that her journal states that she
sailed the whole night W.S. W. ours does
the same. We must necessarily have
hauled totbe larboard, or she to the star-
board, since at day-break the corvette
was no longer in sight.

At sea a vessel may easily be per-
ceived at the distance of six leagues.
From midnight till six in the morning,
she must have gained above six leagues

26 NARRATIVE OF A

of us, which is not to be imagined, for
she sailed much slower than we and
stopped every two hours to take soundings.
To explain this separation we must neces-
sarily admit either that the frigate steered
more south, or the corvette more west,
if the two vessels had run on the same
tack it would be impossible to explain it.
Every two hours the frigate brought-
to, to sound ; every half hour the lead was
cast without lowering the sails; we were
always upon shallows, and stood out to
sea, to find a greater quantity of water :
at length about six o'clock in the morn-
ing we had above a hundred fathoms ; we
then stood-to the S. S. E.; this course
made almost a right angle with that
which we had followed in the night: it
bore directly in-shore, the approach to
which, in this place, is rendered terrible
by a very long reef, called Arguin, which
according to instructions we had on board
extends above thirty leagues in breadth.*

* A description of the reef of Arguin may be
found in the Little Sea Torch.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

According to the instructions given by the
Minister of the Marine, this danger is
avoided by running only twenty- two
leagues in the open sea; it is true they re-
commend not to approach the shore but
with the greatest precaution, and with the
sounding line in the hand : the other ships
of the expedition which sailed according
to those instructions all arrived at St. Louis
without any accident, which is a certain
proof of their exactness.* Besides it is
said, that one must make W. S. W., when
one has discerned Cape Blanco; and it is
probable we had not got sight of it in the
evening, as was supposed. We therefore
had an uncertain point of departure ;
hence the error which was so fatal to us.

According to my Comrade Cor-
reard, we cannot pass over in silence, a
scene which took place in the morning.

* Besides the instructions given by the Minister,
for sailing", after having* made Cape Blanco, there was a
letter sent some days before our departure from the
road of the Isle of Aix, recommending the commander
of the expedition not to depend upon the Charts, upon
which the reef is very erroneously placed.

28 NARRATIVE OF A

The Captain was deceived in the most sin-
gular manner; about* five or six o'clock
he was called up; some persons who were
on deck persuaded him that a great cloud
which was in the direction of Cape Blanco
and in truth very near it, was that Cape
itself. My companion jn misfortune, who
sees clearly, and who knows how to dis-
tinguish between a rock and a cloud, be-
cause he has seen enough of them in the
Alps, where he was born, told those gen-
tlemen that it was only a cape of vapour;
he was answered that the instructions
which the minister had given to the cap-
tain prescribed to him to make this cape ;
but that we had passed it above ten
leagues; that at this moment the question
was, to make the captain believe that
the instructions of the minister had been
punctually followed, and that they de-
sired to persuade him, which was not
difficult, that this cloud was the Cape.
Many have deposed, as we have been
told, that Cape Blanco, had been seen
in the evening of the 1st of July: we
venture to affirm that that rock was not
seen at all.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 29

After this pretended reconnoissance
of the2d July, if we were persuaded that
we had seen that Cape, we should have
steered west, to double the bank of Ar-
guin; the danger once passed, the course
should have been again directed to the
south which is the route to Senegal ; but
he who for some days past had guided
the course of the ship, thought proper to
persuade the captain, to take immedi-
ately the southerly course, and to steer
for Portendic'. We are ignorant of the
reasons which induced the commander of
the frigate to give his confidence to a
man who did not belong to the staff.
He was an ex-officer of the marine, who
had just left an English prison, where he
had been for ten years ; he certainly had
not acquired there knowledge superior
to that of the officers onboard, whom this
mark of deference could not but offend.
M. de Chaumareys, while we were dou-
bling Cape Barbas, presided at the farce
performed in passing the Tropic, while he
who had gained his confidence, was walk-
ing up and down the deck of the frigate,

30 NARRATIVE OF A

coolly observing the numerous dangers,
spread along the coast. Several persons
remonstrated against this management
of the vessel, particularly Mr. Picard the
greffier of Senegal, who had struck upon
the bank of Arguin eight years before ;
this enlightened man declared at that
time that we were running into danger.

As soon as the sun's altitude was ob-
served to ascertain our position, we saw,
on the quarter deck, Mr. Maudet, en-
sign of the watch, working the day's
work, (making out the reckoning) upon a
chicken coop ; this officer who knows all
the duties of his profession, affirmed that

we were on the edge of the reef; he com-
municated this to the person who for

some days past had given his counsel to
the commander respecting the course to
be steered ; he received for answer ; never
mind, we are in eighty fathoms*

* Mr. Laperere, the officer on the watch before
Mr. Maudet, found by his reckoning, that we were very
near the reef; he was not listened to, though he did his
utmost, at least to ascertain our situation by sounding.
We have mentioned the names of Messrs. Laperere and
Maudet, because if they had been attended to, the Me-
dusa would be still in existence.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 31

If our course during the night had

partly averted all our dangers, that which

was taken in the morning led us into them

again. Mr. Maudet, convinced that we

were upon the reef, took upon him, to have

soundings taken ; the colour of the water

was intirely changed, which was observed

even by those who were the least used to

recognise the depth of the sea, by the

appearance of the water ; we even thought

that we saw sand roll amid the little

waves that rose; numerous sea weeds

were seen by the ship's side, and a great

many fish were caught. All these facts

proved indubitably that we were on shallow

water : in fact the lead announced only

eighteen fathoms ; the officer of the watch

immediately informed the captain, who

gave orders to come a little more to the

wind ; we were going before the wind the

studding sails on the larboard ; these sails

were immediately lowered ; the lead was

again cast, and showed six fathoms ; the

captain gaveorders tohaul the wind asclose

as possible, but unhappily it was too late.

The frigate luffing, almost imme-

32 NARRATIVE Ol A

diately gave a heel ; it proceeded a mo-
ment longer ; gave a second and then a
third; it stopped at a place where the
sounding line showed only a depth of five
metres sixty centimetres, and it was the
time of high water.

Unhappily we were in the season of
the high tides, which was the most un-
favorable time for us because they were
going to decline, and we ran a ground
just when the water was at the highest;
for the rest, the tides do not much differ
in these seas ; at the time of full moon
they do not rise more than fifty centi-
metres more than usual ; in the spring
tides the water does not rise above one
hundred and twenty centimetres on the
reef. We have already said that when
we grounded, the sounding line marked
only five metres, and sixty centimetres ;
and at low water it marked, four metres
sixty centimetres, the frigate therefore
saved by a metre : however, as soon as
we had stranded, the boats which went
out to sound, met with places deeper
than that, where we struck, and many

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 33

others not so deep ; which made us sup-
pose that the reef is very uneven and
covered with little elevations. All the
different manoeuvres which had been per-
formed since the moment when we found
ourselves in eighteen fathoms, to that in
which we struck, succeeded each otherwith
extraordinary rapidity: not above ten mi-
nutes passed. Several persons have as-
sured us that, if the ship had come en-
tirely to the wind, when we were in eigh-
teen fathoms, the frigate might perhaps
have got clean, for she did not run wholly
aground till she got to the west part of
the reef, and upon its edge.

We stranded on the 2d of July, at a
quarter after three p. m. in 19° 36' north
latitude, and 19° 4«V west longitude. This
event spread the most profound conster-
nation ; if in the midst of this disorder,
there were any men who remained collected
enough to make observations, they must
have been struck with the extraordinary
changes impressed on every countenance ;
some persons were not to be recognised.

D

34 NARRATIVE OF A

Here you might see features become
shrunk and hideous ; there a countenance
which had assumed a yellow and even
a greenish hue, some men seemed thunder-
struck and chained down to their places,
without strength to move. When they
had recovered from the stupefaction, with
which they were at first seized, numbers
gave themselves up to excess of despair ;
while others uttered imprecations upon
those whose ignorance had been so fatal
to us. An officer going upon deck, im-
mediately after the accident, spoke with
energy to him, who, as we have already
said, had directed for some days the course
of the ship, and said to him, " See, Sir, to
what your obstinacy has brought us ; I
had warned you of it." Two women
alone seemed insensible to this disaster ;
they were the wife and daughter of the
governor. What a shocking contrast !
men who for twenty or twenty-five years,
had been exposed to a thousand dangers,
were profoundly affected, while Madame
and Mademoiselle Chemals, appeared in-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 35

sensible, and as if unconcerned in these
events.

As soon as the frigate stranded, the
sails were hastily lowered, the topgallant
masts got down, the top masts lowered,
and every thing necessary arranged to get
her off the reef. After numerous efforts,
night being come, they were suspended
to give some repose to the crew, who had
displayed extreme activity. The next day,
the third, the top masts were got down,
the yards lowered, and they heaved at
the capstern upon an anchor which had
been fixed the evening before, at a cable's
length a-stern of the frigate. This ope-
ration was fruitless; for the anchor, which
was too weak, could not make sufficient
resistance and gave way : a bower an-
chor was then used, which, after infinite
pains, was carried out to a considerable
distance, to a place where there was only
a depth of five metres sixty centimetres;
in order to carry it so far, it was fixed
behind a boat, under which was placed a
number of empty barrels fastened toge-
ther, because the boat was not able to

D 2

36 NARRATIVE OF A

carry so considerable a weight.* The
sea ran very high, and the current was
extremely strong.

This boat, when it reached the spot
where it was to cast the anchor, could not
place it in the proper position to make
the flukes fix in the sand, for one of the
extremities already touched the bottom,
while the other was still out of the water:
being thus ill fixed, it could not answer
the purpose intended ; when they began
to heave upon it, it made very little resist-
ance, and would have been dragged on
board again if they had continued to work
at the capstern.f In the course of the day,
we staved several water butts which were
in the hold, and pumped immediately,
the top masts, except the small one which
could not be got down, were thrown into
the sea ; the yards, the boom, and all the
pieces of wood which afterwards composed

* This was not the long boat of the frigate ; it was
a boat in no very good condition, which was to be left
at Senegal, for the service of the port.

f The bottom was besides soft ; being sand mixed
with grey mud, and shells.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 37

the raft, were also put over board : the two
lower yards were retained in their place,
to serve as shores to the frigate, and to
support it, in case it threatened to upset.
If the loss of the vessel was certain,
it was proper to secure the escape of the
crew : a council was called, at which the
governor of Senegal gave the plan of a
raft, capable, it was said, of carrying two
hundred men, with provisions.* It was
necessary to have recourse to an expe-
dient of this nature, because our six boats
were judged to be incapable of taking on
board four hundred men, which was our
number. The provisions were to be de-
posited on the raft, and at the hours of
meals, the crews of the boats would have
come to receive their rations : we were to
reach all together the sandy coast of the
desert, and there furnished with arms
and ammunition, which were to be taken
in by the boats before we left the frigate,
we were to form a caravan, and proceed to

* This plan was shewn to several persons; we
ourselves saw it in the hands of the governor, who
sketched it, leaning on the geat capstern.

38 NARRATIVE OF A

the Island of St. Louis. The events
which happened in the sequel, proved
that this plan was perfectly well laid,
and that it might have been crowned with
success : unhappily these decisions were
traced upon a loose sand, which was
dispersed by the breath of egotism.

In the evening another anchor was
cast, at a pretfy considerable distance
from the frigate : just before high water,
we began to work at the capstern, but
in vain. The work was put off till
the next morning's tide; during all this
time, the operations were performed with
the greatest difficulty ; the sea was hol-
low, the winds strong, the boats which
had to go to a distance either to sound or
fix anchors, could not attain their object,
without the greatest efforts; rapid cur-
rents, added to the difficulties. If the
weather had not been so extremely un-
favorable to us, perhaps the frigate might
have been got afloat the next day, for it
had been resolved to carry out very long
warps, but the violence of the wind, and
the sea, baffled these arrangements which

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL 39

nothing but a calm could favor. The
weather was bad during the whole night ;
about four or five o' clock, at the morn-
ing tide, all our efforts to raise her were
still fruitless; we began to despair of
even being able to save her from this
danger ; the boats were repaired, and the
construction of the raft diligently prose-
cuted : during the day of the 4. se-
veral barrels of flour were thrown into
the sea, some water casks staved ; some
barrels of powder, intended as articles to
trade with Segenal, were also got over-
board.

In the evening, a few minutes before
high water, the labours at the capstern
recommenced ; this time the anchors did
not deceive our expectations; for, after
a few moments labour, the frigate moved
on the larboard ; this motion was effected
by means of an anchor fixed on the north
west; the stream cable which was bent
to its ring, came by the head of the ship
and tended to make it swing ; while
another much stronger one, the cable
of which passed through one of the

40 NARRATIVE OF A

stern ports, tended to prevent it from
running a-head, by supporting its quar-
ters the motions of which were commanded
by means of this force. This first success
gave us great hopes; we worked with
ardor.

After some further efforts, the Medusa
began to swing sensibly ; we redoubled
our efforts, she swung intirely and then
had her head turned to the open sea. She
was almost afloat, only her stern touched
a little ; the work could not be continued,
because the anchor was too near, arid it
would have been hove up. If a warp
had been carried out in the open sea, by
continuing to haul upon it, the frigate
would have been got wholly afloat that
evening. All the things which had been
thrown overboard had lightened her by
twenty or thirty centimetres at the most,
her draught of water might certainly
have been lessened still more ; but it was
not done because the Governor of Senegal
objected to throwing the barrels of flour
into the sea, alledging that the greatest
scarcity prevailed in the European fac-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 41

lories. These considerations, however,
should not have caused it to be overlooked
that we had on board fourteen twenty-four
pounders, and that it would have been
easy to throw them overboard, and send
them even to a considerable distance from
the frigate, by means of the yard tackle ;
besides, the flour barrels might have been
carefully fastened together, and when we
were once out of danger, it would have
been easy for us to remove them. This
plan might have been executed without
any fear of doing much damage to the
flour, which when it is plunged in the
water forms round the inside of the barrel
a pretty thick crust, in consequence of
the moisture, so that the interior is pre-
served from injury : this method was
indeed attempted, but it was given up,
because the means employed were in-
sufficient. More care should have been
used, and all the difficulties would have
been conquered; only half measures were
adopted, and in all the manoeuvres great
want of decision prevailed.

If the frigate had been lightened as

42 NARRATIVE OF A

soon as we struck, perhaps she might have
been saved.* The weather, however, as
we have already said, was almost always
unfavourable, and often hindered the
operations.

Some persons expected to see the
frigate got afloat the next day, and their
joy shewed that they were fully persuaded
of it : there were indeed some proba-
bilities, but they were very slight; for the
vessel had been merely got out of its bed .
We had hardly succeeded in changing
its place to a distance of about two
hundred metres, when the sea began
to ebb: the frigate rested on the sand,
which obliged us to suspend for ever our
last operations. If it had been possible
to hold her this night to two or three
cables more in the open sea, still lightening
her, perhaps, we repeat it, she might have
been placed out of danger.

* Two officers displayed the greatest activity, they
would have thrown into the sea every thing that could
be got overboard. They were permitted to proceed for
a moment; and the next moment contrary orders were
given.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 43

At night the sky became cloudy, the
winds came from the sea, and blew vio-
lently. The sea ran high, and the frigate
began to heel with more and more
violence, every moment we expected to
see her bulge ; consternation again spread,
and we soon felt the cruel certainty that
she was irrecoverably lost. She bulged in
the middle of the night, the keel broke
in two, the helm was unship'd, and held
to the stern only by the chains, which
caused it to do dreadful damage; it pro-
duced the effect of a strong horizontal
ram, which violently impelled by the
waves, continually struck the poop of the
ship ; the whole back part of the cap-
tain's cabin was beat in, the water entered
in an alarming manner. About eleven
o'clock there was a kind of mutiny, which
was afterwards checked by the presence
of the governor and the officers ; it was
excited by some soldiers, who persuaded
their comrades that it was intended to
abandon them on board the frigate, while
the crew escaped in the boats; these
alarms were excited by the imprudence

44 NARRATIVE OF A

of a young man ; some soldiers had
already taken their arms, and had ranged
themselves on the deck, all the avenues
to which they occupied.

The raft, impelled by the strength of
the current and of the sea, broke the
cable which fastened it to the frigate and
began to drive ; those who beheld this
accident announced it by their cries, and
a boat was immediately sent after it,
which brought it back. This was a dis-
tressing night for us all ; agitated by the
idea that our frigate was totally lost, and
alarmed by the violent shocks which it
received from the waves, we were unable
to take a moment's repose.

At day-break, on the 5th, there were
two metres seventy centimetres water in
the hold, and the pumps could no longer
work with effect: it was decided we ought
to quit the vessel as soon as possible.
The frigate, it was said, threatened to
upset ; a childish fear, doubtless ; but,
what particularly made it absolutely ne-
cessary to abandon her, was, that the
water had already penetrated between

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 45

decks. A quantity of biscuit was hastily
taken from the store-room; wine and
fresh water were also got out ; these pro-
visions were intended to be placed in the
boats and on the raft. To preserve the
biscuit from the salt water it was put into
strong iron hooped barrels, which were
perfectly fit for the purpose. We are ig-
norant why these provisions, so carefully
prepared were not embarked either on the
raft or in the boats; the precipitation with
which we embarked was the cause of this
negligence, so that some boats did not
save above twenty-four pounds of biscuit,
a small cask of water and very little wine :
the rest was abandoned on the deck of the
frigate or thrown into the sea during
the tumult of the evacuation. The raft
alone had a pretty large quantity of wine,
but not a single barrel of biscuit, and
if any was put upon it, it was thrown off
by the soldiers when they placed them-
selves upon it. To avoid confusion, there
was made, the day before, a list of the
persons who were to embark, assigning
to every one the post he was to occupy ;

46 NARRATIVE OF A

but no attention was paid to this wise ar-
rangement ; every one took the means
which he thought the most favorable to
reach the shore ; those who executed the
orders which 'they had received to place
themselves on the raft, had certainly rea-
son to repent it. Mr. Savigny was un-
fortunately of this number; he might have
stopped on board a boat, but an invinci-
ble attachment to his duty made him for-
get the danger of the part which was al-
lotted him.

At length, the moment when we were
to abandon the frigate arrived. First, the
soldiers were embarked, who were almost
all placed upon the raft: they wanted to
take their muskets and some cartridges :
this was formally opposed.* They left
them on the deck, and preserved only their
sabres : some few, however, saved their
carbines, and, almost all the officers,
their fowling pieces and pistols. In all,
we were about one hundred and forty-
seven or one hundred and fifty ; such is
pretty nearly the account of the persons

* Why was it opposed?

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 47

who embarked on this fatal machine, one
hundred and twenty soldiers, including
the officers of the army, twenty-nine men,
sailors and passengers, and one woman.
The barge, commanded by %a lieutenant,
on board of which were the governor
and his family, took in thirty-five persons
in all : this large fourteen-oared vessel,
could certainly have carried a larger
number : besides the people, there were
three trunks; another fourteen-oared
boat took in forty-two persons ; the cap-
tain's barge took twenty-eight ; the
long boat, though in a very bad con-
dition, destitute of oars, took in, how-
ever, eighty-eight; an eight-oared boat
which was to be left at Senegal, for the
senice of the port, took twenty-five sai-
lors ; the smallest of the boats had fifteen
persons on board; among whom were the
interesting family of Mr. Picard, of whom
we have spoken above : it was composed
of three young ladies, his wife, and four
young children. All these numbers added
together, form a total of three hundred

48 NARRATIVE OF A

and ninety-seven persons;* there were on
board the frigate, near four hundred sai-
lors and soldiers: thus it appears that se-
veral poor wretches were abandoned ;
when the Medusa was again found, fifty-
two days after, it was ascertained that the
number of those, who had been aban-
doned, was seventeen ; which proves to
us, that there were more than one hun-
dred and forty seven of us on the raft, and
that it is more correct to fix the number
of the men at a hundred and fifty. It is
said, that when the last boat, which was
the long boat, left the frigate, several men
refused to embark in her; the others were
too much intoxicated to think of their
safety. A man of the name of Dales, one
of the seventeen who remained on board
the frigate, deposed in the council, that
fourteen men had left the long boat, be-
cause they did not think it capable of car-
rying so many, and that he, with two

* The numbers above mentioned make only three
hundred and eighty-three, so that there is an error some-
where. T.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 49

others hid themselves, that they might
not be compelled to go on board. We
are ignorant of the depositions of his two
companions.

What a sight was it to behold a mul-
titude of wretches, who all wanted to es-
cape death, and all sought to save them-
selves, either in the boats or upon the
rafts! The frigate's ladder was insuffi-
cient for so many? some threw them-
selves from the vessels, trusting to the
end of a rope, which was scarcely able to
bear a man's weight ; some fell into the
sea, and were recovered ; what is surpri-
sing is, that amidst all this confusion,
there was not a single serious accident.

Though in so terrible a situation, on
our fatal raft, we cast our eyes upon the
frigate, and deeply regretted this fine
vessel, which, a few days before, seemed
to command the waves, which it cut
through with astonishing rapidity. The
masts, which had supported immense sails,
no longer existed, the barricade was en-
tirely destroyed: the vessel itself was cast
on the larboard quarter.

E

50 NARRATIVE OF A

All the boats, after they had sheered
off* proceeded in different manners, as we
shall afterwards relate ; but the men on
board, when they reached the shore, had
to contend with a thousand causes ot des-
truction. We will first exactly relate all
the operations that were executed till the
moment when the raft was abandoned.

About seven o'clock, the signal for
departure was given ; four of the boats
stood out to sea, the raft was still along
side of the frigate, where it was moored :
the captain's barge was under the bow-
sprit, and the barge near our machine,
on which it had just embarked some men.
At length we were ordered to depart ; but
whether from a presentiment of what was
to happen to us, or whether Mr. Correard
entertained just fea^, which the event
proved to be but too well founded, he
would not depart, till he had convinced
himself that our raft was provided with all
the necessary instruments and charts, to
navigate with some degree of safety, in
case bad weather should oblige the boats
to separate from us. As it was impossible

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 51

to move upon the raft, because we were so
crowded together, he thought it the easiest
to call to Mr who imme-
diately answered to his call. Coming to
the larboard, he asked what we wanted'?
The following questions were then put to
him : " Are we in a condition to depart?
Have we instruments and charts ?" Yes,
yes, replied he, " I have provided you
with every thing that can be necessary
for you." He was then asked, what naval
officer was to come and command us ? he
answered : " It is I; in a moment I shall
be with you." After saying this he disap-
peared, and went on board one of the
boats.

How is it possible that a French sea
officer shou Id be guilty of such bad faith
to his unhappy countrymen, who placed
all their confidence in him?

At last, the barge came to the head
of the frigate, and the governor caused
himself to be let down in an arm chair ;
it then threw a tow rope to our raft, and
we stood off with this one boat; the second
boat then gave a tow line to the first; the

E 2

52 NARRATIVE OF A

Senegal boat came afterwards, and did
the same; there remained three boats,
the captain's, which was still at the head
of the frigate, on board of which last there
were above eighty men, who uttered cries
of despair, when they saw the boats and
the raft stand off. The three boats which
towed us, soon brought us to a distance
from the vessel ; they had a good wind,
and the sailors rowed like men who were
resolved to save themselves from the im-
minent danger which threatened us. The
long-boat, and the pinnace were at some
distance, and attempted to return on board;
lastly, M. De Chaumareys embarked in
his barge, by one of the ropes a-head : some
sailors threw themselves into it, and loos-
ened the ropes, by which it was lashed to
the frigate. Immediately the cries of the
people who remained on board redoubled,
and an officer of the troops even took up
a carbine to fire at the captain : but was
prevented. We soon saw that this man
was not equal to his duty ; from the man-
ner in which he abandoned his people.
We regretted that the arm of the officer

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 53

had been withheld when he wished to
prevent the captain's design ; but, our re-
gret was unavailing ; the mischief was
done ; it was irreparable ; he had no idea
of repairing it,and he could not return on
board, for he was sure to meet there with
that death, which he sought to avoid, at
the expence of honor.

M. de Chaumareys, however, went
on board the long-boat, and gave order
that it should take in the men who re-
mained on board the frigate. Some per-
sons belonging to this boat have informed
us, that they were told there were, at th«
most, about twenty who could not em-
bark; but, the long-boat, destitute of oars,
attempted, to no purpose, to get back to
the frigate ; a boat tried, without success,
to tow it; it could not attain the object,
till it sent the pinnace to fetch some long
ropes, one end of which was lashed to the
frigate, and the other brought on board
the long-boat, which was thus towed to
the larboard side of the ship. Lieutenant
Espiau, who commanded this large boat,
was surprised at finding above sixty

54 NARRATIVE OF A

diers and sailors, instead of twenty. This
officer went on board with Mr. Bredif,
engineer of mines, who tried to recall to
their reason, those whose intellectual fa-
culties had been impaired by the presence
of danger. Mr, Espiau, embarked with
proper order, the men who were on the
deck ; seventeen only as we have said, re-
fused; some fearing that the boat would
founder before she could reach the raft,
and the other boats,which left it more and
more behind; some others, because they
were too much intoxicated as we have
stated, to think of their safety. The fears
of the former, (and they are probably those
who, according to the deposition of Dales,
returned on board the frigate) were found-
ed on the bad condition of the long-boat,
which let in the water on every side. Af-
ter promising the men who persisted in
remaining, that assistance should be sent
them, as soon as the others arrived at Se-
negal, the long-boat stood off to join the
little division. Before he left the frigate,
Mr. Espiau had the grand national flag
hoisted.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 55

When this boat left the frigate to
join us, we were, at least, a league and a
half distant; the captain's barge had come
some time before to takethetowrope, and
was at the head of the line; the smallest
of the boats (the pinnace) did not take the
towline ; it preceded the little division,
probably to take soundings.

As soon as all the boats had taken
their post, cries of " Vive le Roil" were
a thousand times repeated by the men
upon the raft, and a little white flag was
hoisted at the top of a musket. Such was
the order of the boats and the raft, The
chiefs of the little division which was to
conduct us to the land, had sworn not to
abandon us : we are far from accusing all
those gentlemen of having violated the
laws of honor; but a series of circumstan-
ces obliged them to renounce the gene-
rous plan which they had formed to save
us, or to perish with us. These circum-
stances deserve to be scrupulously exami-
ned ; but our pen, guided by truth, must
not fear to record facts which truth itself
dictates. It is true they are of so strange

6 NARRATIVE OF A

a nature, that it is unpleasant to make
them known. It is painful to us, to have
to recount such events: we have to shew
to what a degree the imagination of man
is susceptible of being struck by the
presence of danger, so as to make him
even forget the duties which honour
imposes on him. We, doubtless, admit
that in forsaking the raft, the minds of
those who did so, were greatly agitated,
and that the desire of withdrawing them-
selves from danger, made them forget
that a hundred and fifty unfortunate men
were going to be abandoned to the most
cruel sufferings. We shall relate the facts
as we observed them, and as they have
been communicated to us, by some of our
companions in misfortune.

Before we proceed, we will describe
the construction of this raft, to which a
hundred and fifty persons were entrusted.

It was composed of the top-masts of
the frigate, yards, fishes, boom, &c. These
different pieces joined together by very
strong ropes, were perfectly solid; the two
principal pieces were two top-masts, which

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 57

were placed at the extremity of the two
sides; four other masts, two of which
were of the same length and strength as
the first, joined two by two, at the center
of the machine, added to its solidity. The
other pieces were placed within these four
first but were not equal to them in length.
Boards were nailed' n this firstfoundation,
and formed a kind of parapet, which would
have been of great service to us if it had
been higher. To render our raft still
more solid, long pieces of wood had been
placed across, which projected at least
three metres: on the sides, there was a
kind of railing, but it was not above forty
centimetres in height: it would have been
easy to add some crotches to it, which
would have formed a breast-work of suffi-
cient height ; but it was not done, proba-
bly because those who had the machine
built, were not to be exposed upon it. To
the ends of the top-masts, two top-gallant
yards were lashed, the farther ends of which
were bound by a very strong cord, and
thus formed the front part of the raft.
The angular space, formed by the two

58 NARRATIVE OF A

yards, was filled with pieces of wood laid
across, and planks ill adjusted. This
fore part, which was at least two metres in
length, had very little solidity, and was
continually submerged. The hinder part
did not terminate in a point like ihe fore
part, but a considerable length of this
part was not more solid, so that in fact,
there was only the center which was really
to be depended upon : an example will
enable the reader to judge of its dimen-
sions. When we were no more than fifteen
in it, wre had not space enough to lie down,
and yet we were extremely close toge-
ther. The raft, from one extremity, to the
other was at least twenty metres in length,
and about seven in breadth ; this length
might induce one to think, at the first
sight, that it was able to carry two hun-
dred men, but we soon had cruel proofs
of its weakness. It was without sails or
mast. As we left the frigate they threw
us the fore-top-gallant and the main-top-
gallant sails; bat they did it with such
precipitation, that, some persons who were
at their post, were in danger of being

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 59

wounded by the fall of these sails, which
were bent to the yards. They did not
give us any ropes to set up our mast.

There was on board the raft a great
quantity of barrels of flour, which had
been deposited there the preceding day,
not to serve for provisions during the
passage, from the frigate to the coast, but
because the raft, formed of the barrels, not
having succeeded, they were deposited
on the machine, that they might not be
carried away by the sea, there were also
six barrels of wine and two small casks of
water, which had been put there for the
use of the people.

Scarcely fifty men had got upon the
raft, when it sunk at least severity centi-
metres under water; so that to facilitate
the embarkation of the other soldiers it
was necessary to throw into the sea all the
flour barrels, which lifted by the waves,
began to float and were violently driven
against the men who were at their post ;
if they had been fixed, perhaps some of
them might have been saved : as it was,
we saved only the wine and the water,

60 NARRATIVE OF A

because several persons united to pre-
serve them, and had much difficulty to hin-
der them from being thrown into the sea
like the flour barrels. The raft, light-
ened by throwing away these barrels, was
able to receive more men; we were at
length a hundred and fifty. The ma-
chine was submerged at least a metre :
we were so crowded together that it was
impossible to take a single step ; at the
back and the front, we were in water up
to the middle. At the moment that we
were putting off from the frigate, a bag
with twenty-five pounds of biscuit was
thrown us, which fell into the sea ; we
go,t it up with difficulty ; it was convert-
ed into a paste, but we preserved it in
that condition. Several considerate per-
sons fastened the casks of wine and water
to the cross pieces of the raft, and we kept
a strict watch over them. Thus we have
faithfully described the nature of our si-
tuation when we put off from the vessel.
The Commander of the raft was named
Coudin who was, what is called in the
French marine an Aspirant of the first

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 61

class. Some days before our departure
from the roads of the Isle of Aix, he had
received a severe contusion on the fore part
of the right leg, which was not approach-
ing to its cure, when we stranded and
wholly incapacitated him from moving.
One of his comrades, moved by his situa-
tion, offered to take his place, but Mr.
Coudin, though wounded, preferred re-
pairing to the dangerous post which was
assigned him, because he was the oldest
officer of his class on board. He was
hardly on board the raft, when the sea
water so increased the pain in his leg,
that he nearly fainted ; we gave notice of
his situation to the nearest boat, we were
answered that a boat would come and
fetch this officer. I do not know whe-
ther the order was given, but it is cer-
tain that Mr. Coudin was obliged to re-
main on the fatal raft.

The long-boat, which we have been
forced to lose sight of for a moment, in
order to give these necessary details, at
length rallied ; it was, as we have stated,
the last that left the frigate. The lieute-

62 NARRATIVE OF A

nant who commanded her, justly fearing
that he should not be able to keep the
sea, in a crazy boat destitute of oars,
badly rigged, and making much water,
ran along-side of the first boat, begging
it to take in some men ; they refused.
This long boat was to leave us some
ropes to fix our mast; which an instant
before had been hauled to us, by the first
boat, which we had before us : we do not
know what reason hindered it from leav-
ing us these ropes, but it passed on, and
ran along-side the second boat, which
equally refused to take any body on
board. The officer, who commanded the
long-boat, seeing that they refused to
take any of his men, and falling more and
more under the wind, because his sails
were badly trimmed, and the currents
drove him, made up to the third boat,
commanded by a sub-lieutenant named
Maudet ; this officer, commanding a slight
boat which the day before had a plank
beat in, by one of the cross pieces of the
raft, (an accident which had been re-
medied by covering the hole with a large

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 63

piece of lead,) and being besides heavily
laden, in order to avoid the shock of the
long-boat, which might have been fatal
to him, was forced to let loose the tow-
rope, which held him to the barge, and
thus broke in two the line formed by the
boats before the raft, by separating him-
self from it with the captains boat which
was at the head : when the captain and
Mr. Maudet had disengaged themselves
they hauled the wind, and then put about
to come and take their post ; Mr. Mau-
det, even hailed M. de Chaumareys,
" Captain take your towrope again" he
received for answer, yes my friend. Two
boats were still at their post, but before
the other two were able to rejoin them,
the barge separated itself; the officer
who commanded it, expressed himself as
follows respecting his thus abandoning
us. " The towrope was not let go from
" my boat, but from that behind me."
This second desertion was the forerunner
of another still more cruel ; for the officer
who commanded the last boat in which
was the governor, after having towed us

64 NARRATIVE OF A

alone, for a moment, caused the rope to
be loosened which held it to the raft.
When the towropes were let go, we were
two leagues from the frigate ; the breeze
came from the sea, which was as favora-
ble as could be desired. This last tow-
rope did not break, as the governor has
tried to persuade the minister of the ma-
rine, and several persons who escaped
from the raft. Walking on the terrace of
a French merchant at Senegal, in the pre-
sence of Messrs. Savigny and Coudin, the
governor explained the affair as follows :
" Some men were on the front of the raft,
" at the place wliere the tow-rope was
" fixed, which they pulled so as to draw
cc the boat nearer to them ; they had al-
" ready pulled several fathoms of it to
" them, but a wave coming, gave a vio-
" lent shock ; these men were obliged to
" let go : the boats then proceeded more
cc rapidly, till the rope was stretched ; at
" the moment when the boats effected
" this tension the effort was such, that
cc the rope broke." This manner of ex-
plaining this last desertion is very adroit,

TOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 65

and might easily deceive those who were
not on the spot, but it is not possible for
us to accede to it, since we could even
name the person who loosened it.

Some persons belonging to the other
boats have assured us, that all the boats
were coming to resume their post, when
a cry of " we forsake them," was heard :
we have this fact from many of our com-
panions in misfortune. The whole line was
thrown into disorder, and no measures were
taken to remedy it : it is probable, that if
one of the first officers had set the example,
order would have been restored; but every
one was left to himself; hence there was
no concert in the little division ; every one
thought of escaping from personal danger.

Let us here do justice to the courage
of Mr. Clanet, pay-master of the frigate,
who was on board the governor's boat;
if he had been listened to, this tow-rope
would not have been let go; every moment
an officer who was in the governor's boat
cried out aloud, cc shall I let go $" Mr.
Clanet opposed it, answering with firm-
ness, " No no!" Some persons joined him,

F

66 NARRATIVE OF A

but could obtain nothing, the tow-rope
was let go: we considered it ascertain,
that the commander of the other boats,
on seeing the chief of the expedition cou-
rageously devote himself, would have come
and resumed their posts : but it may be
said that each individual boat was aban-
doned by all the others : there was want-
ing, on this occasion, a man of great cool-
ness : and ought not this man to have
been found among the chief officers ?
How shall their conduct be justified $
There are, certainly, some reasons to be
alledged. Impartial judges of events, we
will describe them, not as unhappy vic-
tims of the consequences of this desertion,
but as men free from all personal resent-
ment, and who listen only to the voice of
truth.

The raft, drawn by all the boats uni-
ted, dragged them a little back; it is true
that we just had the ebb, and the currents
set from shore. To be in the open sea
with undecked vessels, might well in-
spire some apprehensions : but, in a few
hours, the currents would change and

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 67

favor us ; we ought to have waited for this
moment, which would have infallibly de-
monstrated the possibility of drawing us
to the coast, which was not above twelve
or fifteen leagues distant : this is so true
that the boats discovered the coast, the
same evening, before sunset. Perhaps
they would have been forced to forsake us
the second night after our departure, if
indeed more than thirty-six hours had
been required to tow us to land ; for the
weather was very bad ; but we should
then have been very near to the coast,
and it would have been very easy to save
us : at least we should have had only the
elements to accuse ! — We are persuaded *g
that a short time would have sufficed to
tow us within sight of land, for, the even-
ing of our being deserted, the raft was
precisely in the direction which the boats
had followed between the frigates and the
coast, and, at least, five leagues from
the former. The next morning, at day-
break, we could no longer see the Me-
dusa. (14y

F 2

68 NARRATIVE OF A

At the first moment we did not really
believe that we had been so cruelly aban-
doned. We imagined that the boats had
let loose, because they had perceived a
vessel, and hastened towards it to ask as-
sistance. The long-boat was pretty near
us to leeward on the starboard. She low-
ered her foresail half way down : her ma-
noeuvre made us think that she was going
to take the first tow-rope : she remained
so a moment^ lowered her foresail entirely,
set up her main-mast, hoisted her sails,
and followed the rest of the division.
Some men in this boat, seeing that the
others deserted us, threatened to fire upon
them, but were stopped by Lieutenant
Espiau. Many persons have assured us
that it was the intention of this officer
to come and take the tow-rope ; but his
crew opposed it; had he done so, he
would certainly have acted with great
imprudence. His efforts would have been
of little use to us, and his devotedness
would but have increased the number of
victims.(l5) As soon as this boat was gone.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 69

we had no doubt but that we were aban-
doned ; yet we were not fully convinced
of it till the boats had disappeared.

It was now that we had need of all
our courage, which, however, forsook us
more than once : we really believed that
we were sacrificed, and with one accord,
we cried that this desertion was premedi-
tated. We all swore to revenge ourselves
if we had the good fortune to reach the
shore, and there is no doubt but that, if
we could have overtaken, the next day,
those who had fled in the boats, an obsti-
nate combat would have taken place be-
tween them and us.

It was then that some persons who
had been marked out for the boats,
deeply regretted that they had preferred
the raft, because duty and honor had
pointed out this post to them. We
could mention some persons : for ex-
ample, Mr. Correard, among others, was
to go in one of the boats; but twelve
of the workmen, whom we commanded,
had been set down for the raft; he thought
that in his quality of commander of engi-

70 NARRATIVE OF A

neers, it was his duty not to separate from
the majority of those who had been con-
fided to him, and who had promised to
follow him wherever the exigencies of the
service might require ; from that moment
his fate became inseparable from theirs,
and he exerted himself to the utmost to
obtain the governor's permission to have
his men embarked in the same boat as
himself; but seeing that he could obtain
nothing to ameliorate the fate of these
brave men, he told the governor that he
was incapable of committing an act of
baseness : that since he would not put his
workmen in the same boat with him, he
begged him to allow him to go on the
raft with them, which was granted.

Several military officers imitated their
example; only two of those who were to
command the troops did not think fit to
place themselves upon the raft, the equip-
ment of which, in truth, could not inspire
much confidence.

One of them, Captain Beiniere, placed
himself in the long-boat with 36 of his
soldiers. We had been told that these troops

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 71

had been charged to superintend the pro-
ceedingsof the other boats, and to fire upon
those who should attempt to abandon the
raft. It is true, as we have seen above,
that some brave soldiers listening, per-
haps, more to the voice of humanity and
French honor, than to the strict maxims
of discipline, were desirous of employing
their arms against those who basely aban-
doned us, but, that their will and their
actions were paralized by the passive obe-
dience which they owed to their officers,
who opposed this resolution.

The other, Mr. Danglas, a lieutenant,
who had lately left the gardes-du-corps,
had at first embarked with us upon the
raft, where his post was assigned him, but
when he saw the danger which he incurred
on this unstable machine, he made haste
to quit it, on the pretext that he had
forgotten something on board the frigate,
and did not return. It was he whom we
saw, armed with a carbine, threaten to fire
on the barge of the governor, when it
began to move from the frigate. This
movement, and some other actions which

72 NARRATIVE OF A

were taken for madness, nearly cost him
his life ; for while he was thus giving
himself up to a kind of extravagance, the
captain took flight, and abandoned him on
board the frigate with the sixty-three men
whom he left there. When M. Danglas
saw himself treated in this manner, he
gave marks of the most furious despair.
They were obliged to hinder him from
attempting his own life. With loud cries
he invoked death, which he believed in-
evitable in the midst of perils so immi-
nent. It is certain that if Mr. Espiau,
who had his long-boat already full, had
not returned to take from on board the
frigate, the forty-six men, among whom,
was Mr. Danglas, he and all his compa-
nions would not, perhaps, have expe-
rienced a better fate than the seventeen
who were finally left on board the Me-
dusa.

After the disappearance of the boats, the
consternation was extreme: all the terrors
of thirst and famine arose before our ima-
ginations, and we had besides to contend
with a perfidious element, which already

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 73

covered the half of our bodies : when re-
covered from their stupefaction, the sailors
and soldiers gave themselves up to despair;
all saw inevitable destruction before them,
and gave vent in lamentations to the
gloomy thoughts which agitated them.
All we said did not at first avail to calm
their fears, in which we however parti-
cipated, but which a greater degree of
strength of mind enabled us to dissemble.
At last, a firm countenance and consoling
words succeeded in calming them by de-
grees, but could not wholly dispel the
terror with which they were struck ; for
according to the judicious reflection, made
after reading our deplorable story, by
Mr. Jay, whose authority we quote with
pleasure, " To support extreme misfor-
" tunes, and what is worthy of remark, to
" bear great fatigues, moral energy is
" much more necessary than corporeal
" strength, nay, than the habit of priva-
" tions and hard labour. On this narrow
" theatre where so many sufferings are
" united, where the most cruel extremes
" of hunger and thirst are experienced,

74 NARRATIVE OF A

" strong and indefatigable men who have
" been brought up to the most laborious
" professions, sink in succession under the
t( weight of the common destiny, while
" men of a weak constitution, and not
" inured to fatigue, find in their minds
" the strength which their bodies want,
" endure with courage unheard-of trials,
" and issue victorious from their struggle
" with the most horrible afflictions. It is
" to the education they have received, to
" the exercise of their intellectual faculties,
" that they owe this astonishing superiori-
" ty and their deliverance." When tran-
quillity was a little restored, we began to
look upon the raft for the charts, the com-
pass and the anchor, which we presumed
had been placed there, from what had been
said to us at the time we quitted the frigate.
These highly necessary articles had not
been put upon our machine. The want of a
compass in particular, greatly alarmed us,
and we uttered crip of rage and vengeance.
Mr. Correard then recollected, that he had
seen one in the hands of one of the chief
workmen un$er his command, and en-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 75

quired of this man about it : " Yes, yes,"
said he, " I have it with me." This news
transported us with joy, and we thought
that our safety depended on this feeble
resource. This little compass was about
the size of a crown-piece, and far from
correct. He who has not been exposed
to events, in which his existence was in
imminent peril, can form but a faint idea
of the value which one then sets upon
the most common and simple objects,
with what avidity one seizes the slightest
means, that are capable of softening the
rigour of the fate with which one has to
contend. This compass was given to the
commander of the raft ; but an accident
deprived us of it for ever: it fell, and was
lost between the pieces of wood which
composed our machine : we had kept it
only for a few hours ; after this loss, we
had nothing to guide us but the rising
and setting of the sun.

We had all left the frigate without
taking any food : hunger began to be
severely felt ; we mixed our biscuit-paste
(which had fallen into the sea) with a lit*

76 NARRATIVE OF A

tie wine, and we distributed it thus pre-
pared : such was our first meal, and the
best we had the whole time we were on
the raft.

An order, according to numbers, was
fixed for the distribution of our miserable
provisions. The ration of wine was fixed
at three quarters* a day : we shall say no
more of the biscuit : the first distribution
consumed it entirely. The day passed
over pretty quietly : we conversed on the
means which we should employ to save
ourselves; we spoke of it as a certainty,
which animated our courage : and we kept
up that of the soldiers, by cherishing the
hope of being soon able to revenge our-
selves upon those who had so basely
abandoned us. This hope of vengeance
inspired us all equally, and we uttered a
thousand imprecations against those who
had left us a prey to so many misfor-
tunes and dangers. The officer who com-
manded the raft being unable to move,
Mr. Savigny took on himself the care

* Trois quarts : it is not said of what measure ;
probably a pint. — T.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL 77

of setting up the mast ; he caused the pole
of one of the frigate's masts to be cut in
two ; we employed the main-top-gallant
sail ; the mast was kept up by the rope
which had served to tow us, of which we
made shrouds and stays : it was fixed on
the anterior third of the raft. The sail
trimmed very well, but the effect of it was
of very little use to us ; it served only
when the wind came from behind, and to
make the raft preserve this direction it
was necessary to trim the sail, as if the
wind came athwart. We think that the
cross position which our raft always re-
tained, may be attributed to the too great
length of the pieces of wood which pro-
jected on each side.

In the evening, our hearts and our
prayers, with the impulse natural to the un-
fortunate, were directed towards heaven;
we invoked it with fervour, and we de-
rived from our prayers the advantage of
hoging in our safety : one must have ex-
perienced cruel situations, to imagine what
a soothing charm, in the midst of mis-
fortune, is afforded by the sublime idea

78 NARRATIVE OF A

of a God, the protector of the unfortunate.
One consoling idea still pleased our ima-
ginations ; we presumed that the little
division had sailed for the Isle of Arguin,
and that after having landed there a part
of its people, would return to our assis-
tance : this idea, which we tried to inspire
into our soldiers and sailors, checked their
clamours. The night came, and our hopes
were not yet fulfilled : the wind freshened,
the sea rose considerably. What a dread-
ful night ! Nothing but the idea of seeing
the boats the next day, gave some conso-
lation to our people, who being most of
them unused to the motion of a vessel,*
at every shock of the sea, fell upon each
other. Mr. Savigny, assisted by some
persons, who, in the midst of this disorder,
still retained their presence of mind, fas-
tened some ropes to the pieces of the raft:
the men took hold of them, and by means
of this support, were better able to resist
the force of the waves : some were obliged

* The original is n'ayant pas le pie marin, not
having a sailors foot.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 79

to fasten themselves. In the middle of
the night the weather was very bad ; very
heavy waves rolled upon us, and often
threw us down with great violence; the
cries of the people were mingled with the
roaring of the billows; a dreadful sea
lifted us every moment from the raft, and
threatened to carry us away. This scene
was rendered still more awful by the hor-
rors of a very dark night ; for some mo-
ments we thought that we saw fires at a
distance. We had taken the precaution
to hang, at the top of the mast, some
gun-powder and pistols, with which we
had provided ourselves on board the fri-
gate : we made signals by burning a great
many charges of powder ; we even fired
some pistol-shot, but it seems that these
fires were only an illusion of the eye-
sight, or perhaps they were nothing but
the dashing of the breakers.

This whole night we contended against
death, holding fast by the ropes which
were strongly fastened. Rolled by the
waves from the back to the front, and from
the front to the back, and sometimes pre-

80 NARRATIVE OK A

cipitated into the sea, suspended between
life and death, lamenting our misfortune,
certain to perish, yet still struggling for
a fragment of existence with the cruel
element which threatened to swallow us
up. Such was our situation till day-break;
every moment were heard the lamentable
cries of the soldiers and sailors ; they
prepared themselves for death ; they bid
farewell to each other, imploring the pro-
tection of Heaven, and addressing fervent
prayers to God : all made vows to him,
notwithstanding the certainty that they
should never be able to fulfil them.
Dreadful situation ! How is it possible to
form an idea of it, which is not below the
truth !

About seven o'clock, in the morning,
the sea fell a little, the wind blew with less
fury; but what a sight presented itself
to our view! Ten or twelve unhappy
wretches, having their lower extremities
entangled in the openings between the
pieces of the raft, had not been able to
disengage themselves, and had lost their
lives ; several others had been carried off

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 81

by the violence of the sea. At the hour
of repast we took fresh numbers, in order
to leave no break in the series : we missed
twenty men : we will not affirm that this
number is very exact, for we found that

some soldiers, in order to have more than

•^j

their ration, took two, and even three
numbers. We were so many persons
crowded together, that it was absolutely
impossible to prevent these abuses.

Amidst these horrors, an affecting scene
of filial piety forced us to shed tears : two
young men raised and recognised, for
their father, an unfortunate man who was
stretched senseless under the feet of the
people; at first, they thought he was dead,
and their despair expressed itself by the
most affecting lamentations ; it was per-
ceived, however, that this almost inani-
mate body still had breath ; we lavished
on him all the assistance in our power;
he recovered by degrees, and was re-
stored to life and to the prayers of his
sons, who held him fast embraced in their
arms. While the rights of nature resumed
their empire in this affecting episode of
our sad adventures, we had soon the

G

82 NARRATIVE OF A

afflicting sight of a melancholy contrast.
Two young lads, and a baker, did not
fear to seek death, by throwing them-
selves into the sea, after having taken
leave of their companions in misfortune.
Already the faculties of our men were
singularly impaired; some fancied they
saw the land; others, vessels which were
coming to save us ; all announced to us
by their cries these fallacious visions.

We deplored the loss of our unhappy
companions ; we did not presage, at this
moment, the still more terrible scene
which was to take place the following
night; far from that, we enjoyed a degree
of satisfaction, so fully were we persuaded
that the boats would come to our relief.
The day was fine, and the most perfect
tranquillity prevailed on our raft. The
evening came, and the boats did not ap-
pear. Despondency began again to seize
all our people, and a mutinous spirit ma-
nifested itself by cries of fury; the voice
of the officers was wholly disregarded.
When the night came, the sky was co-
vered with thick clouds ; the wind, which
during the day had been rather high,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 83

now became furious, and agitated the sea,
which, in an instant, grew very rough.

If the preceding night had been ter-
rible, this was still more horrible. Moun-
tains of water covered us every moment,
and broke, with violence, in the midst of
us ; very happily we had the wind behind
us, and the fury of the waves was a little
checked by the rapidity of our progress ;
we drove towards the land. From the vio-
lence of the sea, the men passed rapidly
from the back to the front of the raft, we
were obliged to keep in the centre, the
most solid part of the raft ; those who
could not get there, almost all perished.
Before and behind the waves dashed with
fury, and carried off the men in spite of
all their resistance. At [the centre, the
crowd was such that some poor men were
stifled by the weight of their comrades,
who fell upon them every moment; the
officers kept themselves at the foot of the
little mast, obliged, every instant, to avoid
the waves, to call to those who surrounded
them to go on the one or the other side,
for the waves which came upon us, nearly
athwart, gave otrr raft a position almost

o 2

84 NARRATIVE OF A

perpendicular, so that, in order to coun-
terbalance it, we were obliged to run to
that side which was raised up by the sea.

The soldiers and sailors, terrified by
the presence of an almost inevitable dan-
ger, gave themselves up for lost. Firm-
ly believing that they were going to be
swallowed up, they resolved to soothe
their last moments by drinking till they
lost the use of their reason ; we had not
strength to oppose this disorder ; they
fell upon a cask which was at the middle
of the raft, made a large hole at one end,
and with little tin cups which they had
brought from on board the frigate, they
each took a pretty large quantity, but
they were soon obliged to desist, because
the sea water entered by the hole which
they had made.

The fumes of the wine soon disordered
their brains, already affected by the pre-
sence of danger and want of food. Thus
inflamed, these men, become deaf to the
voice of reason, desired to implicate, in
one common destruction, their compa-
nions in misfortune ; they openly ex-
pressed their intention to rid themselves
of the officers, who they said, wished to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 85

oppose their design, and then to destroy
the raft by catting the ropes which united
the different parts that composed it. A
moment after, they were proceeding to
put this plan in execution. One of them
advanced to the edge of the raft with a
boarding-axe, and began to strike the
cords : this was the signal for revolt : we
advanced in order to stop these madmen :
he who was armed with the axe, with
which he even threatened an officer, was
the first victim : a blow with a sabre put
an end to his existence. This man was
an Asiatic, and soldier in a colonial re-
giment : a colossal stature, short curled
hair, an extremely large nose, an enor-
mous mouth, a sallow complexion, gave
him a hideous air. He had placed him-
self, at first, in the middle of the raft, and
at every blow of his fist he overthrew
those who stood in his way ; he inspire4
the greatest terror, and nobody dared to
approach him. If there had been half-
a-dozen like him, our destruction would
have been inevitable.

Some persons, desirous of prolonging
their existence, joined those who wished
to preserve the raft, and armed them-

86 NARRATIVE OF A

selves : of this number were some subal-
tern officers and many passengers. The
mutineers drew their sabres, and those
who had none, armed themselves with
knives: they advanced resolutely against
us; we put ourselves on our defence: the
attack was going to begin. Animated by
despair, one of the mutineers lifted his
sabre against an officer; he immediately
fell, pierced with wounds. This firmness
awed them a moment; but did not at
all diminish their rage. They ceased to
threaten us, and presenting a front brist-
ling with sabres and bayonets, they re-
tired to the back part, to execute their
plan. One of them pretended to rest
himself on the little railing which formed
the sides of the raft, and with a knife
began to cut the cords. Being informed
by a servant, we rushed upon him — a sol-
dier attempted to defend him — threatened
an officer with his knife, and in attempt-
ing to strike him, only pierced his coat —
the officer turned round — overpowered his
adversary, and threw both him and his
comrade into the sea !

After this there were no more partial
affairs: the combat became general. Some

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 78

cried lower the sail; a crowd of mad-
men instantly threw themselves on the
yards and the shrouds, and cut the stays,
and let the mast fall, and nearly broke
the thigh of a captain of foot, who fell
senseless. He was seized by the soldiers,
who threw him into the sea: we per-
ceived it — saved him, and placed him on
a barrel, from which he was taken by
the seditious ; who were going to cut out
his eyes with a penknife. Exasperated by
so many cruelties, we no longer kept any
measures, and charged them furiously.
With our sabres drawn we traversed the
lines which the soldiers formed, and
many atoned with their lives for a mo-
ment of delusion. Several passengers dis-
played much courage and coolness in
these cruel moments.

Mr. Correard was fallen into a kind of
trance, but hearing every moment cries
of " To arms! To us, comrades! We are
undone!" joined to the cries and impreca-
tions of the wounded and the dying, he
was soon roused from his lethargy. The
increasing confusion made him sensible
that it was necessary to be upon his guard.
Armed with his sabre, he assembled some

88 NARRATIVE OF A

of his workmen on the front of the raft,
and forbid them to hurt any one unless
they were attacked. He remained almost
always with them, and they had several
times to defend themselves against the
attacks of the mutineers; who falling into
the sea, returned by the front of the raft ;
which placed Mr. Correard and his little
troop between two dangers, and rendered
their position very difficult to be defended.
Every moment men presented themselves,
armed with knives, sabres and bayonets ;
many had carbines, which they used as
clubs. The workmen did their utmost to
stop them, by presenting- the point of
their sabres; and, notwithstanding the re-
pugnance they felt to combat their un-
happy countrymen, they were however
obliged to use their arms without reserve;
because many of the mutineers attacked
them with fury, it was necessary to re-
pulse them in the same manner. In this
action some of the workmen received
large wounds ; he who commanded them
reckons a great number, which he re-
ceived in the various combats they had
to maintain. At last their united efforts

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

succeeded in dispersing the masses that
advanced furiously against them.

During this combat,, Mr. Correard was

informed, by one of his workmen who

remained faithful, that one of their com-

rades, named Dominique, had taken part

with the mutineers, and that he had just

been thrown into the sea. Immediately

forgetting the fault and the treachery of

this man, he threw himself in after him,

at the place where the voice of the wretch

had just been heard calling for assistance;

he seized him by the hair, and had the

good fortune to get him on board. Do-

minique had received, in a charge, several

sabre wounds, one of which had laid open

his head. Nothwithstanding the darkness

we found the wound, which appeared to

us to be very considerable. One of the

workmen gave his handkerchief to bind

it up and stanch the blood. Our care re-

vived this wretch; but as soon as he re-

covered his strength, the ungrateful Do-

minique, again forgetting his duty and

the signal service that he had just re-

ceived from us, went to rejoin the muti-

neers. So much baseness and fury did

90 .NARRATIVE OF A

not go unpunished ; and soon afterwards,
while combating us anew, he met with
his death, from which he, in fact, did not
merit to be rescued, but which he would
probably have avoided, if faithful to ho-
nor and to gratitude, he had remained
among us.

Just when we had almost finished ap-
plying a kind of dressing to the wounds
of Dominique, another voice was heard ;
it was that of the unfortunate woman who
was on the raft with us, and whom the
madmen had thrown into the sea, as well
as her husband, who defended her with
courage. Mr. Correard, in despair at
seeing two poor wretches perish, whose
lamentable cries, especially those of the
woman, pierced his heart, seized a large
rope which was on the front of the raft,
which he fastened round the middle of his
body, and threw himself, a second time,
into the sea, whence he was so happy as
to rescue the woman, who invoked, with
all her might, the aid of Our Lady of
Laux, while her husband was likewise
saved by the chief workman, Lavillette.
We seated these two poor people upon

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 91

dead bodies, with their backs leaning
against a barrel. In a few minutes they
had recovered their senses. The first
thought of the wpman was to enquire the
name of him who had saved her, and to
testify to him the warmest gratitude.
Thinking, doubtless, that her words did
not sufficiently express her sentiments,
she recollected that she had, in her pocket,
a little snuff, and immediately offered it
to him — it was all she possessed. Touched
by this present, but not making use of
this antiscorbutic, Mr. Corr6ard, in turn,
made a present of it to a poor sailor, who
used it three or four days. But a more
affecting scene, which it is impossible for
us to describe, is the joy which this un-
fortunate couple displayed when they had
sufficiently recovered their senses to see
that they were saved.

The mutineers being repulsed, as we
have said above, left us at this moment
a little repose. The moon with her sad
beams, illumined this fatal raft, this nar-
row space, in which were united so many
heart-rending afflictions, so many cruel
distresses, a fury so insensate, a courage

92 NARRATIVE OF A

so heroic, the most pleasing and gene-
rous sentiments of nature and humanity.

The man and his wife, who just be-
fore had seen themselves attacked with
sabres and bayonets, and thrown at the
same moment into the waves of a stormy
sea, could hardly believe their senses
when they found themselves in each others
arms. They felt, they expressed, so fer-
vently, the happiness which they were
alas, to enjoy for so short a time, that this
affecting sight might have drawn tears
from the most insensible heart ; but in
this terrible moment, when we were but
just breathing after the most furious at-
tack, when we were forced to be con-
stantly on our guard, not only against the
attacks of the men, but also against the
fury of the waves : few of us had time, if
we may say so, to suffer ourselves to be
moved by this scene of conjugal friendship.

Mr. Correard, one of those whom it
had most agreeably affected, hearing the
woman still recommend herself, as she
had done when in the sea, to our Lady of
Laux, exclaiming every instant, '•' our
good Lady of Laux do not forsake us,"

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 93

recollected that there was, in fact, in the
Department of the Upper Alps, a place of
devotion so called,* and asked her if she
came from that country. She replied in
the affirmative, and said she had quitted
it 24 years before, and that since that time
she had been in the Campaigns in Italy,&c.
as a sutler; that she had never quitted
our armies. " Therefore," said she, "pre-
serve my life, you see that I am a useful
woman." " Oh ! if you knew how often
I also have braved death on the field of
battle, to carry assistance to our brave
men." [Then she amused herself with
giving some account of her campaigns.
She mentioned those she had assisted, the
provisions which she had provided them,
the brandy with which she had treated
them. " Whether they had money or not,"

* Our Lady of Laux is in the Department of the
Upper Alps, not far from Gap. A church has been built
there, the patroness of which is much celebrated, in the
country, for her miracles. The lame, the gouty, the
paralytic, found there relief, which it is said, never
failed. Unfortunately, this miraculous power did not
extend, it seems, to shipwrecked persons : at least the
poor sutler drew but little advantage from it.

94 NARRATIVE OF A

said she, " I always let them have my
goods. Sometimes a battle made me lose
some of my poor debtors; but then, after
the victory, others paid me double or
triple the value of the provisions which
they had consumed before the battle. Thus
I had a share in their victory/' The idea
of owing her life to Frenchmen, at this
moment, seemed still to add to her hap-
piness Unfortunate woman! she did not
foresee the dreadful fate that awaited her
among us ! Let us return to our raft.

After this second check, the fury of
the soldiers suddenly abated, and gave
place to extreme cowardice : many of them
fell at our feet and asked pardon, which
was instantly granted them. It is here,
the pi ace to observe and to proclaim aloud
for the honour of the French army, which
has shewn itself as great, as courageous,
under reverses, as formidable in battle,
that most of these wretches were not wor-
thy to wear its uniform. They were the
scum of all countries, the refuse of the
prisons, where they had been collected to
make up the force charged with the de-
fence and the protection of the colony.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 95

When, for the sake of health, they were
made to bathe in the sea, a ceremony
from which some of them had the modesty
to endeavour to excuse themselves, the
whole crew had ocular demonstration that
it was not upon the breast that these he-
roes wore the insignia of the exploits,
which had led them to serve the state in
the Ports of Toulon, Brest or Rochefort.
This is not the moment, and perhaps
we are not competent to examine whether
the penalty of branding, as it is re-estab-
lished in our present code, is compatible
with the true object of all good legisla-
tion, that of correcting while punishing,
of striking only as far as is necessary to
prevent and preserve ; in short, of pro-
ducing the greatest good to all, with the
least possible evil to individuals. Reason
at least seems to demonstrate, and what
has passed before our own eyes authorises
us to believe that it is as dangerous, as
inconsistent, to entrust arms for the pro-
tection of society, to the hands of those
whom society has itself rejected from its
bosom ; th€tt it implies a contradiction to
require courage, generosity, and that de-

96 NARRATIVE OF A

votedness which commands a noble heart
to sacrifice itself for its country and fellow
creatures, from wretches branded, de-
graded by corruption, in whom every
moral energy is destroyed, or eternally
compressed by the weight of the indelible
opprobrium which renders them aliens to
their country, which separates them for
ever from the rest of mankind.

We soon had on board our raft a fresh
proof of the impossibility of depending on
the permanence of any honorable senti-
ment in the hearts of beings of this de-
scription.

Thinking that order was restored,
we had returned to our post at the cen-
ter of the raft, only we took the precau-
tion to retain our arms. It was nearly mid-
night: after an hour's apparent tranquil-
lity, the soldiers rose again : their senses
were entirely deranged ; they rushed upon
us like madmen, with their knives or
sabres in their hands. As they were in
full possession of their bodily strength,
and were also armed, we were forced
again to put ourselves on our defence.
Their revolt was the more dangerous, as

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 79

in their delirium they were entirely deaf to
the cries of reason. They attacked us; we
charged them in our turn, and soon the raft
was covered with their dead bodies. Those
among our adversaries who had no arms,
attempted to tear us with their teeth ; seve-
ral of us were cruelly bitten ; Mr. Savigny
was himself bitten in the legs and the
shoulder ; he received also a wound with a
knife in his right arm which deprived him,
for a long time, of the use of the fourth
and little fingers of that hand; many others
were wounded ; our clothes were pierced
in many places by knives and sabres. One
of our workmen was also seized by four
of the mutineers, who were going to throw
him into the sea. One of them had seized
him by the right leg, and was biting him
cruelly in the sinew above the heel. The
others were beating him severely with their
sabres and the but end of their carbines;
his cries made us fly to his aid. On this
occasion, the brave Lavillette, ex-serjeant
of the artillery on foot, of the old guard,
behaved with courage worthy of the highest
praise : we rushed on these desperadoes,
after the example of Mr. Correard, and

H

98 NARRATIVE OF A

soon rescued the workman from the danger
which threatened him. A few moments af-
ter, the mutineers, in another charge, seized
on the sub-lieutenant Lozach, whom they
took, in their delirium, for Lieutenant Dari-
glas, of whom we have spoken above, and
who had abandoned the raft when we were
on the point of putting off from the frigate.
The soldiers, in general, bore much ill will
to this officer, who had seen little service,
and whom they reproached with having
treated them harshly while they were in gar-
rison in the Isle of Rhe. It would have been
a favorable opportunity for them to satiate
their rage upon him, and the thirst of
vengeance and destruction which animated
them to fancy that they had found him in
the person of Mr. Lozach, they were going
to throw him into the sea. In truth, the
soldiers almost equally disliked the latter,
who had served only in the Vendean bands
of Saint Pol de Leon. We believed this
officer lost, when his voice being heard, in-
formed us that it was still possible to save
him. Immediately Messrs. Clairet, Savigny,
PHeureux, Lavillette, Coudin, Correard, and
some workmen, having formed themselves

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 99

into little parties, fell upon the insurgents
with so much impetuosity that they over-
threw all who opposed them, recovered Mr.
Lozach, and brought him back to the center
of the raft.

The preservation of this officer cost us
infinite trouble. Every moment the soldiers
demanded that he should be given up to
them, always calling him by the name of
Danglas. It was in vain we attempted to
make them sensible of their mistake, and to
recal to their memory, that he, whom they
demanded, had returned on board the fri-
gate, as they had themselves seen ; their
cries drowned the voice of reason ; every
thing was in their eyes Danglas ; they saw
him every where, they furiously and unceas-
ingly demanded his head, and it was only
by force of arms, that we succeeded in re-
pressing their rage, and in silencing their
frightful cries.

On this occasion we had also reason to be
alarmed for the safety of Mr.Coudin.Wound-
ed and fatigued by the attacks which we had
sustained with the disaffected, and in which
he had displayed the most dauntless courage,
he was reposing on a barrel, holding in his

H 2

100 NARRATIVE OF A

arms a sailor boy, of twelve years of age, lo
whom he had attached himself. The muti-
neers seized him with his barrel, and threw
him into the sea with the boy, whom he still
held fast; notwithstanding this burden, he
had the presence of mind to catch hold of
the raft, and to save himself from this ex-
treme danger. Dreadful night! thy gloomy
veil covered these cruel combats, instigated
by the most terrible despair.

We cannot conceive how a handful of
individuals could resist such a considerable
number of madmen. There were, certainly,
not more than twenty of us to resist all these
furious wretches. Let it, however, not be
imagined, that we preserved our reason un-
impaired amidst all this disorder ; terror,
alarm, the most cruel privations had greatly
affected our intellectual faculties; but being
a little less deranged than the unfortunate
soldiers, we energetically opposed their de-
termination to cut the cords of the raft.
Let us be allowed to make some reflections
on the various sensations with which we
were affected.

The very first day, Mr. Griffon lost his
senses so entirely, that he threw himself

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 101

into the sea, intending to drown himself.
Mr. Savigny saved him with his own hand.
His discourse was vague and unconnected.
He threw himself into the water a second
time, but by a kind of instinct he kept hold
of one of the cross pieces of the raft : and
was again rescued.

The following is an account of what
Mr. Savigny experienced in the beginning
of the night. His eyes closed in spite of
himself, and he felt a general lethargy ; in
this situation the most agreeable images
played before his fancy; he saw around
him, a country covered with fine planta-
tions, and he found himself in the presence
of objects which delighted all his senses;
yet he reasoned on his situation, and felt
that courage alone would recover him from
this species of trance ; he asked the master
gunner of the frigate for some wine : who
procured him a little ; and he recovered in
a degree from this state of torpor. If the
unfortunate men, when they were attacked
by these first symptoms, had not had reso-
lution to struggle against them, their death
was certain. Some became furious; others
threw themselves into the sea, taking leave

102 NARRATIVE OF A

of their comrades with great coolness; some
said " Fear nothing, I am going to fetch
you assistance : in a short time you will see
me again." In the midst of this general
madness, some unfortunate wretches were
seen to rush upon their comrades with their
sabres drawn, demanding the wing of a
chicken, or bread to appease the hunger
which devoured them ; others called for
their hammocks " to go," they said, "be-
tween the decks of the frigate and take some
moments' repose." Many fancied themselves
still on board the Medusa, surrounded with
the same objects which they saw there every
day. Some sa\v ships, and called them to
their assistance, or a harbour, in the back
ground of which there wras a magnificent city .
31 r. Correard fancied he was travelling-
through the fine plains of Italy; one of the
officers said to him, gravely, " I remember
that we have been deserted by the boats; but
fear nothing ; I have just written to the
governor, and in a few hours ive shall be
saved." Mr. Correard replied in the same
tone, and as if he had been in an ordinary
situation, " Have you a pigeon to carry your
orders with as much celerity ?" The cries

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 103

and the tumult soon roused us from the
state in which we were plunged; but
scarcely was tranquillity restored, when we
sunk back into the same species of trance :
so that the next day we seemed to awake
from a painful dream, and asked our com-
panions if, during their sleep, they had seen
combats and heard cries of despair. Some
of them replied that they had been conti-
nually disturbed by the same visions, and
that they were exhausted with fatigue : all
thought themselves deceived by the illu-
sions of a frightful dream.

When we recal to our minds those ter-
rible scenes, they present themselves to our
imagination like those frightful dreams
which sometimes make a profound impres-
sion on us ; so that, when we awake, we
remember the different circumstances which
rendered our sleep so agitated. All these
horrible events, from which we have escaped
by a miracle, appear to us like a point in
our existence : we compare them with the
fits of a burning fever, which has been ac-
companied by a delirium: a thousand ob-
jects appear before the imagination of the
patient : when restored to health, he some-

104 XAKRAUVE OF A

times recollects the visions that have tor-
mented him during the fever which con-
burned him, and exalted his imagination.
We were really seized with a fever on the
brain, the consequence of a mental exalta-
tion carried to the extreme. As soon as
daylight beamed upon us, we were much
more calm : darkness brought with it a re-
newal of the disorder in our weakened in-
tellects. We observed in ourselves that the
natural terror, inspired by the cruel situation
in which we were, greatly increased in the
silence of the night: then all objects seemed
to us much more terrible.

After these different combats, worn out
with fatigue, want of food and of sleep, we
endeavoured to take a few moments' repose,
at length daylight came, and disclosed all
the horrors of the scene. A great num-
ber had, in their delirium, thrown them-
selves into the sea : we found that between
sixty and sixty -five men had perished dur-
ing the night ; we calculated that, at least, a
fourth part had drowned themselves in des-
pair. We had lost only two on our side,
neither of whom was an officer. The deepest
despondency was painted on every face;

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 105

every one, now that he was come to himself,
was sensible of his situation ; some of usa
shedding tears of despair, bitterly deplored
the rigour of our fate.

We soon discovered a new misfortune ;
the rebels, during the tumult, had thrown
into the sea two barrels of wine, and the
only two casks of water that we had on the
raft.* As soon as Mr. Correard perceived
that they were going to throw the wine into
the sea, and that the barrels were almost
entirely made loose, he resolved to place
himself on one of them; where he was con-
tinually thrown to and fro by the impulse
of the waves ; but he did not let go his
hold. His example was followed by some
others, who seized the second cask, and re-
mained some hours at that dangerous post,
After much trouble they had succeeded in
saving these two casks ; which being every

* One of the water casks was recovered ; but the
mutineers had made a large hole in it, and the sea water
got in, so that the fresh water was quite spoiled; wer
however, kept the little cask as well as one of the wine
barrels, which was empty. These two casks were after-
wards of use to us.

106 NARRATIVE OF A

moment violently driven against their legs
had bruised them severely. Being unable to
hold out any longer, they made some repre-
sentations to those who, with Mr. Savigny,
employed all their efforts to maintain order
and preserve the raft. One of them took
his (Mr. Correard) place; others relieved the
rest: but finding this service too difficult,
and being assaulted by the mutineers, they
forsook this post. Then the barrels were
thrown into the sea.

Two casks of wine had been consumed
the preceding day; we had only one left,
and we were above sixty in number; so
that it was necessary to put ourselves on
half allowance.

At daybreak the sea grew calm, which
enabled us to put up our mast again ; we
then did our utmost to direct our course to-
wards the coast. Whether it were an illu-
sion or reality we thought we saw it, and
that we distinguished the burning air of
the Zaara Desert. It is, in fact, very pro-
bable that we were not very distant from it,
for we had had winds from the sea which
had blown violently. In the sequel we

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 107

spread the sail indifferently to every wind
that blew, so that one day we approached
the coast, on the next ran into the open sea.
As soon as our mast was replaced,
we made a distribution of wine ; the un-
happy soldiers murmured and accused us for
privations, which we bore as well as they:
they fell down with fatigue. For forty-
eight hours we had taken nothing, and had
been obliged to struggle incessantly against
a stormy sea ; like them we could hardly
support ourselves ; courage alone still made
us act. We resolved to employ all possible
means to procure fish. We collected all
the tags from the soldiers, and made little
hooks of them ; we bent a bayonet to catch
sharks: all this availed us nothing; the
currents carried our hooks under the raft,
where they got entangled. A shark bit at
the bayonet, and straightened it. We gave
up our project. But an extreme resource
was necessary to preserve our wretched
existence. We tremble with horror at being
obliged to mention that which we made use
of! we feel our pen drop from our hand; a
deathlike chill pervades all our limbs; our
hair stands erect on our heads! — Reader.

108 NARRATIVE OF A

we beseech you, do not feel indignation to-
wards men who are already too unfortunate;
but have compassion on them, and shed
some tears of pity on their unhappy fate.

Those whom death had spared in the
disastrous night which we have just de-
scribed, fell upon the dead bodies with
which the raft was covered, and cut off
pieces, which some instantly devoured.
Many did not touch them ; almost all the
officers were of this number. Seeing that
this horrid nourishment had given strength
to those who had made use of it, it was
proposed to dry it, in order to render it a
little less disgusting. Those who had firm-
ness enough to abstain from it took a larger
quantity of wine. We tried to eat sword-
belts and cartouch-boxes. We succeeded in
swallowing some little morsels. Some eat
linen. Others pieces of leather from the hats,
on which there was a little grease, or rather
dirt We were obliged to give up these last
means. A sailor attempted to eat excre-
ments, but he could not succeed.

The day was calm and fine: a ray of
hope allayed our uneasiness for a moment.
We still expected to set the boats or some

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 109

vessels; we addressed our prayers to the
Eternal, and placed our confidence in him.
The half of our men were very weak, and
bore on all their features the stamp of ap-
proaching dissolution. The evening passed
over, and no assistance came. The dark-
ness of this third night increased our alarm;
but the wind was slight, and the sea less
agitated. We took some moment's repose :
a repose which was still more terrible than
our situation the preceding day ; cruel
d reams added to the horrors of our situa-
tion. Tormented by hunger and thirst, our
plaintive cries sometimes awakened from his
sleep, the wretch who was reposing close to
us. We were even now up to our knees in the
water, so that we could only repose stand-
ing, pressed against each other to form a
solid mass. The fourth morning's sun, after
our departure, at length rose on our disaster,
and shewed us ten or twelve of our compa-
nions extended lifeless on the raft. This
sight affected us the more as it announced
to us that our bodies, deprived of existence,
would soon be stretched on the same place.
We gave their bodies to the sea for a grave;
reserving only one, destined to feed those

110 NARRATIVE OF A

who, the day before, had clasped his trem-
bling hands, vowing* him an eternal friend-
ship. This day was fine ; our minds, long-
ing for more agreeable sensations, were har-
monized by the soothing aspect of nature,
and admitted a ray of hope. About four
in the afternoon a circumstance occurred
which afforded us some consolation : a
shoal of flying fish passed under the raft,
and as the extremities left an infinite num-
ber of vacancies between the pieces which
composed it, the fish got entangled in great
numbers We threw ourselves upon them,
and caught a considerable quantity : we took
near two hundred and put them in an empty
cask;* as we caught them we opened them
to take out what is called the milt. This
food seemed delicious to us ; but one man
would have wanted a thousand. Our first
impulse was to address new thanksgivings
to God for this unexpected benefit.

An ounce of gunpowder had been found
in the morning, and dried in the sun, dur-
ing the day, which was very fine ; a steel,

* These fish are very small ; the largest is not equal
to a small herring.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. Ill

some gun-flints and tinder were also found
in the same parcel. After infinite trouble
we succeeded in setting fire to some pieces
of dry linen. We made a large hole in one
side of an empty cask, and placed at the
bottom of it several things whicli we wetted,
and on this kind of scaffolding we made our
fire : we placed it on a barrel that the sea-
water might not put out our fire. We dressed
some fish, which we devoured with extreme
avidity; but our hunger was so great and
our portion of fish so small, that we added
to it some human flesh, which dressing ren-
dered less disgusting; it was this which the
officers touched, for the first time. From
this day we continued to use it; but we
could riot dress it any more, as we were
entirely deprived of the means ; our barrel
catching fire we extinguished it without
being able to save any thing whereby to
light it again next day. The powder and
the tinder were entirely consumed. This
repast gave us all fresh strength to bear
new fatigues. The night was tolerable, and
would have appeared happy had it not
been signalised by a new massacre.

Some Spaniards, Italians, arid Negroes,

11*2 NARRATIVE OF A

who had remained neuter in the first mu-
tiny, and some of whom had even ranged
themselves on our side,* formed a plot to
throw us all into the sea, hoping to execute
their design by falling on us by surprise.
These wretches suffered themselves to be
persuaded by the negroes, who assured them
that the coast was extremely near, and pro-
mised, that when they were once on shore,
they would enable them to traverse Africa
without danger. The desire of saving them-
selves, or perhaps the wish to seize on the
money and valuables, which had been put
into a bag, hung to the mast,t had in-
flamed the imagination of these unfortunate
wretches. We were obliged to take our

* This plot, as we learned afterwards, was formed
particularly by a Piedmontese serjeant; who, for two days
past, had endeavoured to insinuate himself with us, in
order to gain our confidence. The care of the wine was
entrusted to him : he stole it in the night, and distributed
it to some of his friends.

f We had all put together in one bag the money we
had, in order to purchase provisions and hire camels to
carry the sick, in case we should land on the edge of the
desert. The sum was fifteen hundred francs. Fifteen of
us were saved, and each had a hundred francs. The com-
mander of the raft and a captain of inftmtry divided it.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 113

arms again ; bat how were we to discover
the guilty? they were pointed out to us, by
our sailors, who remained faithful, and
ranged themselves near us ; one of them
had refused to engage in the plot. The
first signal, for combat, was given by a Spa-
niard, who, placing himself behind the
mast, laid fast hold of it, made the sign of
the Cross with one hand, invoking the name
of God, and held a knife in the other: the
sailors seized him, and threw him into the
sea. The servant of an officer of the troops
on board was in the plot. He was an Ita-
lian from the light artillery of the Ex-King
of his country. When he perceived that
the plot was discovered, he armed himself
with the last boarding-axe that there was
on the raft, wrapped himself in a piece of
drapery, which he wore folded over his
breast, and, of his own accord, threw him-
self into the sea. The mutineers rushed
fonvard to avenge their comrades, a terrible
combat again ensued, and both sides fought
with desperate fury. Soon the fatal raft was
covered with dead bodies, and flowing with
blood which ought to have been shed in
another cause, and by other hands. In this

114 NARRATIVE OF A

tumult cries, with which we were familiar,
were renewed, and we heard the impreca-
tions of the horrid rage which demanded
the head of Lieutenant Danglas ! Our
readers know that we could not satisfy this
mad rage, because the victim, demanded,
had fled the dangers to which we were ex-
posed ; but even if this officer had remained
among us, we should most certainly have
defended his life at the expence of our
own, as we did that of Lieutenant Lozach.
But it was not for him that we were reduced

to exert, against these madmen, all the
courage we possessed.

We again replied to the cries of the
assailants, that he whom they demanded
was not with us ; but we had no more suc-
cess in persuading them; nothing could
make them recollect themselves; we were
obliged to continue to combat them, and to
oppose force to those over whom reason had
lost all its influence. In this confusion the
unfortunate woman was, a second time,
thrown into the sea. We perceived it, and
Mr. Coudin, assisted by some workmen,
took her up again, to prolong, for a few
moments, her torments and her existence,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 115

In this horrible night, Lavillette gave
farther proofs of the rarest intrepidity. It
was to him, and to some of those who have
escaped the consequences of our misfor-
tunes, that we are indebted for our safety.
At length, after unheard-of efforts, the mu-
tineers were again repulsed, and tranquillity
restored. After we had escaped this new
danger, we endeavoured to take some mo-
ment's repose. The day at length rose on
us for the fifth time. We were now only
thirty left; we had lost four or five of our
faithful sailors ; those who survived were in
the most deplorable state ; the sea-water
had almost entirely excoriated our lower
extremities ; we were covered with contu-
sions or wounds, which, irritated by the salt-
water, made us utter every moment piercing
cries ; so that there were not above twenty
of us who were able to stand upright or
walk. Almost our whole stock was ex-
hausted; we had no more wine than was
sufficient for four days, and we had not
above a dozen fish left. In four days, said
we, we shall be in want of every thing, and
death will be unavoidable. Thus arrived the
seventh day since we had been abandoned;

i 2

116 NARRATIVE OF A

we calculated that, in case the boats had
not stranded on the coast, they would want,
at least, three or four times twenty-four
hours to reach St. Louis. Time was further
required to equip ships, and for these ships
•to find us ; we resolved to hold out as long
as possible. In the course of the day, two
soldiers slipped behind the only barrel of
wine we had left ; they had bored a hole in
it, and were drinking by means of a reed ;
we had all sworn, that he who should em-
ploy such means should be punished with
death. This law was instantly put in exe-
cution, and the two trespassers were thrown
into the sea.*

This same day terminated the existence
of a child, twelve years of age, named
Leon ; he died away like a lamp which
ceases to burn for want of aliment. Every
thing spoke in favor of this amiable young
creature, who merited a better fate. His
angelic countenance, his melodious voice,
the interest inspired by his youth, which
was increased by the courage he had shown,

* One of these soldiers was the same Piedmontese ser-
jeant of whom we have spoken above ; he put his comrades
forward, and kept himself concealed in case their plot
should fail.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 117

and the services lie had performed, for he
had already made, in the preceding year,
a campaign in the East Indies, all this filled
us with the tenderest interest for this young
victim, devoted to a death so dreadful and
premature. Our old soldiers, and our peo-
ple in general, bestowed upon him all the
care which they thought calculated to pro-
long his existence. It was in vain ; his
strength, at last, forsook him. Neither
the wine, which we gave him without
regret, nor all the means which could be
employed, could rescue him from his sad
fate ; he expired in the arms of Mr. Cou-
din, who had not ceased to shew him the
kindest attention. As long as the strength
of this young marine had allowed him to
move, he ran continually from one side to
the other, calling, with loud cries, for his
unhappy mother, water, and food. He
walked, without discrimination, over the
feet and legs of his companions in misfor-
tune, who, in their turn, uttered cries of
anguish, which were every moment re-
peated. But their complaints were very
seldom accompanied by menaces ; they par-
doned every thing in the poor youth., who

118 NARRATIVE OF A

had caused them. Besides, he was, in fact,
in a state of mental derangement, and in
his uninterrupted alienation he could not
be expected to behave, as if he had still re-
tained some use of reason.

We were now only twenty-seven re-
maining ; of this number but fifteen seemed
likely to live some days : all the rest,
covered with large wounds, had almost
entirely lost their reason; yet they had
a share in the distribution of provisions,
and might, before their death, consume
thirty or forty bottles of wine, which were
of inestimable value to us. We delibe-
rated thus : to put the sick on half allowance
* would have been killing them by inches. So
after a debate, at which the most dreadful
despair presided, it was resolved to throw
them into the sea. This measure, however
repugnant it was to ourselves, procured the
survivors wine for six days ; when the de-
cision was made, who would dare to execute
it? The habit of seeing death ready to
pounce upon us as his prey, the certainty of
our infallible destruction, without this fatal
expedient, every thing in a word, had
hardened our hearts, and rendered them

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

callous to all feeling except that of self
preservation. Three sailors and a soldier
took on themselves this cruel execution : we
turned our faces aside, and wept tears of
blood over the fate of these unhappy men.
Among them were the unfortunate woman
and her husband. Both of them had been
severely wounded in the various combats :
the woman had a thigh broken between the
pieces of wood composing the raft, and her
husband had received a deep wound with a
sabre on his head. Every thing announced
their speedy dissolution. We must seek to
console ourselves, by the belief, that our
cruel resolution shortened, but for a few mo-
ments only, the measure of their existence.

This French woman, to whom soldiers
and Frenchmen gave the sea for a tomb,
had partaken for twenty years in the glo-
rious fatigues of our armies; for twenty
years she had afforded to the brave, on the
field of battle, either the assistance which
they needed, or soothing consolations. . . It
is in the midst of her friends ; it is by the
hands of her friends. . .Readers, who shud-
der at the cry of outraged humanity, recol-
lect at least, that it was other men, fellow

120 NARRATIVE OF A

countrymen, comrades, who had placed us
in this horrible situation.

This dreadful expedient saved the fifteen
who remained ; for, when we were found by
the Argus, we had very little wine left, and
it was the sixth day after the cruel sacrifice
which we have just described : the victims,
we repeat it, had not above forty-eight hours
to live, and by keeping them on the raft,
we should absolutely have been destitute of
the means of existence two days before we
were found. Weak as we were, we consi-
dered it as certain that it would have been
impossible for us to hold out, even twenty-
four hours, without taking some food. After
this catastrophe, wThich inspired us with a
degree of horror not to be overcome, we
threw the arms into the sea; we reserved,
however, one sabre in case it should be
wanted to cut a rope or piece of wood.

After all this, we had scarcely sufficient
food on the raft, to last for the six days, and
they were the most wretched immaginable.
Our dispositions had become soured: even in
sleep, we figured to ourselves the sad end of
all our unhappy companions, and we loudly
invoked death.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 121

A new event, for every thing was an
event for wretches for whom the universe
was reduced to a flooring of a few toises in
extent, who were the sport of the winds and
waves, as they hung suspended over the
abyss ; an event then happened which hap-
pily diverted our attention from the horrors !
of pur situation. All at once a white but-
terfly, of the species so common in France,
appeared fluttering over our heads, and set- *
tied on our sail. The first idea wrhich, as
it were, inspired each of us made us consi-
der this little animal as the harbinger, which
brought us the news of a speedy approach
to land, and we snatched at this hope with
a kind of delirium of joy. But it was the
ninth day that we passed upon the raft;
the torments of hunger consumed our en-
trails ; already some of the soldiers and
sailors devoured, with haggard eyes, this
wretched prey, and seemed ready to dis-
pute it with each other. Others considered
this butterfly as a messenger of heaven,
declared that they took the poor insect
under their protection, and hindered any
injury being done to it. We turned our
wishes and our eyes to\tfards the land, which

NARRATIVE OF A

we so ardently longed for, and which we
every moment fancied we saw rise before
us. It is certain that we could not be far
from it: for the butterflies continued, on the
following days, to come and flutter about
our sail, and the same day we had another
sign equally positive : for we saw a (goe-
land) flying over our raft. This second
visitor did not allow us to doubt of our
being very near to the African shore, and
we persuaded ourselves that we should soon
be thrown upon the coast by the force of
the currents. How often did we then, and
in the following days, invoke a tempest to
throw us on the coast, which, it seemed to
us, we were on the point of touching.

The hope which had just penetrated
the inmost recesses of our souls, revived our
enfeebled strength, and inspired us with an
ardour, an activity, of which we should not
have thought ourselves capable. We again
had recourse to all the means which we
had before employed, to catch fish. Above
all, we eagerly longed for the (goeland),
which appeared several times tempted to
settle on the end of our machine. The
impatience of our desire increased, whew

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL

we saw several of its companions join it,
and keep following us till our deliverance ;
but all attempts to draw them to us were in
vain ; not one of them suffered itself to be
taken by the snares we had laid for them.
Thus our destiny, on the fatal raft, was to be
incessantly tossed between transitory illu-
sions and continued torments, and we never
experienced an agreeable sensation without
being, in a manner, condemned to atone for
it, by the anguish of some new suffering, by
the irritating pangs of hope always deceived

Another care employed us this day;
as soon as we were reduced to a small
number, we collected the little strength we
had remaining ; we loosened some planks
on the front of the raft, and with some
pretty long pieces of wood, raised in the
center a kind of platform, on which we re-
posed : all the effects which we had been able
to collect, were placed upon it, and served
to render it less hard; besides, they hindered
the sea from passing with so much facility
through the intervals between the different
pieces of the raft ; but the waves came
across, and sometimes covered us entirely.

It was on this new theatre that we re-

124 NARRATIVE OF A

solved to await death in a manner worthy
of Frenchmen, and with perfect resignation.
The most adroit among us, to divert our
thoughts, and to make the time pass with
more rapidity, got their comrades to relate
to us their passed triumphs, and sometimes,
to draw comparisons between the hardships
they had undergone in their glorious cam-
paigns, and the distresses we endured upon
our raft. The following is what Lavillette
the serjeant of artillery told us: " I have
66 experienced, in my various naval cam-
" paigns, all the fatigues, all the privations
" and all the dangers, which it is possible
" to meet with at sea, but none of my
" past sufferings, is comparable to the
" extreme pain and privations which I
" endure here. In my last campaigns in
61 1813 and 1814, in Germany and France,
ic 1 shared all the fatigues which were al-
" ternately caused us by victory and retreat.
cc I was at the glorious days of Lutzen,
" Bautzen, Dresden; Leipzig, Hanau, Mont-
" mirail, Champaubert, Montereau," &c.
" Yes," continued he, " all that I suf-
" fered in so many forced marches, and in
" the midst of the privations which were

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 125

Ci the consequences of them, was nothing in
" comparison with what I endure on this
" frightful machine. In those days, when
" the French valour shewed itself in all
" its lustre, and always worthy of a free
" people, I had hardly anything to fear,
" but during the battle; but here, I often
" have the same dangers, and what is more
<c dreadful, I have to combat Frenchmen
" and comrades. I have to contend, be-
(( sides, with hunger and thirst, with a tem-
cc pestuous sea, full of dangerous monsters,
" and with the ardour of a burning sun,
<c which is not the leastof our enemies. Co-
" vered with ancient scars and fresh wounds,
(e which I have no means of dressing, it is
" physically impossible for me to save my-
" self from this extreme danger, if it should
" be prolonged for a few days."

The sad remembrance of the critical
situation of our country also mingled with
our grief; and certainly, of all the afflictions
we experienced, this was not the least, to
us, whp had almost all of us left it, only
that we might no longer be witnesses of the
hard laws, of the afflicting dependence,
under which, it is bowed down by enemies

126 NARRATIVE OF A

jealous of our glory and of our power.
These thoughts, we do not fear to say so,
and to boast of it, afflicted us still more
than the inevitable death which we were
almost certain of meeting on our raft. Seve-
ral of us regretted not having fallen in
the defence of France. At least, said they,
if it had been possible for us to measure our
strength once more, with the enemies of our
independence, and our liberty! Others found
some consolation in the death which awaited
us, because we should no longer have to
UToan under the shameful yoke which op-
presses the country. Thus passed the last
days of our abode on the raft. Our time
was almost wholly employed in speaking
of our unhappy country : all our wishes,
our last prayers were for the happiness of
France.

During the first days and nights of
our being abandoned, the weather was very
cold, but we bore the immersion pretty
well ; and during the last nights that we
passed on the raft, every time that a wave
rolled over us, it produced a very disagreea-
ble sensation, and made us utter plaintive
cries, so that each of us employed means to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 127

avoid it: some raised their heads, by means
of pieces of wood, and made with whatever
they could find a kind of parapet, against
which the wave broke : others sheltered
themselves behind empty casks which were
placed across, along side each other; but.
these means often proved insufficient ; it
was only when the sea was very calm that it
did not break over us.

A raging thirst, which was redoubled in
the daytime by the beams of a burning sun,
consumed us : it was such, that we eagerly
moistened our parched lips with urine,, which
we cooled in little tin cups. We put the
cup in a place where there was a little water,
that the urine might cool the sooner; it
often happened that these cups were stolen
from those who had thus prepared them.
The cup was returned, indeed, to him to
whom it belonged, but not till the liquid
which it contained was drank. Mr. Savigny
observed that the urine of sam of us was more
agreeable than that of others. There was
a passenger who could never prevail on
himself to swallow it : in reality, it had not
a disagreeable taste ; but in some of us it
became thick, and extraordinarily acrid : it

128 NARRATIVE OF A

produced an effect truly worthy of remark :
namely, that it was scarcely swallowed, when
it excited an inclination to urine anew. We
also tried to quench our thirst by drink-
ing sea-water. Mr. Griffon, the governor's
secretary, used it continually, he drank ten
or twelve glasses in succession. But all
these means only diminished our thirst to
render it more severe a moment afterwards.
An officer of the army, found by chance,
a little lemon, and it may be imagined how
valuable this fruit must be to him ; he, in
fact, reserved it entirely for himself; his
comrades, notwithstanding the most pressing
entreaties, could not obtain any of it; al-
ready emotions of rage were rising in every
heart, and if he had not partly yielded to
those who surrounded him, they would cer-
tainly have taken it from him by force, and
he would have perished, the victim of his
selfishness. We also disputed for about
thirty cloves of garlic, which had been found
accidentally in a little bag: all these dis-
putes were generally accompanied with
violent threats, and if they had been pro-
tracted we should, perhaps, have come to
the last extremities.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 129

We had found, also, two little phials
which contained a spirituous liquor to clean
the teeth ; he who possessed them, kept them
carefully, and made many difficulties to give
one or two drops of this liquid in the hollow
of the hand. This liquor, which we be-
lieve was an essence of guiacum, cinnamon,
cloves, and other aromatic substances, pro-
duced on our tongues a delightful sensation,
and removed for a few moments the thirst
which consumed us, Some of us found
pieces of pewter, which, being put into the
mouth produced a kind of coolness.

One of the means generally employed,
was to put some sea-water into a hat, with
which we washed our faces for some time, re-
curring to it at intervals ; we also moistened
our hair with it, and held our hands plunged
in the water.* Misfortune rendered us in-
genious, and every one thought of a thou-
sand means to alleviate his sufferings ; ex-
tenuated by the most cruel privations, the
smallest agreeable sensation was to us a

* Persons shipwrecked, in a situation similar to ours,
have found great relief by dipping their clothes in the sea?
and wearing them thus impregnated with the water ;
measure was not employed on the fatal raft.

K

130 NARRATIVE OF A

supreme happiness ; thus we eagerly sought
a little empty phial, which one of us pos-
sessed, and which had formerly contained
essence of roses : as soon as \ve could get
hold of it we inhaled, with delight, the
perfume which issued from it, and which
communicated to our senses the most sooth-
ing impressions. Some of us reserved our
portion of wine in little tin cups, and sucked
up the wine with a quill ; this manner of
taking it was very beneficial to us, and
quenched our thirst much more than if we
had drunk it off at once. Even the smell
of this liquor was extremely agreeable to
us. Mr. Savigny observed that many of us,
after having taken their small portion, fell
into a state approaching to intoxication, and
that there was always more discord among
us after the distribution had been made.

The following is one instance, among
many, which we could adduce. The tenth
day of our being on the raft, after a distri-
bution of wine, Messrs. Clairet, Coudin,
Chariot, and one or two of our sailors, con-
ceived the strange idea of destroying them-
selves, first intoxicating themselves with
what remained in our barrel. In vain

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 131

Captain Dupont, seconded by Messrs. La-
villette, Savigny, Lheureux, and all the
others, opposed their purpose by urgent
remonstrances, and by all the firmness of
which they were capable — their disordered
brains persisted in the mad idea which
governed them, and a new combat was on
the point of commencing; however, after
infinite trouble, we were beginning to bring-
back Messrs. Clairet and Coudin to the use
of their reason ; or rather he who watched
over us dispelled this fatal quarrel, by turn-
ing our attention to the new danger which
threatened us, at the moment when cruel dis-
cord was, perhaps, about to break out among
wretches already a prey to so many other
evils — it was a number of sharks which came
and surrounded our raft. They approached
so near, that we were able to strike them
with our sabre, but we could not subdue
one of them, notwithstanding the good-
ness of the weapon we possessed, and the
ardour with which the brave Lavillette made
use of it. The blows which he struck these
monsters, made them replunge into the sea;
but a few seconds after, they re-appeared
upon the surface, and did not seem at

K 2

132 NARRATIVE OF A

all alarmed at our presence. Their backs
rose about 30 centimetres above the water:
several of them appeared to us to be at least
10 metres in length.

Three days passed in inexpressible an-
guish ; we despised life to such a degree
that many of us did riot fear to bathe in
sight of the sharks which surrounded our
raft; others placed themselves naked on the
front part of our machine which was still
submerged : these means diminished, a lit-
tle, their burning thirst. A kind of polypus
(mollusques),* known by seamen under the
name of galeve, was frequently driven in
great numbers on our raft, and when their
long arms clung to our naked bodies, they
caused us the most cruel sufferings. Will
it be believed, that amidst these dreadful
scenes, struggling with inevitable death,
some of us indulged in pleasantries which
excited a smile, notwithstanding the horror
of our situation ? One, among others said,
joking, " If the brig is sent to look for us,
" let us pray to God that she may have the
" eyes of A rgus" alluding to the name of

* Perhaps a kind of sea-nettle is here meant.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 133

the vessel, which we presumed would be
sent after us. This consolatory idea did not
quit us an instant, and we spoke of it fre-
quently.

During the day of the 16th, reckoning
ourselves to be very near land, eight of the
most determined of us, resolved to try to
reach the coast : we unfastened a strong fish
of a mast,* which made part of the little
parapet of which we have spoken, we fixed
boards to it at intervals, transversely, by
means of great nails, to hinder it from up-
setting ; a little mast and sail were fixed
in the front ; we intended to provide our-
selves with oars made of barrel staves, cut
out with the only sabre we had remain-
ing: we cut pieces of rope, we split them,
and made smaller ropes, that were more
easy to manage : a hammock cloth, which
was by chance on the raft, served for a sail;
the dimensions of which, might be about
130 centimetres in breadth and 160 in length:
the transverse diameter of the fish was 60
or 70 centimetres, and its length about 12
metres. A certain portion of wine was

* What is called a fish, is a long piece of wood con-
cave on one side, serving to be applied to the side of a

134 NARRAllVfc 01 A

assigned to us, and our departure fixed for
the next day, thr? J7th, When our machine
was finished, it remained to make a trial of
it: a sailor wanting to pass from the front
to the back of it, finding the mast in his
way, set his foot on one of the cross boards;
the weight ot his body made it upset, and
this accident proved to us the temerity of
our enterprise. It was then resolved that we
should allawaitdeathinourpresent situation:
the cable which fastened the machine to our
raft, was made loose, and it drifted away.
It is very certain that if we had ventured
upon this second raft, weak as we were, we
should not have been able to hold out six
hours, with our legs in the water, and thus
obliged continually to row.

Mean time the night came, and its
gloomy shades revived in our minds the
most afflicting thoughts; we were convinced
that there were not above twelve or fifteen
bottles of wine left in our barrel. We began
to ftel an invincible disgust at the flesh
which had till then, scarcely supported us;
and we may say that the sight of it inspired

mast, to strengthen it when in danger of breaking, it is
fastened by strong ropes ; hence, te fish a mast.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 135

us with a sentiment of terror, which was
doubtless produced by the idea of approach-
ing destruction.

On the 17th, in the morning, the sun
appeared entirely free from clouds; after
having put up our prayers to the Almighty,
we divided among us, a part of our wine;
every one was taking with delight his small
portion, when a captain of infantry looking
towards the horizon, descried a ship, and
announced it to us by an exclamation of joy :
we perceived that it was a brig; but it was
at a very great distance ; we could distin-
guish only the tops of the masts. The sight
of this vessel excited in us a transport of
joy which it would be difficult to describe ;
each of us believed his deliverance certain,
and we gave a thousand thanks to God ;
yet, fears mingled with our hopes : we
straitened some hoops of casks, to the end
of which we tied handkerchiefs of different
colours. A man, assisted by us all together,
mounted to the top of the mast and waved
these little flags.

For above half an hour, we were sus^
pended between hope and fear; some thought

136 NARRATIVE OF A

they saw the ship become larger, and others
affirmed that its course carried it from us :
these latter were the only ones whose eyes
were not fascinated by hope, for the brig
disappeared. From the delirium of joy, we
fell into profound despondency and grief;
we envied the fate of those whom we had
seen perish at our side, and we said to our-
selves, when we shall be destitute of every
thing, and our strength begins to forsake
us, we will wrap ourselves up as well as we
can, we will lay ourselves down on this
platform, the scene of so many sufferings,
and there we will await death with resig-
nation. At last, to calm our despair, we
wished to seek some consolation in the arms
of sleep ; the day before we had been con-
sumed by the fire of a burning sun ; this
day, to avoid the fierceness of his beams, we
made a tent with the sails of the frigate :
as soon as it was put up, we all lay down
under it, so that we could not perceive what
was passing around us. We then proposed
to inscribe upon a board an account of our
adventures, to write all our names at the
bottom of the narrative, and to fasten it to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. , 13?

the upper part of the mast, in the hope that
it would reach the government and our fa-
milies.

After we had passed two hours, ab-
sorbed in the most cruel reflections, the
master gunner of the frigate wishing to go
10 the front of the raft, went out of our tent ;
scarcely had he put his head out, when he
turned towards us, uttering a loud cry ; joy
was painted on his countenance, his hands
were stretched towards the sea, he scarce-
ly breathed : all that he could say, was,
" Saved! see the brig close upon us." And
in fact, it was, at the most, half a league
distant, carrying a press of sail, and steering
so as to come extremely close to us; we
precipitately left the tent : even those whom
enormous wounds, in the lower extremities,
had confined for some days past, always to
lie down, crawled to the back part of the
raft, to enjoy the sight of this vessel, which
was coming to deliver us from certain death.
\Ve all embraced each other with transports
that looked like delirium, and tears of joy
rolled down our cheeks, shrunk by the most
cruel privations. Every one seized hand-
kerchiefs, or pieces of linen to make signals

138 NARRATIVE O* A

to the brig, which was approaching rapid-
ly. Others prostrating themselves, fervently
thanked Providence for our miraculous pre-
servation. Our joy redoubled when we per-
ceived a great white flag at the foremast head,
and we exclaimed " It is then to French-
'* men that we shall owe our deliverance. "We
almost immediately recognised the brig to
be the Argus: it was then within two mus-
ket shot : we were extremely impatient to
see her clue up her sails; she lowered them
at length, and fresh cries of joy rose from
our raft. The Argus came and lay-to on
our starboard, within half a pistol shot.
The crew, ranged on the deck and in the
shrouds, shewed, by waving their hats and
handkerchiefs, the pleasure they felt at
coming to the assistance of their unhappy
countrymen . A boat was immediately hoisted
out ; an officer belonging to the brig, whose
name was Mr. Lemaigre, had embarked in
it, in order to have the pleasure of taking
us himself from this fatal machine. This
officer, full of humanity and zeal, acquitted
himself of his mission in the kindest man-
ner, and took himself, those that were the
weakest, to convey them into the boat. Af-

VOYAGE IO Sr.MXrAL. 139

ler all the others were placed in it, Mr. Le-
niaigre came and took in his arms Mr. Cor-
reard, whose health was the worst, and who
was the most excoriated : he placed him at
his side in the boat, bestowed on him all
imaginable cares, and spoke to him in the
most consoling terms.

In a short time we were all removed on
board the Argus, where we met with the
lieutenant of the frigate, and some others of
those who had been shipwrecked. Pity was
painted on every face, and compassion drew
tears from all who cast their eyes on us.

Let the reader imagine fifteen unfor-
tunate men, almost naked; their bodies and
faces disfigured by the scorching beams of
the sun ; ten of the fifteen were hardly able
1o move; our limbs were excoriated, our
sufferings were deeply imprinted on our
features, our eyes were hollow, and almost
wild, and our long beards rendered our ap-
pearance still more frightful ; we were but
the shadows of ourselves. We found on
board the brig some very good broth, which
had been got ready ; as soon as they per-
ceived us, they added some excellent wine
to it; thus they restored our almost ex-

140 NARRATIVE OF A

liausted strength ; they bestowed on us
the most generous care and attention ; our
wounds were dressed, and the next day
several of our sick began to recover ; how-
ever, some of us had a great deal to suffer;
for they were placed between decks, very
near the kitchen, which augmented the al-
most insupportable heat of these countries;
the want of room in a small vessel, was the
cause of this inconvenience. The number
of the shipwrecked was indeed too great.
Those who did not belong to the marine,
were laid upon cables, wrapped in some
flags, and placed under the kitchen fire,
which exposed them to perish in the night ;
fire having broken out between decks, about
ten o'clock, which had like to have re-
duced the vessel to ashes ; but timely as-
sistance wras afforded, and we were saved for
the second time. We had scarcely escaped
when some of us again become delirious :
an officer of the army wanted to throw him-
self into the sea, to go and look for his
pocket book ; which he would have done
had he not been prevented; others were
seized in a manner equally striking.

The commander and officers of the brig

VOYAGE TO SLNhGAL. 141

were eager to serve us, and kindly anticipated
our wants. They had just snatched ns from
death, by rescuing us from our raft ; their
reiterated care rekindled in us the flame of
life. Mr. Renaud, the surgeon, distinguished
himself by indefatigable zeal ; he passed
the whole day in dressing our wounds ;
and during the two days that we remained
on board the brig, he exerted all the re-
sources of his art, with a degree of attention
and gentleness which merit our eternal gra-
titude.

It was, in truth, time that our suf-
ferings should have an end : they had
already lasted thirteen days ; the strongest
among us might, at the most, have lived
forty- eight hours more. Mr. Correard,
felt that he must die in the course of the
day; yet he had a foreboding that we
should be saved; he said that a series of
events so extraordinary was not destined to
be buried in oblivion : that providence would
preserve some of us at least, to present to
mankind the affecting picture of our unhap-
py adventures.

Through how many terrible trials have
we past ! Where are the men who can say

142 NARRATIVE OF A

that they have been more unfortunate than
we have ?

The manner in which we wrere saved is
truly miraculous: the finger of heaven is
conspicuous in this event.

The Argus had been dispatched, from
Senegal, to assist the shipwrecked people
belonging to the boats, and to look for the
raft; for several days it sailed along the
coast without meeting us, and gave pro-
visions to the people from the boats who
were crossing the great desert of Zaara ;
the captain, thinking that it would be use-
less to look for our raft any longer, steered
his course towards the harbour from which
he had been dispatched, in order to an-
nounce that his search had been fruitless ; it
was when he was running towards Sene-
gal that wre perceived him. In the morn-
ing he was not above forty leagues from the
mouth of the river, when the wind veered
to the South West; the captain, as by a
kind of inspiration, said that they ought
to go about, the winds blew towards the
frigate ; after they had run two hours on
this tack, the man at the mast head, an-
nounced a vessel : when the brig was nearer

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 143

to vis, by the aid of glasses, they perceived
that it was our raft. When we were taken
up by the Argus, we asked this question :
Gentlemen have you been long looking for
us ? We were answered yes; but that, how-
ever, the captain had not received any posi-
tive orders on the subject; and that we were
indebted to chance alone, for the good for-
tune of having been met with. We repeat
with pleasure the expression of Mr. Parna-
jon, addressed to one of us. " If they were
" to give me the rank of captain of a fri-
"• gate, I should feel a less lively pleasure,
" than that which I experienced when I
" met your raft." Some persons said to us
without reserve, <c We thought you were all
<c dead a week ago." We say that the
commander of the brig had not received
positive orders to look for us. The following
were his instructions : " Mr. de Parnajon,
" commanding the brig Argus, will proceed
" to the side of the desert with his vessel,
" will employ every means to assist the
" shipwrecked persons, who must have
" reached the coast ; and will supply them
" with such provisions and ammunition as
<c they may want; after having assured him-

146 NAUiiATlVC Ol A

The governor having been apprised of our
arrival, sent a large-decked vessel to convey
us ashore. This vessel also brought us wine
and some refreshments; the master, thinking
the tide sufficiently high to enable him to
pass the bar of sand, which lies at the
mouth of the river, resolved to land us at
once upon the island. Those who were the
most feeble among us, were placed below
deck, together with a few of the least skilful
of the negroes, who composed the crew, and
the hatches closed upon us, to prevent the sea
from coming in between decks, while the
dangers occasioned by the surf running over
the bar, was passed. The wretched condition
to which we were reduced, was such as to
awaken a feeling of sympathy, even among
the blacks, who shed tears of compassion
for our misfortunes ; during this time, the
most profound silence reigned on board; the
voice of the master alone was heard ; as
soon as we were out of danger, the negroes
recommenced their songs, which did not
cease till we arrived at St. Louis,

We were received in the most bril-
liant manner ; the governor, several officers,
both English and French, came to meet us,
and one of the officers in this numerous train,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 145

St. Louis, where we cast anchor on the 19th
of July, about three o'clock in the afternoon.

Such is the faithful history of one hun-
dred and fifty persons, who were left upon
the raft ; only fifteen of whom were saved ;
and five of that number were so reduced, that
they died of fatigue, shortly after arriving at
St. Louis ; those who still exist are covered
with scars, and the cruel sufferings which
they have endured have greatly impaired
their constitution.

In terminating this recital of the unpa-
ralelled sufferings, to which we were a prey
for thirteen days, we beg leave to name those
who shared them with us :

Alice when we were saved. Notice of tJieir subse-
Messrs. quent fate.

Dupont, Captain of Foot; In Senegal.

L'Heureux, Lieutenant; In Senegal.

Lozach, Sub-Lieutenant ; Dead.

Clairet, Sub- Lieutenant; Dead.

0Utofemp,oyraen,.
Coudin, eleve de marine; Midshipman.

Courtade, Master Gunner; Dead.

Lavillette, In France.

Coste, Sailor ; In France.

Thomas, Pilot; In France.

Fran 9018, Hospital Keeper; In the Indies.

Jean Charles, black Soldier ; Dead.

With°Ut
Savigny, Surgeon, Resigned.

146 NAUiJATlVK Ol A

The governor having been apprised of our
arrival, sent a large-decked vessel to convey
us ashore. This vessel also brought us wine
and some refreshments; the master, thinking
the tide sufficiently high to enable him to
pass the bar of sand, which lies at the
mouth of the river, resolved to land us at
once upon the island. Those who were the
most feeble among us, were placed below
deck, together with a few of the least skilful
of the negroes, who composed the crew, and
the hatches closed upon us, to prevent the sea
from coming in between decks, while the
dangers occasioned by the surf running over
the bar, was passed. The wretched condition
to which we were reduced, was such as to
awaken a feeling of sympathy, even among
the blacks, who shed tears of compassion
for our misfortunes ; during this time, the
most profound silence reigned on board; the
voice of the master alone was heard ; as
soon as we were out of danger, the negroes
recommenced their songs, which did not
cease till we arrived at St. Louis.

We were received in the most bril-
liant manner ; the governor, several officers,
both English and French, came to meet us,
and one of the officers in this numerous train,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 147

held out to us a hand, which a fortnight
before, had, as it were, plunged us in the
depth of despair by loosening the tow-rope
which made our raft fast to the boat. But
such is the effect produced by the sight
of wretches who have just been miracu-
lously delivered, that there was not a single
person, either English or French, who did
not shed tears of compassion on seeing the
deplorable condition to which we were re-
duced; all seemed truly affected by our
distress, and by the intrepidity which we had
shewn on the raft. Yet we could not con-
tain our indignation, at the sight of some
persons in this train.

Some of us were received by two French
merchants, who bestowed on us every atten-
tion, and rendered every assistance in their
power. Messrs. Valentin and Lasalle stimu-
lated by that natural impulse which incites
man to assist a fellow creature in distress,
is, on that account, entitled to the highest
praise. We are extremely sorry to say that
they were the only colonists who gave assis-
tance to the shipwrecked people belonging
to the raft.

L 2

148 NARRATIVE OF A

Before we proceed to the second part
of our work, in which we shall include the
history of the Camp of Daccard and of the
unfortunate persons shipwrecked in the Me-
dusa, who remained in the hospitals of St.
Louis, let us cast our eyes back, and examine
what were the operations of the boats after
the tow-lines had been loosened, and the
raft abandoned.

The long-boat was the last which we
lost sight of. It descried the land and the
Isles of Arguin, the same evening before
sun-set : the other boats must, therefore, ne-
cessarily have seen it some time before,
which proves, we think, that when we were
abandoned, we were at a very small distance
from the coast. Two boats succeeded in
reaching Senegal without accident; they
were those in which were the governor
and the commander of the frigate. During
the bad weather, which forced the other
boats to make the land, these two had a
great deal of difficulty to resist a heavy sea
and an extremely high wind. Two young
.seamen gave proofs of courage and coolness
iu these critical moments, in the bar^e.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 149

Mr. Barbotin, eleve of the marine: and in
the captain's barge, Mr. Rang,* also an
eleve of the marine, as deserving of praise
for his knowledge, as for the courage he dis-
played on this occasion ; both of them, as
long as the bad weather lasted, remained
at the helm, and guided the boats. One
Thomas, steersman, and one Lange, the
boatswain's mate, also shewed great cou-
rage, and all the experience of old seamen.
These two boats, reached the Echo corvette,
on the 9th, at 10 o'clock in the evening,
which had been at anchor for some days, in
the road of St. Louis. A council was held,
and the most prompt and certain measures
adopted to assist those who were left on board
the boats and the raft.

* The conduct of this young man merits some recom-
pense, f At the end of 1816, there was a promotion of
80 midshipmen, who were to be taken from the ettves
who had been the longest in the service; Mr. Rang
was amongst the first 70, according to the years he had
been in the service, and should therefore have been
named by right. In fact, it is said that he was placed on
the list of Candidates ; but that his name was struck out
because some young men, (whom they call proteges) ap-
plied to the ministry, and were preferred.

150 NARRATIVE OF A

The Argus brig was appointed tor this
mission. The commander of this vessel,
burning with eagerness to fly to the assis-
tance of his unfortunate countrymen, wanted
to set sail that very moment; but causes,
respecting which we shall be silent, fettered
his zeal ; however, this distinguished officer
executed the orders which he received with
uncommon activity.

Let us return to the history of the four
other boats; and first, that of the princi-
pal, which was the long-boat. As soon as
it descried the land, it tacked and stood out
in the open sea ; because it was on the shal-
lows, and it would have been imprudent to
pass the night in one metre, or one metre 30
centimetres of water; it had already grounded
two or three times. On the 6th, about four
o'clock in the morning, finding itself too
far from the coast, aud the sea very hollow,
it tacked, and in a few hours saw the coast
for the second time. At eight o'clock, they
were extremely near, and the men ardently
desiring to get on shore, sixty-three of the
most resolute were landed ; arms were given
them, and as much biscuit as could be
spared ; they set out in search of Senegal,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 151

following the sea-coast. This landing was
effected to the North of Cape Meric, eighty or
ninety leagues from the Isle of St. Louis. (17)
This vessel then stood out to sea. We will
leave, for the present, these sixty-three poor
people who have been landed on the sands
of Cape Meric ; and shall return to them in
the sequel.

We will now proceed to describe the mo-
tions and fate of the other vessels. At noon,
after having proceeded some miles, the long-
boat saw the other vessels, and endeavoured
to fall in with them ; but every one dis-
trusted the other : the long-boat did its
utmost to rally them ; but they employed
all the means they could to avoid the meet-
ing; even the officers assisted in working
them, because some persons had asserted
that the crew of the long-boat had muti-
nied, and had even threatened to fire on the

other boats.* The long-boat, on the other

_ ; _ :

* This report of a mutiny, among the crew of the
long-boat, began to circulate as soon as it joined the line
which the boats formed before the raft. The following is
what was told us: when the boats had abandoned the raft,
several men, in the long-boat, subaltern officers of the
troops on board, exclaimed : " let us fire on those who fly;"

152 NARRATIVE Ol A

hand, which had just landed a part of its
people, advanced to inform the other boats
that it was able to relieve them, incase they
were too much loaded. The captain's boat
and the pirogue, were the only ones that came
within hail : at five o'clock in the afternoon
the sea became hollow, and the wind very
high, when the pirogue, unable to hold out
against it, asked the assistance of the long-
boat, which tacked and took on board the
fifteen persons which that frail boat con-
tained. At two o'clock in the afternoon, of
the 8th, (18) the men, tormented by a burning
thirst, and a violent hunger which they
could not appease, obliged the officer, by
their reiterated importunities, to make the
land, which was done the same evening.
His intention was to proceed to Senegal :
he would doubtless have succeeded; but
the cries of the soldiers and sailors, who
murmured loudly, induced the measure

already their muskets were loaded ; but the officer, who
commanded, had influence enough to hinder them from
executing their purpose. We have also been told that
one F. a quarter-master, presented his piece at the captain
of the frigate. This is all we have been able to collect
concerning this pretended revolt.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 153

that was taken, and the crew landed about
forty leagues from the Island of St. Louis.
The great-boat, which had approached very
near the coast, and had not been able to
resist the violence of the weather, being
besides, destitute of provisions, had also
been obliged to make the land on the 8tb:
the first, at five in the afternoon ; the
second, at eleven in the morning. The
officers joined their crews, ranged them
in order, and proceeded towards Senegal;
but they were in distress, destitute of re-
sources of every kind : without a guide, on
a coast inhabited by barbarians : hunger
and thirst cruelly tormented them ; the
beams of a scorching sun, reflected from
the immense sandy plains, aggravated their
sufferings. In the day, oppressed by ex-
oessive heat, they could scarcely move a
step: it was only in the cool of the morning
and the evening, that they could pursue
their painful march. Having, after infi-
nite pains, crossed the downs, they met
with vast plains, where they had the good
fortune to find water, by digging holes in
the sand : this refreshing beverage gave them
fresh life and hope.

J54 NARRATIVE 01 A

This manner of procuring water is
mentioned by many travellers, and practised
in various countries. All along the coasts
of Senegambia, and for some distance in
land, they find, by digging in the sand to
the depth of five or six feet^ a white and
brackish water, which is exclusively used in
these countries, both for the ordinary beve-
rage and domestic purposes ; the water of
the Senegal, may, however, be used at St.
Louis at the time of the rise or inunda-
tion

The Moors have signs, which they have
agreed upon among themselves, to inform
each other at a distance when they have
found water. As the sands of the desert
lie in undulations, and the surface of these
plains has the appearance of a sea, broken
in large waves, which, by some sudden en-
chantment, had been fixed and suspended
before they could fall back ; it is on the
ridges of these motionless waves, that the
Moors in general travel, unless they run in
a direction too different from that of their
intended route, in which case they are
obliged to traverse them ; but besides, as
these ridges themselves arc not always

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 155

ranged parallel to each other, but frequent-
ly cross each other, the Moors always have
some of their party before, to serve as guides,
and to point out, by signs with their hands,
at every crossing, on which side they ought
to go ; and also every thing which prudence
requires they should know before hand, as
well as the water, or rather the moisture
and verdure which are to be perceived. In
general, these people who approach the sea-
coast during the winds and hurricanes of
the summer solstice, rarely keep on the
breach properly so called, because they and
their cattle are too much tormented by my-
riads of flies which never quit the sea-coast.
In this same season the appearance of the
gnats, or mosquitoes, induces them to remove
from the Senegal, for their cattle being in-
cessantly stung by these animals, become
mad and sick.

Our people met with some of these
Moors, and in some measure forced them to
serve as guides; after continuing their march
along the sea-coast, they perceived on the
morning of the llth, the Argus brig, which
was cruising to assist those who had landed ;
as soon as the brig perceived them, it ap-

156 NARRATIVE OI A

proached very near to the coast, lay-to, and
sent a boat on shore with biscuit and
wine.

On the llth, in the evening, they met
with more of the natives, and an Irish cap-
tain of a merchant ship, who, of his own
accord, had come from St. Louis with the
intention of assisting the sufferers : he spoke
the language of the country, and had put
on the same dress as the Moors. We are
sorry that we cannot recollect the name of
this foreign officer, which we should take
particular pleasure in publishing ; but since
time has effaced it from our memory, we will
at least publish his zeal and noble efforts,
which are an unquestionable title to the
gratitude of every man of feeling. At last,
after the most cruel sufferings and priva-
tions, the unfortunate men who composed
the crews of the great-boat, and of that
which we called the Senegal boat, twenty-
five men from the long-boat, and fifteen
persons from the pirogue, arrived at Saint
Louis, on the 13th of July, at seven o'clock
in the evening, after having wandered above
five whole days, in the midst of these fright-
ful deserts, which on all sides presented to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 157

their eyes only the most profound solitude,
and the prospect of inevitable destruction.

During their progress, they had to strug-
gle with the most dreadful extremes of hun-
ger and thirst; the latter was such, that
the first time that several of them discovered
water in the desert, such selfishness was
manifested that those who had found these
beneficent springs, knelt down four or five
together, near the hole which they had just
dug, and there, with their eyes fixed on
the water, made signs to their comrades
not to approach them ; that they had found
the springs, and that they alone had a
right to drink at them ; it was not till af-
ter the most urgent supplications that they
granted a little water to their wretched com-
panions, who were consumed by a raging
thirst. When they met with any Moors,
they obtained some assistance from them ;
but these barbarians carried their inhuma-
nity so far as to refuse to shew them the
springs which are scattered along the shore:
sordid avarice made them act in this mari-
ner to these unhappy people ; for when the
latter had passed a well, the Moors drew
water from it, which they sold to them at

J5S NARRATIVE 01 A

a gourd for a glass; they exacted the same
price for a small handful of millet. When
the brig approached the coast, to assist these
unfortunate men, a great many of the na-
tives of the country immediately crowned
the heights ; their number was so great,
that it caused some fear in the French,
who immediately formed, in order of battle,
under the command of a captain of infantry.
Two officers went to ask the chiefs of the
Moors what were their intentions ? whether
they desired peace or war? They gave the
officers to understand that far from wishing
to act as enemies, they were willing to
afford the shipwrecked people all the assis-
tance in their power ; but these barbarians
shewed, on all occasions, a perfidiousness
which is peculiar to the inhabitants of these
climates; when the brig had sent biscuit
on shore, they seized the half of it, and a
few moments after, sold it at an exorbitant
price, to those from whom they had stolen
it. If they met with any soldiers or sailors
who had had the imprudence to stray from
the main body, they stripped them entirely,
and then ill treated them; it was only num-
bers united, which, inspiring them with fear.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 1.59

that did not receive any insult from them ;
besides, there exists between the chiefs of
these tribes and the government of the Isle
of St. Louis, a treaty, in which it is stipu-
lated that a large reward shall be given to
the Moors, who meet in the desert with per-
sons that have been shipwrecked, and bring
them to the European factory : these barba-
rians were therefore induced by their in-
terest, and if they brought back those who
went astray, it was only in hope of obtaining
a reward.

The women and young children in-
spired the greatest pity. These feeble beings
could not put their delicate feet on the
burning sands, and were besides incapable
of walking for any length of time. The
officers themselves assisted the children, and
carried them in turn: their example in-
duced others to imitate them; but having
met with some Moors, who never travel in
these deserts without having their camels
and their asses with them, all that were
not able to walk, mounted these animals:
to obtain this indulgence, it was necessary
to pay two gourds for a day ; so that it was
impossible for Mr.Picard, who had a nume-

160 NARRATIVE OF A

rous family, to bear so great an expence ;
his respectable young ladies were therefore
obliged to walk.

One day at noon, which was the hour
for halting, the eldest of these young ladies,
exhausted with fatigue, withdrew to a soli-
tary place to take some moments rest. She
fell asleep upon the beach ; to guard her-
self from the musquitoes, she had covered
her breast and face with a large shawl.
While every body was sleeping, one of the
Moors who served as guides, either from
curiosity, or some other motive, approached
her softly, attentively examined her ap-
pearance, and not content with this, lift-
ing up the shawl, looked at her with fixed
eyes, remained for a few moments like one
profoundly astonished, approached her then
very near, but did not venture to touch her.
After having looked at her for some time,
he let fall the veil, and returned to his
place, where he joyfully related to his com-
rades what he had just seen . Several French-
men who had perceived the Moor, informed
Mr. Picard. who resolved, on the obliging
offers of the officers, to dress these ladies in
a military dress, which, for the future, pre-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 101

vented all attempts of the inhabitants of the
desert.

Before they arrived at the Senegal, the
Irish officer, of whom we have already
spoken, bought an ox : it was immediately
killed ; they collected such combustibles as
they could find, and \yhen the animal was
divided into as many portions as there were
persons, each fixed his portion to the end
of his sabre or bayonet, and thus they pre-
pared a repast which they found delicious.

During the whole time they remained in
the desert, biscuit, wine and brandy, in very
small quantities, had been their principal
nourishment ; sometimes they procured by
money, from the Moors, milk and millet;
but what most distressed them was, that in
the midst of these sandy plains, it was ab-
solutely impossible for them to shelter them-
selves from the rays of a burning sun, which
inflames the atmosphere of these desert
regions. Scorched by insupportable heat,
almost destitute of the first necessaries of
life, some of them partly lost their senses; a
spirit of mutiny even shewed itself for some
moments, and two officers, whose conduct
is, however, irreproachable, were marked as

M

162 NARRATIVE OF \

the first victims : happily they did not pro-
ceed to open violence. Many of those who
crossed the desert, have assured us that there
were moments when they were quite beside
themselves.

An officer of the army in particular,
gave signs of the most violent despair ; he
rolled himself in the sand, begging his com-
rades to kill him, because he could no longer
bear up against so many sufferings. They
succeeded in calming him; he arrived at
St. Louis with the caravan. (20)

The sixty-three who embarked near the
Moles of Angel, had a longer series of fa-
tigue to endure : they had to go between
eighty and ninety leagues, in the immense
desert of Zaara. After their landing, they
had to cross downs that were extremely
elevated, in order to reach the plain, in
which they had the good fortune to meet
with a vast pond of fresh water, where they
quenched their thirst, and near which they
lay down to rest. Having met with some
Moors, they took them for guides, and after
long marches, and the most cruel privations,
they arrived at the Senegal, on the 23d of
July, in the evening. Some of them perished

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 163

for want : among this number was an un-
happy gardener, and the wife of a soldier:
this poor woman, exhausted with fatigue,
told her husband to abandon her, for, that
it was impossible for her to proceed ; the
soldier in despair, said to her in a rage :
" well, since you cannot walk, to hinder
" you from being devoured alive by wild
" beasts, or carried into captivity among
" the Moors, I will run you through the
" body with my sabre ;" he did not execute
this threat, which he had probably con-
ceived in a moment of despair; but the
poor woman fell, and died under the most
cruel sufferings.

Some persons having strayed from the
main body, were taken by the natives of the
country, and carried into the camp of the
Moors ; an officer remained above a month
with them, and was afterwards brought to
the Isle of St. Louis. The naturalist, Kum-
mer, and Mr. Rogery, having separated
from the troops, were forced to wander from
one horde to another, and were at last con-
ducted to Senegal. Their story, which we
are now going to give, will complete the
narrative of the adventures of our ship-

M 2

164 NARRATIVE OF A

wrecked companions who traversed the de-
sarti

After the stranding of the long-boat,
Mr. Rummer quitted the caravan, formed
by the persons wrecked, and proceeded in
an easterly direction, in the hope of meeting
with some Moors, who would give him
food, to appease the hunger and thirst which
he had endured for two days. Shortly after
his departure, Mr. Rogery took the same
resolution as our naturalist, and followed a
route parallel to that taken by Mr. Rummer.
This latter walked the whole day without
meeting with any body ; towards the even-
ing he perceived, at a distance, some fires on
the heights which generally lie round the
ponds. This sight filled him with joy, and
with hopes of meeting, at length, with some
Moors who would conduct him to the Isle
of St. Louis, and give him food of which
he was much in need ; he advanced with a
firm and rapid step/ went up to the Moors,
who were under their tents, with much as-
surance, pronouncing as well as he could, a
few words in Arabic, in wrhich language he had
taken some lessons while in France, and which
he accompanied with profound salutations :

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 165

" Receive/' said he, " in your tents, the
C£ son of an unfortunate Mahometan woman,
" whom I am going to join in Upper Egypt;
4£ a shipwreck has thrown me on your coast,
" and I come in the name of the great
" prophet, to ask you for hospitality and
" assistance." At the name of the great
prophet, Mr. Kummer bowed his face to the
earth, and made the customary salutation :
the Moors did the same, and doubted not
but that they saw, before them, a follower
of Mahomet.

They received him with joy, asked him
to enter their tents, and to give a short
account of his adventures. Milk, and flour
of millet, were given him, and this food
revived his strength. Then the Moors made
him promise to conduct them to the place
where the long-boat had stranded; they
hoped to get possessions of the numerous ef-
fects, which they supposed the persons ship-
wrecked to have abandoned on the shore.
Having made this promise, Mr. Kummer
went to examine the tents, and the flocks
of the chief of this tribe who conducted
him himself, and boasted of his wealth and
his dignity : he told him that he was the

166 NARRATIVE OF A

Prince Fune Fahdime Muhammed, son of
Liralie Zaide, King of the Moors, called
Trazas, and that, when he returned from the
sea coast, he would take him to the King,
his father, and that he would see there, his
numerous slaves, and his innumerable flocks.
While they were walking about the camp,
Prince Muhammed perceived that Mr.Kum-
mer had a watch : he desired to see it ; of
course, he could not refuse to shew it ; the
prince took it, and told Mr. Kummer that
he would return it him when they should
arrive at Andar, which promise he punc-
tually performed. They arrived at last at
the head of the flock, and our naturalist
was astonished at the extraordinary care
which these people take of their beasts.
The horses and camels were in a separate
place, and the whole flock was on the bor-
der of a large salt pond ; behind them, the
slaves had formed a line of fires of great
extent, to drive away the mosquitoes and
other insects, which torment these animals :
they were all remakably beautiful. While
traversing, with the chief, the various quarters
of the camp, Mr. Kummer beheld with sur-
prise, their manner of cleaning their beasts.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 107

Upon an order of the Prince, the men,
charged with this employment, take the
strongest oxen by the horns, and throw
them down on the sand with astonishing
ease ; the slaves then take the animal, and
clear its whole body from the insects, which,
notwithstanding the fires that surround the
flocks, get among the hair of the cattle,
which they torment cruelly. After this first
operation, they are washed with care, par-
ticularly the cows, which are then milked.
These various operations generally employ
the slaves, and even the masters, till eleven
o'clock at night. Mr. Kummer was after-
wards invited to repose in the Prince's tent ;
but before he could go to sleep, he was
assailed with a multitude of questions. The
history of the French Revolution has pene-
trated to these people; and they put ques-
tions to our naturalist which surprised him
much ; they afterwards asked him why our
vessels no longer came to Portendick and
the Isles of Arguin ; after this, they allowed
him to take a few moments' repose; but
the poor Toubabe, (the name which the
Moors give to the whites) did not dare to
indulge himself in sleep; he feared the per-

168 NARRATIVE OF A

fidy of the Moors, and their rapacious spirit;
however, exhausted by three days incessant
fatigue, he fell asleep for a few moments ;
he had but a very disturbed slumber;
during which, the barbarians took away his
purse, which still contained thirty pieces of
20 francs each, his cravat, pocket handker-
chief, great-coat, shoes, waistcoat, and some
other things which he carried in his pockets:
he had nothing left but a bad pair of pan-
taloons and a hunting jacket; his shoes were,
however, returned to him.

The next morning, at sun-rise, the
Moors made their salam, (a Mahometan
prayer): then about eight o'clock, the Prince,
four of his subjects, Mr. Kummer, and a
slave, set out for the sea-coast, in order to
look for the wreck of the long-boat. They
proceeded first towards the South, then to
the West, then to the North, which made
Mr. Kummer imagine that they were con-
ducting him to Morocco. The Moors have
no other method of finding their way, than
to go from one eminence to another, which
obliges them to take all sorts of directions ;
after they had proceeded five or six leagues
to the East, they again turned to the West,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 169

then to the South West. After walking a
considerable time longer, they^ arrived at the
shore, where t ey found but few thing's.
What pa ticular y attracted their attention,
was pieces of copper : they took them away,
resolving to return and fetch the fragments
of the long-boat, and several barrel, which
the currents had driven on the coast. After
taking whatever they could carry away, they
set out towards Ihe East, arid at the end of
about two leagues, they met some other
Moors, also subjects of Prince Muhammed ;
they stopped and lay down under their
tents : the Prince lay down under the finest,
and ordered refreshments to be given to the
Toubabe, who was worn out with fatigue
and want of nourishment. Here Mr. Kum-
iner was tormented by the women and chil-
dren, who came every moment to touch and
feel the fineness of his skin, and to take
away some fragments of his shirt, and the
tew things which he had left. During the
evening, fresh questions were put to him
respecting the cruel wars which desolated
France; he was obliged to trace the account
of them, on the sand in Arabic letters. It
was this extreme complaisance, andhispre-

170 NARRATIVE OF A

tended quality of the son of aChristian and of
a Mahometan woman, which caused him to be
upon very good terms with Prince Muham-
med, and in general, with all the Moors whom
he met with, on his journey. Every moment
of the day, the Prince begged Mr. Kummer,
to make the wheels of his watch go, the mo-*
tions of which, much astonished the Moors ;
our traveller was on his side equally sur-
prised, to see among the hordes, children
five or six years of age, who wrote Arabic
perfectly well.

The next day, July 8, at day-break,
the Moors went and stationed themselves
on the summit of a hill. There, prostrated
with their faces turned to wards the East, they
waited for the rising of the sun, to perform
their salam, which they begin the moment
he appears in the horizon. Mr. Kummer
followed them, imitated them in all their
ceremonies, and never failed in the sequel,
to perform his devotions at the same time
as they did. The ceremony being over, the
prince and his suite, continued their route
in the direction of the South East,, which
again frightened the poor Toubabe; he
thought that the Moors were going to re-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 171

same their course to the North and that in
the end they would take him to Morocco;
then he endeavoured to impart his uneasi-
ness to Prince Muhammed, who at last com-
prehended him ; but to make it quite clear,
Mr. Kummer drew upon the sand, a part of
the map of Africa ; mean time, he heard
them continually pronounce the word An-
dar, which did not at all diminish his alarms;
but by the lines which he traced, he soon
understood that the Moors meant the Isle
of St. Louis; of which he was convinced
when he had written the name of the Euro-
pean factory, by the side of that of Andar.
The Moors let him know that they had
comprehended him ; and shewed great joy
that a white could understand their lan-
guage.

At noon, they stopped on the side of a
great pond or lake. Mr. Kummer, who was
extremely fatigued, lay down on the sand,
and fell asleep immediately. During his
sleep, the Moors went to look for a fruit,
produced by a tree which generally grows
on the sides of these lakes (uiarigots). They
are bunches of little red berries, and very

172 NAJI'KATIVE 01' A

refreshing: the Moors are very fond of them,
and make great use of them.*

During this time, chance ordered it,
that Mr. Rogery, who had also been taken
by the Moors, stopped at the same place :
he was brought by some of the natives, who
were taking him also to their sovereign
Zaide : he soon perceived Mr. Kummer
lying with his face to the earth, and thought
he wTas dead ; at this sight, a mortal chill-
ness pervaded all the limbs of the unfortu-
nate Rogery ; he deplored the loss of a
friend, of a companion in misfortune : he
approached him trembling ; but his grief
was soon changed into joy, when he per-
ceived that his friend still breathed ; he

* The fruit here mentioned, is probably jujubes
(ziziphum), in their last stage of maturity. The author of
this note, has found in the deserts of Barbary, and the
shades of the Acacias, some immense jujubes ; but, be-
sides this fruit, the only one of a red or reddish colour
which he has remarked in this country, are those of some
caparidees, very acid ; some icaques before they are ripe;
the tampus or sebestum of Africa, and the wood of a pra-
siitm, which is very common in most of the dry places :
the calyx of which, is swelled, succulent, and of an|orange
colour, good to eat, and much sought after by the natives.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL 173

look hold of him, and embraced him eager-
ly7. These two unfortunate men were trans-

*

ported with mutual joy, at meeting in the
midst of their distress, with a fellow country-
man. Mr. Rogery had lost every thing; they
had taken from him about forty pieces of 20
francs each, his watch, and all his effects :
he had nothing left but his shirt, a very bad
pair of pantaloons, and a hat. The wives
of the Moors, and still more the children,
had greatly tormented him ; the latter, con-
tinually pinched him, and hindered him
from taking a moment's sleep. His charac-
ter was remarkably soured by this treatment,
and his faculties rather impaired. These two
unfortunate men, after having related their
distresses to each other, fell asleep close
together; some hours after, the Moors 're-
turned, and gave them some of the berries
we have before mentioned. The caravan
soon set forward again, and took a South
West direction, which led to the camp of
King Zaide : they reached it in the evening,
but the monarch was absent ; the report of
our shipwreck had reached his camp, and
Zaide, who desires to see every thing him-
self, had gone to the sea-shore to have as-

174 NARRATIVE OF A

sistance given to such of the persons ship-
wrecked, as he should meet with. The King
did not return till twenty-four hours after,
which gave time for our travellers to repose,
and for Prince Muhammed to make a bar-
gain with the two whites : to conduct them
to the Isle of St. Louis; the Prince de-
manded for his trouble, including the ex-
pences of provisions and travelling, 800
gourdes for each, and obliged them before
they set out, to sign an agreement in the
Arabic language : Mr. Ku miner consented
to it, and said to Mr. Rogery, when we
have once got to St, Louis, we will give
them what we please. The latter hesitated,
being much more scrupulous on that point,
he would not at first accede to an agree-
ment which he feared he should not be
able to perform ; but seeing that the Moors
were resolved to keep him among them, he
consented to accept the absolute proposal
of the Prince, and the conventions were
signed.

Our two travellers passed a part of
their time in examining the customs of these
people ; we shall mention some circum-
stances which particularly struck them.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 175

They observed, that theichildren imperiously
command their fathers and mothers : but
especially the latter, who never oppose their
inclinations; hence, doubtless comes that
despotic spirit, which is carried to the ex-
treme ; a refusal, or a delay, in the execu-
tions of their orders irritates them, and their
anger is so violent that, in the first trans-
port, the unhappy slave who may have ex-
cited their fury, runs the risk of being
stabbed on the spot. Hence, too doubtless
the manly boldness which characterises
them, and which seems to inspire those who
surround them, with respect and submis-
sion. The Moors are, in every respect,
much superior to the Negroes : braver than
they are, they reduce them to slavery, and
employ them in the hardest labour ; they
are, in general, tall and well made, and
their faces are very handsome, and full of
expression.

However, it may also be observed that
the Moors of both sexes, appear at the first
sight, like a people composed of two dis-
tinct races, which have nothing in common,
except, the extremely brown, or tanned co-
lour of their skin, and the shining black of

176 NARRATIVE OF A

their hair. The greater part of them, it is
true, are endowed with the stature, and the
noble, but austere features, which call to
mind some of the great Italian painters, but
there are several, (indeed the smaller num-
ber) whose cranium and profile form a sin-
gular contrast with the others. Their head
is remarkably elongated, the ears small :
the forehead, which, in the first, is very
high and finely formed, is contracted in the
latter, and becomes at the top disagreeably
protuberant; their eyes are sunk, and placed
as it were obliquely, which gives them the
savage look with which they are reproached,
and their lower jaw has a tendency to be
elongated. Some of them have, it is true,
the high forehead of the former : but it al-
ways differs by being sunk in at the base.
These latter are, perhaps, the descendants
of the aborigines of this country, whose
characteristic features are still discernible,
notwithstanding their alliance with so many
strangers ? History has, indeed, transmitted
to us some of the customs of the Numidians,
who were by turns, the enemies, and the
allies of the Romans; but it has not con-
descended to draw their portrait. Juvenal

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 177

somewhere speaks of the withered hands of
the Moors : manus ossea Mauri. But, be-
sides, that this is general in hot countries,
this description may be understood of ill-fed
slaves.

The travellers remarked that there was
no difference between the very frugal diet
of the slaves, who are all blacks, and that
of their masters. The fathers and mothers,
as well as the marabous, (a kind of priests)
pass their leisure moments in teaching the
principles of their religion, as well as in-
structing them in reading and writing on
the sand ; the wives of King Zaide, the
number of whom is considerable, passively
obey Fatima, who is the favourite, or chief
wife of the sovereign.

Our travellers estimated the number of
men, women, children and slaves, at seven
or eight hundred persons ; their flocks ap-
peared to them very numerous : they con-
stitute a part of the wealth of Zaide, who
possesses a great many besides, in different
parts of the kingdom, the extent of which
is pretty considerable ; it has about sixty
leagues of coast, and stretches to a great
depth in the interior of the desert. The

N

178 NARRATIVE OF A

people, as we have said, call themselves
Trasas, and profess the Mahometan reli-
gion; they hunt lions, tigers, leopards, and
all other ferocious animals, which abound
in this part of Africa. Their commerce is
in furs or skins, and ostrich feathers: they
manufacture the leather called basil, in
french, basane, which they prepare very
well ;(21) they make this leather into pocket-
books, to which they give different forms,
but in general, that of a sabretache. They
also dress goats skins, and join several to-
gether to give them more breadth; they are
known under the name of peaux demaures,
are excellent, and afford a complete defence
against the rain : in form, they nearly re-
semble the dress of a Capuchin ; they sell
all these articles in the interior, as well as
goldsmiths work, which they manufacture
with only a hammer, and a little anvil; but
their chief commerce, which is very exten-
sive, is in salt, which they carry to Tombuc-
too, and to Sego, large and very populous
cities, situated in the interior of Africa. Sego
is built on both sides of the river Niger,
and Tombuctoo not far from its banks, the
former about five hundred, and the latter

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 179

about six hundred leagues East of the Island
of Goree. The Marabous, who are almost
all traders, frequently extend their journeys
into Upper Egypt. The Moors and the
Negroes, have an extraordinary respect for
these priests, who manufacture leather, in-
to little etuis, perfumed bags, and pocket-
books, to which they give the name of gris-
gris. By means of magic words spoken
over the gris-gris, and little notes written
in Arabic, which they enclose in them, he
who carries such a one about him, is secure
against the bite of wild beasts; they make
them to protect the wearer against lions,
crocodiles, serpents, &c. They sell them
extremely dear, and those who possess them
set a very high value on them; the king
and the princes are not less superstitious
than those whom they command. There
are some who wear as many as twenty of
these gris-gris fixed to the neck, the arms,
and the legs.

After a day's stay, King Zaide arrived:
he had no ornament which distinguished
him ; but he was of a lofty stature, had an
open countenance, and three large teeth in
the upper jaw, on the left side, which pro-

N2

180 NARRATIVE OF A

jected at least two lines over the under lip.
which the Moors consider as a great beauty.
He was armed with a large sabre, a poniard
and a pair of pistols ; his soldiers had za-
gayes or lances, and little sabres in the
Turkish fashion. The King has always at
his side, his favourite negro, who wears a
necklace of red pearls, and is called Billai.
Zaide received the two whites kindly, or-
dered that they should be well-treated, and
that Mr. Rogery should not be molested, he
being continually tormented by the chil-
dren. Mr. Kummer was much more lively,
and did not mind his misfortunes ; he wrote
Arabic, and had passed himself off for the
son of a Mahometan woman ; all this great-
ly pleased the Moors, who treated him well:
while Mr. Rogery, deeply affected by his
misfortunes, and having just lost his last
resources, did not much rely on the good
faith of the Moors.

In the course of the day, the King or-
dered Mr. Kummer to relate to him the
events of the last French revolution ; he was
already acquainted with those of the first. Mr.
Kummer did not exactly comprehend what
the king wanted of him. Zaide ordered his

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 181

ehief minister, to draw upon the sand, the
map of Europe, the Mediteranean, and the
coast of Africa, along that sea : he pointed
out to him the Isle of Elba, and ordered
him to relate the circumstances which had
taken place in the invasion of J815, from
the moment that Buonaparte left it. Mr.
Kummer took advantage of this favorable
moment, to ask for his watch; and the King-
ordered his son to return it to the Toubabe*
who then commenced his narrative ; and as
in the course of it he called the Ex-Em-
peror, sometimes Buonaparte, and some-
times Napoleon, a Marabou, at the name of
Buonaparte, interrupted him, and asked if
he was the general whose armies he had
seen in Upper Egypt, when he was going
on his pilgrimage to Mecca, to which Mr.
Kummer answering in the affirmative, the
king and his suite were quite delighted ;
they could not conceive how a mere general
of army had been able to raise himself to
the rank of Emperor : it seems that these
people had, till then, believed that Napo-
leon and Buonaparte were two different
persons. Mr. Kummer was also asked if
his father belonged to the army of Egypt :

182 NARRATIVE Of A

he said no, but that he was a peaceable
merchant, who had never borne arms. Mr,
Kummer continued his narrative, and asto-
nished more and more, the King of the
Trasas, and all his court. The next day,
Zaide desired to see the two whites again,
from whom he always learnt something
new. He sent away the Moors, his subjects,
who had brought Mr. Rogery, and ordered
his son, Prince Muhammed, accompanied
by one of his ministers, two other Moors of
his suite, and a slave, to conduct the two
whites to Andar. They had camels to carry
them, as well as their provisions. Zaide,
before he dismissed them, made them take
some refreshments, gave them provisions,
for a part of the journey, and advised Mr.
Kummer to entrust his watch to his son ;
because, by that means, he would be secure
from its being taken from him by the Moors;
and that it would be returned to him at
Saint Louis. Mr. Kummer immediately
obeyed. The prince faithfully executed his
father's orders.

Before the departure of the two French-
men, the King wished to shew them his
respect for the laws which govern his do-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 183

minions; knowing that this quality is that
which nations always desire to find in those
who govern them ; he therefore thought,
with reason, that he could not give a higher
idea of his virtues, and show his character
in a more honorable light, than by con-
vincing them that he was the protector and
most faithful observer of the laws : to prove
it, he related the following anecdote :

" Two princes, my subjects, had had
" an affair, for a long time, in litigation :
" to terminate it, they resolved to ask
ic me to be arbitrator between them; but
" the proposals which I made, though 1
" thought them reasonable, were not ap-
" proved by them ; so that after my propo-
" sals, a violent quarrel arose between the
" two parties : a challenge ensued, and
" the two princes left my tent to decide
" their cause by arms. In fact, they fought
" in my presence; one of them, the weakest,
" who was my friend, was thrown down by
" his adversary, who stabbed him imme-
i! diately. I had the grief to see my friend
" die, and notwithstanding all my power,
" it was impossible for me, as our laws
" allow duelling, and on account of the

184 NARRATIVE OI A

" respect which I have for them, to avenge
" the death of the prince whom I esteemed.
" You may judge, by this, how scrupulously
" I observe the laws by which I govern
<c my dominions, and which regulate the
" rights of the princes, as well as those of
" the citizens, and of the slaves."

The third and fourth day, after they
had quitted the camp of King Zaide, our
travellers were reposing as usual, till the
greatest heat of the day should be passed.
During the repast, the minister, who had
the contracts between the Prince and the
two Frenchmen, took from his great gris-
gris, or pocket book, that of Mr. Rogery,
who snatched it from him, and tore it into a
thousand pieces; immediately one of the
Moors rushed upon him, seized him by the
throat, with one hand threw him on the
ground, and was going to stab him with
a dagger which he held in the other ;
happily, the Prince, out of regard for Mr.
Kummer, whom he particularly esteemed,
pardoned him who had dared, so seriously,
to insult one of his ministers. But, during
the four or five days that the journey con-
tinued, they incessantly tormented him; and

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. - 185

did not give him a fourth part of what was
necessary for his support, so that the unfor-
tunate man was frequently obliged to gnaw
the bones which the Moors had thrown
away; they also forced him to make the
whole journey on foot; it was pretty long;
for these gentlemen, on their arrival at St.
Louis, estimated it at a hundred and forty
leagues at the least, because the Moors
made them go so much out of 1 heir way.

The respectable Mr. Kogery, a man of
rare probity, was disturbed by the recollec-
tion of the agreement which he had made
with Muhammed, in a moment of difficulty,
knowing very well that he could never ful-
fil it; he thought his honor implicated, and
strictly bound by this contract, though he
had destroyed it. This recollection, and his
inability to pay, affected his nerves; to this
was added fear, lest the contract should
be known to his countrymen; and this was
what induced him to that act of desperation
which had nearly cost him his life, and
deprived humanity of one of the most zea-
lous partisans of liberty, and of the abolition
of the slave trade.

On the 19th, in the morning, they ar-

186 NARRATIVE OF A

rived at a village situated on the bank of
one of the arms of Senegal, which is called
Marigot of the Maringouins, and which
appears to have been the ancient mouih of
the river, when it flowed directly to the sea,
before it turned aside and flowed to the
South. This position may one day become
important, if Senegambia should ever be
colonised.

The gentlemen remarked, that the banks
of this arm of the river, are very well cul-
tivated; the fields are covered with planta-
tions of cotton-trees, with maize* and millet;

* Is it really maize (zea) which has been observed
about this Marigot, in large plantations ? This name is
so often given to varieties of the Sorgho, or dour ha of the
negroes, that there is probably a mistake here. In a
publication, printed since this expedition, it has been
stated, that maize was cultivated in the open fields, by
the negroes of Cape Verd, whereas they cultivate no
species of grain, except two kinds of houlques, to which
they add, here and there, but in smaller fields, a kind of
haricot, or French bean, dolique unguicule, which they
gather in October, and a part of which they sell at Goree
and St. Louis, either in pods or seed. The dishes which
they prepare with this dolique, are seasoned with leaves
of the Baobab, (Adansonia) reduced to powder, and of
cassia, with obtuse leaves, and still fresh. As for the
cous-cous, the usual food of the negroes, it is made of the

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 187

one meets, at intervals, with tufts of wood,
which render it agreeable and healthy.
Mr. Kummer thinks that this country could
be adapted to the cultivation of colonial
productions. Here begins Nigritia, and one
may say, the country of good people ; for.
from this moment, the travellers were never
again in want of food, and the negroes gave
them whatever they wanted.

In the first village, which is called Vu,
they met with a good negress, who offered
them milk and cous-cous, (flour of millet).

meal of sorgho, boiled up with milk. To obtain this meal,
they pound the millet in a mortar, with a hard and heavy
pestle of mahogonyjfmaAo^ow^which grows on the banks
of Senegal. The mahogon or mahogoni which, according'
to naturalists, has a great affinity to the family of the
miliacees, and which approaches to the genus of the
cedrelles, is found in India, as well as in the Gulph of
Mexico, where it is beginning to grow scarce. At St. Do-
mingo, it is considered as a species of acajou,** and they
give it that name. The yellow mahogoni, of India, fur*
nishes the satin wood. There is also the mahogoni febri-
fuge, the bark of which supplies the place of the Peruvian
bark. Lamarque has observed that the mahogon of Sene-
gal has only eight stamina ; the other kinds have ten.

** Acajou is, we believe, generally used for maho-
gany.— T.

188 NAIIRAT1VE OF A

She was affected, and shed tears when she
saw the two unhappy whites almost naked,
and particularly when she learned that they
were Frenchmen. She began by praising
our nation; it is the custom of these people;
and then, she gave them a short account of
the misfortunes she had experienced. This
good n egress had been made a slave by the
Moors, who had torn her from the arms of
her mother; she consequently detested them,
and called them the banditti of the desert;
she said to the two whites, in very good
French : " are they not very villainous
" people? " Yes," answered our unhappy
countrymen. "Well," continued she, "these
" robbers carried me off, notwithstanding
" the efforts of my unhappy father, who de-
" fended me with courage; they then car-
C( ried desolation into our village, which a
ec moment before enjoyed tranquillity and
" happiness; on this sad "day we saw whole
" families carried off, and we were all
<c conducted to that horrible market at St.
" Louis, where the whites carry on the exe-
" crable trade of dealers in men ; chance
ct favored me, and saved me from being sent
44 to find death in Ameriea, amidst the tern-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 189

f pests which cover the ocean that separates
<c it from Africa. I had the good fortune
" to fall into the hands of the respectable
" General Blanchot.,* whose name and me-

* The probity and justice of General Blanchot were
so fully appreciated by the inhabitants of St. Louis, that
when his death deprived the colony of its firmest support,
all the merchants and officers of the government united
to raise a monument to him, in which the remains of this
brave general still repose. It was a short time after his
death that the English took possession of St. Louis, and
all the officers of that nation joined in defraying the ex-
pences of the erection of the monument, on which there
is an epitaph beginning with these words : " Here repose
" the remains of the brave and upright General Blan-
" chot," &c. We think it not foreign to the purpose, to
publish a trait which will prove how far General Blanchot
carried his ideas of justice; every man, of sensibility, reads
with pleasure, the account of a good action, particularly
when it belongs to an hero of his own nation.

Some time before Senegal was given up to the
English, St. Louis was strictly blockaded, so that all com-
munication with France was absolutely impossible; in a
short time the colony was short of all kinds of provisions.
The prudent general called an extraordinary council, to
which he invited all the chief inhabitants of the town,
and the officers of government. It was resolved not to
wait till the colony was destitute of provisions ; and that,
in order to hold out to the last extremity, all the inhabi-
tants, without distinction of colour, or of rank, should have
only a quarter of a ration of bread, and two ounces of rice

190 NARltATlVJC OF A

" mory will be ever dear to the inhabitants

" of St. Louis. This worthy governor kept

' me some years in his service ; but seeing

" that I always thought of my country and

or millet per day; to execute this decree, all the provisions
were removed into the government magazines, and the
general gave orders that it should be punctually followed.
Some days after these measures were taken, the governor,
according to his custom, invited the authorities to dine
with him ; it was understood that every one should bring
his portion of bread and of rice ; nevertheless, a whole
loaf was served up on the governor's table. As soon as
he perceived it, he asked his servants who could have
given orders to the store-keeper to suspend, in respect to
himself, the decree of the general council? All the company
then interfered, and said that the council had never had
any idea of putting him upon an allowance, and that he
ought to permit this exception. The General, turning to
one of hisaides-de-camp,said: "go and tell the store-keeper,
" that I put him provisionally under arrest, for bavins
" exceeded my orders ; and you, gentlemen, know that I
" am incapable of infringing on the means of subsrstance
«' of the unhappy slaves, who would certainly want food,
" while I had a superfluous supply on my table: learn that
" a French general knows how to bear privations, as well
" as the brave soldiers under his command." During the
short time of the scarcity, which lasted four months, the
General would never permit a larger ration to be given to
him, than that which came to the meanest slave ; his ex-
ample prevented every body from murmuring, and the
colony was saved. While they were suffering the severest

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 191

vc my relations, and that, in short, I could
" not habituate myself to your customs, he
" gave me my liberty, and from that mo-
" ment I have vowed eternal friendship to
" every thing that bears the French name."
Our two whites were much affected by this
interesting meeting ; from that moment
they fancied themselves among their own
countrymen.

After some hours repose they con-
tinued their journey, and in fact, they had
every reason to praise the negroes, who
did not let them want for anything. In
proportion, as they approached the town,
the Moors became much more civil, and
when they were going to pass the river, to
enter St. Louis, Prince Muhammed returned

privations the harvest was approaching, and, at length,
delivered St. Louis from the scarcity. At the same time,,
vessels arrived from France, and brought abundant sup-
plies. But soon after, the English returned to besiege
St. Louis, and made themselves master of it. Though this
note has carried us rather away from our subject, we would
not pass over in silence, so honorable a trait; it is a
homage paid to the memory of the brave General Blanchot.
We may add, that after having been governor, during a
long series of years, he died without fortune. How few
men do we find who resemble Blanchot?

192 NAUIIATIVE OF A

Mr. Kummer his watch. The French gover-
nor received the Prince and his suite, very
well ; he caused them to be paid about sixty
francs in two sous-pieces; this sum seemed
enormous to them ; for they were extremely
satisfied with it : this gives ground to sup-
pose that they were not acquainted with
the value of the gourde, when they de-
manded eight hundred for the ransom of
each of the two travellers. It was on the
22nd of July, that they arrived, after having
wandered sixteen days in the burning desert
of Zaara, and having endured all the hor-
rors of hunger and thirst, particularly the
unfortunate Mr. Rogery, who had to bear
all the caprices of the Moors.

All the shipwrecked persons who had
escaped these disasters being assembled at
St. Louis, we thought we should imme-
diately take possession of our establish-
ments. But the English governor, Mr.
Beurthonne, having learned our shipwreck,
either of his own authority, or having re-
ceived orders to that effect, from his govern-
ment, refused to give up the colony. This
difficulty obliged the commander of the
French expedition to take measures, to wait

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. J93

for fresh orders from France. He was en-
joined to send away immediately all the
shipwrecked persons who arrived in the
town of St. Louis.

Every thing induces us to believe that
the delay in the restitution of these settle-
ments depended on the English governor,
who threw obstacles in the way, whenever
circumstances permitted him. He alledged
at first, that he had not received orders to
give up the colony, and that besides he was
in want of vessels to remove his troops, and
all the effects belonging to his nation. This
last allegation of wanting vessels is, of itself,
sufficient to shew, that he was not much in-
clined to retire from the Isle of St. Louis ;
for the French governor, in order to remove
all. difficulties, proposed the Loire to serve
as a transport, and this offer was refused.
We think we have guessed the cause of this
delay in the restitution of the colony, for
two reasons, which seem to us the better
founded, as they take their origin in the British
policy, which is constantly to follow no
other rule than its political or commercial
interest. We give them, however, only as
suppositions; but these suppositions seem

194 NARRATIVE OF A

so well confirmed by the events to which
they relate, that we do not hesitate to lay
them before our readers.

We think then that Mr, Beurthonne had
received orders to give up the Islands of
St. Louis and Gpree, to the French squadron,
which should come to take possession of
them ; but we think also, that he was de-
sired to evacuate them as late as possible,
in case the English merchants or govern-
ment could derive any advantage from a
delay.

In fact, if Mr, Beurthonne had not
received any instructions to deliver up the
colony, it was certainly, useless to alledge
that he was in want of vessels. , To the
desires of the French governor, he had
only to make the plain and unanswerable
objection, that his government had not
given him any orders. It is therefore, by
the kind of vacillation which appears in
his answers, that himself, leads us to the
opinion which we have formed. But it will
be said, what advantage could the English
government derive from this delay? The
following, is what we conjecture on this
subject.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 195

The gum trade was on the point of
commencing ; it was very just that the
English merchants, who were in Senegal,
should carry off this crop, which would have
belonged to the French merchants if the
colony, had been restored.

A second motive, not less powerful, is,
that we w^ere just at the entrance of the bad
season, and that the English settlements,
on the river Gambia, (to which, a part of
the English, garrison were to go) are ex-
tremely unhealthy : diseases that are almost,
always mortal, prevail during the winter-
season, and generally carry off two thirds
of the Europeans, who are newly arrived.
Every year the mortality is the same ; be-
cause, every year it is necessary to send
fresh garrisons: those who have the good
fortune to resist these terrible epidemics,
come, to recover, to the Isle of Goree, where
the air is salubrious. Such are the reasons
which, as we think, caused the delay in the
restitution of our settlements on the coast
of Africa.

Without losing ourselves farther in con-
jectures, we will conclude with one remark:
namely, them on this occasion the English

o 2

196 NARRATIVE OF A

governor was influenced more by the usual
policy of his government than by local and
particular considerations. Let us remember
what passed on the restitution of our colo-
nies at the peace of 1802 and that of 1814;
and it will be seen that the British Govern-
ment, without giving itself much trouble to
assign reasons, has adopted and faithfully
followed the principle, of not willingly
giving up what it possessed.*

The shipwreck of the Medusa favoured
the designs of the governor ; for, what sen-
sation could be produced by the arrival of
an expedition, of which the principal vessel
no longer existed, and the three others ap-
peared one after the other? If the English
had had the intention to restore the colony
on our arrival, the disorder in which we
appeared, would alone have sufficed, to make
them conceive the idea of delaying as much
as possible to withdraw from the Island of St.
Louis. But what we cannot conceive is, that
the governor, after giving the French a good

' Every body knows the popular proverb, which very
well expresses our idea: " That which is worth
is worth keeping.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 197

reception for some days, should have required
their troops to be sent away from the colony:
and what were these troops? wretches al-
most naked, worn out by the long fatigues
and privations which they had had to bear
in the deserts ; they were almost all without
arms. Did he fear the spirit of the colonists,
and even that of the negroes, which was not
in his favor, and who saw with the greatest
pleasure the arrival of the French? This is
not at all probable.

All the shipwrecked persons being as-
sembled at St. Louis, as we have already
said, the governor, two days before his de-
parture for Cape Verd, thought of sending
a vessel on board the Medusa, to look for a
sum of 100,000 francs,* which was intended

* It will hardly be believed to how many popular
reports, these 100,000 francs have given rise* There are
people who do not believe that they were ever embarked
on board the frigate. How do they explain this supposi-
tion ? It is by asking how the conduct of persons, who
had sold the interest of their country, and their honor, to
foreign interests, would have been different from that of cer-
tain persons ? For our part, we do not doubt but that this
report is a fable. The folly, the pride, the obstinacy, which
conducted us on the bank of Arguin, have no need of
having another crime added to them. Besides, if there
are, sometimes, persons who sell their honor, there are

198 NARRATIVE OF A

to form the treasure of the colony, as well
as provisions, which were in abundance on
board, and of which there was some scarcity
in the colony. Very little was said about
the men, who had remained on board, and
to whom their companions had solemnly
promised to send for them as soon as they
should arrive at St. Louis ; but these unfor-
tunate men were already hardly thought of
any more. Mr. Correard says that the first
day that he took a walk in the town, he
went to pay a visit to the family of the
governor. During the conversation, the
vessel was mentioned, that was going to be
sent to the Medusa, as also the possibility
of recovering the 100,000 francs, provisions,
and effects. Seeing that they said nothing
of the seventeen men who had remained
on board the frigate, he said, " but a more
"precious object, of which nothing is said, is
"the seventeen poor men who were left4?"
" Pooh, answered somebody, " seventeen !
" there are not three left." " And if there

none who, at the same time, sell their lives ; and those
whom people would accuse of something more than ex-
treme incapacity, have sufficiently proved in dangers which
threatened themselves, that they well knew how to pro-
vide for their own safety.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 199

Ci remained but three, but one," replied he,
" yet, his life is more valuable than all that
" can be recovered from the frigate ;" and
left the company in anger.

When in the first part of this work, we
represented Mrs. and Miss Schmalz, as alone
unmoved when the frigate ran aground ;
and seeming to rise above the general con-
sternation, our readers may have given them
credit for uncommon greatness of soul, and
more than manly courage. Why are we
obliged to destroy this honorable illusion
which we may have caused ? Why, when
these ladies, have carried indifference so far
as to dispense themselves from the most
common duties of humanity, by refraining
from paying the smallest visit to the poor
wretches, placed in the hospital at St. Louis,
have they themselves discovered to, us that
their composure on board the frigate was
nothing but profound insensibility?

We could, however, if not excuse, at
least explain this last mark of their hard-
heartedness : what sight, in fact, awaited
them in this melancholy abode, on the new
theatre, where the sad victims of a first act
of inhumanity, had to struggle with the

200 NARRATIVE OF A

fresh miseries prepared for them by the
indifference, the inattention of their fellow-
creatures? The sight of men, who all bore
in their hearts, the remembrance of the
faults, of a husband, of a father, could not
be an object which they would be desirous
of seeking, or meeting with ; and in this
point of view, the care, which they took to
avoid the hospital, seems to us almost par-
donable. But what is not, what cannot
be excused, what we have not learned
without the greatest surprise is, that Miss
Schmalz, judging of us doubtless, after a
manner of thinking which was not ours,
and not supposing it possible that the faults
of her father, and the inhuman conduct of
herself and her mother, should not be one
day known in France, should have hastened
to anticipate this publication, by writing to
her friends at Paris, a letter justifying her
relations with the shipwrecked persons be-
longing to the raft, and trying to devote
these unfortunate men to public hatred and
contempt. In this singular letter, which
has been circulated in Paris, she confessed
that the sight of the shipwrecked per-
sons inspired her with a degree of horror*

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 201

which she could not suppress. "It was really
" impossible for me," said she, " to endure
" the presence of these men, without feeling
se a sentiment of indignation."

What then was our crime in the eyes
of Miss Schmalz ? Doubtless that of know-
ing too well the persons really guilty of our
misfortunes. Yes, on this account, when-
ever Miss Schmalz saw us, which was ex-
tremely seldom, our presence must have
been a thunder-bolt to her, She could say
to herself, " these men have in their hands
4C the fate of my father. If they speak, if
" if they utter complaints which they sup-
press here, if they are listened to, (and
how should they not be listened to in a
country, where a charter, the noble pre-
sent of our august Monarch, causes jus-
tice and the law to reign,) instead of being
the daughter of a governor, I am but a
wretched orphan ; instead of these honors,
with which it gives me so much pleasure
to be surrounded, I fall into the degra-
dation, and the oblivion which generally
await the unhappy family of a great
criminal."

It is certain that, if we had listened to

202 NARRATIVE OF A

our griefs, if we had called to legal account,
the authors of our misfortunes, it is difficult
to believe that they would have escaped the
inflexible rigour of justice. But we have
been generous, and it is we who are op-
pressed ! Thus, as the historians of the
human heart, have but too often observed,
"It is more easy to pardon the injury we
" have received, than that ice have inflicted"

The little vessel chosen to go to the
frigate, was a schooner, commanded by a
lieutenant of the navy ; the crew was com-
posed of some black-drivers, and some pas-
sengers. It sailed from St. Louis, on the
26th, of July, and had on board, provisions
for eight days : so that having met with
contrary winds, it was obliged to return to
port, after having, in vain, endeavoured for
seven or eight days, to get to the Medusa.

This schooner sailed again after having
taken in provisions for about twenty-five
days; but, as the sails were in a very bad
condition, and the owner would not change
them, till they were wholly unfit for service,
she was obliged to sail again, with a few
repairs only. Having experienced at sea,
a pretty heavy gale, the sails were almost

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 203

entirely destroyed, and she was obliged to
return to port after having been a fortnight
at sea, without having been able to accom-
plish her purpose. She was then furnished
with new sails, which cost about ten days la-
bour. As soon as she was ready, they sailed
for the third time, and reached the Medusa,
fifty-two days, after she had been aban-
doned.

A very obvious reflection here presents
itself to the most inattentive mind : it is
certain, that the reader must presume, that
this was the only schooner in the colony ;
it is our duty to undeceive him : many other
merchants offered their vessels; but their
offers were declined. The governor liked
better to treat with a single house, than to
have accounts to regulate with a part of
the merchants of the colony ; who, howe-
ver, were ready to place at his disposal,
every thing in their power. Mr. Durecur
was the merchant favored This house car-
ries on the whole trade of Senegal ; its firm
has taken place of the African company.
He made the governor large advances, both
of provisions and money, which amounted
to 50,000 francs ; he had continually, at his

204 NARRATIVE OF A

house, Mr. Schmalz, his family and a nu-
merous suite. The general opinion was that,
Mr. Durecur had got by his acts of gene-
rosity, a decent profit of a hundred per cent;
he was, besides, recompenced, on the ap-
plication of the governor, by that decoration,
which it seems, ought to be conferred for
some brilliant action,* and not for a very
profitable commercial transaction ; but let
us return to our schooner. What was the
astonishment of those on board her, at still
finding in the Medusa, three unfortunate
men on the point of expiring ! Most cer-
tainly, they were very far from expecting
this meeting; but as we have said, 17 were
abandoned. What became of the 14 others?
We will try to relate the story of their un-
happy fate.

As soon as the boats and the raft had left the
frigate,these I7men endeavoured to subsist till
assistance should be sent them. They searched
wherever the water had not penetrated, and
succeeded in collecting sufficient biscuit,
wine, brandy, and bacon, to enable them to
subsist for some time. As long as their pro-

* Probably the cross of the legion of honor.— T.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL, 205

vision lasted, tranquillity prevailed among
them : but forty-two days passed without
their receiving the assistance which had been
promised them; when twelve of the most
resolute, seeing that they were on the point
of being destitute of everything, determined
to get to the land. To attain their object,
they formed a raft with the pieces of timber
which remained on board of the frigate, the
whole bound together like the first, with
strong ropes : they embarked upon it, and
directed their course towards the land ; but
how could they steer on a machine, that was
doubtless destitute of oars and the necessary
sails. It is certain that these poor men,
who had taken with them but a very small
stock of provisions, could not hold out long,
and that, overcome by despair and want,
tliey have been the victims of their rash-
ness. That such was the result of their
fatal attempt, was proved by the remains of
their raft, which \vere found on the coast of
the desert of Zaara, by some Moors, sub-
jects of King Zaide, who came to Andar to
give the information. These unhappy men
were doubtless the prey of the sea-monsters

206 NARRATIVE OF A

which are found in great numbers on the
coasts of Africa.

Unhappy victims we deplore the
rigour of your lot : like us, you have been
exposed to the most dreadful torments :
like us abandoned upon a raft, you have
had to struggle with those pressing wants
which man cannot subdue, hunger and
thirst carried to the extreme ! Our imagina-
tion carries us to your fatal machine; we
see your despair, your rage ; we appreciate
the whole extent of your sufferings, and your
misfortunes draw forth our tears. It is then
true that misfortune strikes more forciblv

•'

him who has had already to struggle with ad-
versity ! The happy man scarcely believes
in misfortune, and often accuses him whose
distresses he has caused.

A sailor who had refused to embark
upon the raft, attempted also to reach the
shore some days after the first ; he put him-
self on a chicken coop, but he sunk within
half a cable's length of the frigate.

Four men resolved not to leave the
Medusa, alledging that they preferred dying
on board, to braving new dangers which it

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 207

seemed impossible for them to surmount.
One of the four had just died when the
schooner arrived, his body had been thrown
into the sea : the three others were very
weak; two days later they would have been
no more. These unhappy men occupied
each a separate place, and never left it but
to fetch provisions, which in the last days
consisted only of a little brandy, tallow,
and salt pork. When they met, they ran
upon each other brandishing their knives.
As long as the wine had lasted with the
other provisions, they had kept up their
strength perfectly well ; but as soon as they
had only brandy to drink they grew weaker
every day.*

' These desertions are unhappily too frequent in
naval history. The St. John the Baptist stranded in 1760
on the isle of Sables, where 87 poor people were aban-
doned, in spite of the promises to come and fetch them,
made by 320 of the shipwrecked persons, who almost all
saved themselves upon the island of Madagascar. Eighty
negroes and negresses perished for want of assistance,
some of hunger, some in attempting to save themselves
upon rafts. Seven negresses and a child who lived there
for fifteen years, were exposed to the most terrible dis-
tresses, and were saved in 1776 by Mr. de Trommelin,
commanding the Dauphine corvette.

The Favorite, commanded by Captain Moreau, fell in

208 NARRATIVE OF A

Every care was bestowed on these three
men that their situation demanded, and all
three are now in perfect health.

After having given the necessary suc-
cours to the three men of whom we have
just spoken, they proceeded to get out of
the frigate, every thing that could be re-
moved ; they cut a large hole in her, (on la
saborcla,} and were thus able to save wine,
flour, and many other things. Mr. Correard
had the simplicity to think that the sjiip-
wrecked people were going to recover o
part, at least, of their effects, since a vessel,

with the island of Adu in 1767; he sent a boat on shore
with a crew of eight men, commanded by Mr. Riviere, a
navy officer, but Moreau abandoned them, because the
currents drove him towards the island ; and he returned
to the isle of France, where he took no step to induce the
government to send them assistance. The brave Riviere
and all his sailors succeeded in saving themselves on the
coast of Malabar, by means of a raft and his boat ; he
landed at Cranganor, near Calicut.

One may conceive that at the first moment the pre-
sence of danger may derange the senses, and that then
people may deesrt their companions on board a vessel ;
but not to go to their assistance, when the danger is sur-
mounted, not to hasten to fly to their relief, this is incon-
ceivable.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 209

belonging to the king, had reached the fri-
gate. But far from it ! Those who were on
board declared themselves corsairs, and
pillaged, as we may say, all the effects
which they could get at. One of them
Mr.*****, carried off several portmanteaus,
and four hammocks, full of all kind of
articles, the whole for his own use.

The schooner having quite completed
its cargo, and all attempts to recover the
100,000 francs, of which we have spoken,
being fruitless, returned to Senegal. We
saw this little vessel arrive, and our hearts
beat with joy ; we thought we should see
again our unfortunate companions, who had
been abandoned on board the frigate, and
recover some clothes, of which we were in
much need. The schooner passed the bar,
and in an hour or two had traversed the
space which separated it from us. In an
instant we ran to the port, and enquired if
any of our unfortunate countrymen had been
saved. We were answered, three are still
living, and fourteen have died since our
departure: this answer confounded us. We
then asked if it had been possible to save
any of our effects ; and were answered yes,

p

210 NARRATIVE OF A

but that they were a good prize ; we could
not understand this answer, but it was re-
peated to us, and we learnt for the first time
that we were at war with Frenchmen, be-
cause we had been excessively unfortunate.
The next day the town was transformed
into a public fair, which lasted at least a
week. There were sold effects belonging
to the State, and those of the unhappy crew
who had perished; here, the clothes of those
who were still living, a little further was
the furniture of the captain's cabin : in
another place were the signal flags, which
the negroes were buying to make them-
selves aprons and cloaks ; at one place they
sold the tackling and sails of the frigate,
at another bed-linen, frames, hammocks,
quilts, books, instruments, &c. &c.

But there is one thing that is sacred,
respected by every man who serves with
honor, the rallying sign under which he
ought to find victory or death, the flag ;
what it will be asked became of it ?. . .It
was saved. . .Did it fall into the hands of a
Frenchman ?.. .No ! he who debases a re-
spectable sign, which represents a nation,
cannot belong to that nation. Well ! this

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 211

sign was employed in domestic uses.* Vases
which belonged to the captain of the frigate
himself, were also saved, and were trans-
ferred from his side-board to the table of the
Governor, where Mr. de Chaumareys re-
cognized them, and it is from him we have
received these details. It is true that the
ladies of the Governor had received them, as
a present, from those who went on board the
schooner.

Nothing was now seen in the town but
negroes dressed, some in jackets and pan-
taloons, some in large grey great coats;
others had shirts, waistcoats, police "bon-
nets, &c. every thing, in short, presented the
image of disorder and confusion. Such was
a part of the mission of the schooner : the
provisions, which it brought, were of the
greatest choice to the French Governor, who
began to be in want of them.

Some days after, the Merchants of St.
Louis, were authorized to go on board the

* Persons whom we could name, divided the great
flag, and cut it up into table-cloths, napkins, &c. we men-
tion with the distinction which they deserve, Sophia, a ne-
gress, belonging to the governor, a^id Margaret, a white
servant.

212 NARRATIVE OF A

Medusa with their vessels, on the following
conditions : they were to equip the vessels
at their own expence, and all the effects
which they could save out of the frigate
were to be divided into two equal parts,
one for the government, the other for the
owners of the vessels. Four schooners sailed
from SI. Louis, and in a few days reached
their destination : they brought back to the
colony a great quantity of barrels of flour,
salt, meat, wine, brandy, cordage, sails, &c.
&c. This expedition was terminated in less
than twenty days. As the schooners arrived
in the Senegal, the proper way would have
been to unload them, and deposit the things
saved, in a magazine, till the arrival of the
French Governor, who was absent ; it ap-
pears to us, that, in making the division, his
presence, or that of some other competent
authority was necessary. But whether the
ship-owners, would not wait for the return
of the Governor, or whether they were in
haste to possess their share of the cargo, they
went to Mr. Potin Agent, or Partner of the
house of Durecur, and begged him to divide
the articles saved from the frigate. We are
ignorant whether Mr. Potin was authorized

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

to make this division ; but whether he was
authorised or not, we think he could not
make it, without the co-operation of one or
more officers of the administration, since he
was himself one of the ship-owners. It
would have been the more easy to have this
division superintended by an officer of the
government, as there were then three or four
at St. Louis ; among whom were the secre-
tary and the paymaster. Yet neither of them
was called in to be present at these opera-
tions, though they lasted some days. How-
ever, those to whom the vessels belonged,
shewed themselves much more generous to
the shipwrecked people, than those who
went on board the frigate, with the first
schooner : the few books and effects which
they had been able to save were restored to
such of the crew as claimed them.

A short time after these depredations
were ended, some French officers and sol-
diers, belonging as well to the land as the
sea-service, and who were still at St. Louis,
received orders from the English Governor
to go immediately to the camp of Daccard :
it was about the first of October. At this
time Mr. Correard remained the only French-

214 NARRAT1VL OJ- A

man in the hospital at St. Louis, till he
should be entirely recovered. We are en-
tirely ignorant of the reasons which induced
this Governor to employ such severe mea-
sures towards about twenty unhappy per-
sons, among whom three officers had been
part of the crew of the fatal raft. He how-
ever, allowed the civil officers to remain in
the city.

Let us take a rapid survey of the new
misfortunes which overtook some of the
unfortunate persons who escaped from the
raft and the desert, and remained plunged
in a horrid hospital without assistance, and
without consolation, before we proceed to
the history of the camp at Daccard, which
will terminate this account. Our readers
will remember that it was on the 23d of
July, that the men, who escaped from the
raft, were united to the sixty-three landed
by the long boat, near the Moles of Angel.

Mr. Coudin, commander of the rafta and
Mr. Savigny, were received at Senegal by
Mr Lasalle, a French Merchant, who, on all
occasions, bestowed on them the most gene-
rous care, which spared them the new suffer-
ings, to which their companions in misfor-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 215

tune were exposed, and gives Mr. Lasalle a
title to their lasting gratitude.

As for Mr. Correard, as soon as he was
at the isle of St. Louis, he and some others
of our companions covered with wounds,
and almost without life, were laid upon
truck-beds, which, instead of mattresses, had
only blankets doubled in four, with sheets
disgustingly dirty ; the four officers of the
troops were also placed in one of the rooms
of the hospital, and the soldiers and sailors
in another room, near the first, and lying in
the same manner as the officers. The even-
ing of their arrival, the Governor, accom-
panied by the captain of the frigate, and by
a numerous suite, came to pay them a visit :
the air of compassion, with which he ad-
dressed them, much affected them ; in this
first moment, they were promised a guinea,
linen to clothe them, wine to restore their
strength, and ammunition to amuse them
when they should be able to go out. Vain
promises ! It is to the compassion of stran-
gers, alone, that they were indebted for their
existence for five months. The Governor
announced his departure for the camp at
Duccard, saying to these poor men who

216 NARRATIVE OF A

were left behind, that he had given orders
that they should want for nothing during
his absence. AH the French, able to embark,
departed with the Governor.

Left to themselves in the horrid abode
which they inhabited, surrounded with men
in whom their cruel situation inspired no
pity, our countrymen again abandoned,
gave vent to their distress in useless com-
plaint< In vain they represented to the
English physician that the ordinary ration
of a common soldier, which had been hither-
to given them, was wholly unfit for them,
first, because their health required, if it was
indeed wished to recover them, better nou-
rishment than is given to a soldier in good
health in his barracks : that, besides, officers
enjoyed in all countries some preference,
and that, in consequence, he was requested
to have regard to the just desires of the
sick.

The doctor was inexorable : he an-
swered that he had received no orders and
that he should make no change. They then
addressed their complaints to the English
Governor, who was equally insensible. It
is, however, probable that the French Go-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 217

vernor, before his departure, had requested
this officer to afford all the assistance which
the situation of those whom he left required,
under the protection of his generosity. If
this request was made it must be allowed
that this Mr. Beurthonne has a heart but
little accessible to sentiments of humanity.

What a contrast between the conduct
of this Lieutenant-Colonel, and that of the
other officers of his nation, belonging to the
expedition for exploring the interior of
Africa, with whom the officers of the garri-
son joined. It is to their generous efforts
that the officers saved from the raft, owed
assistance and perhaps life. It is not, in
fact, rare to see the same circumstances give
rise to the same observation. On occasions
of this kind, a great number of private
Englishmen excite astonishment by the ex-
cess of their generosity to their enemies,
while on the other hand the agents of the
government, and individuals, who doubtless
believe that they enter into its views, seem
to glory in a conduct diametrically opposite.

These gentlemen, some days after the
arrival of our unfortunate comrades, having
been informed of their melancholy situation,

218 NARRATIVE OF A

came to the hospital and took away with
them the four officers who were already
able to go out ; they invited them to share
their repast with them, till the colony should
be given up.* Forty days had passed, since
the compassionate English had come to
the relief of these four companions in mis-
fortune, without the distressed Correard's
having personally felt the effects of their
kindness. His health was greatly impaired,
in consequence of the unheard-of sufferings
which he had experienced on the raft ; his
wounds gave him great pain, and he was
obliged to remain in the infirmary : add to
this the absolute want of clothes, having
nothing to cover him except the sheet of
his bed, in which he wrapped himself up.
Since the departure of the governor, he had
heard nothing of the French, which made
him very uneasy, and doubled his desire to
join his countrymen, hoping to find from

* They dined almost every day with the English offi-
cers ; but in the evening they were obliged to return to
the fatal hospital, where an infinite number of victims
languished : if, by chance, one of the convalescents failed
to come, their generous and benevolent hosts sent to the
hospital, anxiously enquiring the cause of his absence.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 219

them, consolation and relief; for he had
friends among the officers and passengers
who were at the Camp of Deccard. He
was in this temper of mind, and in the me-
lancholy situation which we have just de-
scribed, reduced to the ration of a common
soldier, during the forty days which had
just elapsed, when he caused the captain of
an American merchant vessel to be asked
whether he would do him the pleasure to
take him to Cape Verd, to which place he
was to go ; the answer was affirmative, and
the departure fixed for two days after. In
this interval, Mr. Kummer, the naturalist,
happened to express, in the presence of
Major Peddy, commander in chief of the
English expedition for the interior of Africa,
the fears which he felt at the departure of
his friend, alledging that he was very un-
easy respecting the effects of the bad air of
the camp of Deccard, on a constitution so
shaken as that of Mr. Correard. Scarcely
had the sensible Mr. Kummer ceased speak-
ing, when Major Peddy hastily went away,
returned to his apartment, and imme-
diately got ready linen, clothes and money,
and while he was thus employed, this ge-

220 NARRATIVE OF A

nuine philanthropist shed tears at the fate
of the unhappy man, whom he did not
know, cursing those who had cruelly aban-
doned him. His indignation was excited,
because he had been assured that ever since
the departure of the French governor, Mr.
Correard had heard nothing farther, either
of him, or of his countrymen. Respectable
Major! worthy friend of humanity! in de-
parting for the interior of Africa, you have
carried with you the regret and the grati-
tude of a heart, on which your noble bene-
ficence is indelibly engraven.

While this unexpected relief was pre-
paring Mr. Correard, seated at the foot of
his truck bed, was overwhelmed by the
thoughts of his wretchedness, and plunged
in the most heart-rending reflections. All
that he saw affected him still more deeply,
than the dreadful scenes which had passed
upon the raft. " In the very heat of battle,
said he, " the pain of my wounds was not
" accompanied by the gloomy despondency
66 which now depresses me, and by a slow,
" but sure progress, is conducting me to
" death. Only two months ago, I was strong,
" intrepid, capable of braving every fatigue :

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL . 221

cc now, confined to this horrid abode, my
" courage is vanished, every thing forsakes
" me. I have, in vain, asked some assistance
" of those who have come to see me, not
" from humanity, but from unfeeling curio-
" sity : thus, people went to Liege to see
" the brave Goffin, after he had extricated
" himself by his courage, from the coal-pit
" which had fallen in and buried him. But
" he, happier than I, was rewarded with the
" cross of the legion of honour, and a pen-
" sion which enabled him to subsist.* If I

* The affair of the coal-mine of Beaujon, as a journa-
list has well observed, insures lasting* celebrity to the name
of the brave Goffin, whose memory the French Academy
has consecrated by a poetical prize ; and the city of Liege,
by a large historical picture which has been publicly
exhibited. — Doubtless the devotedness of Goffin was
sublime ; but, Goffin was only the victim of a natural ac-
cident, no sentiment of honour and duty, had plunged him
voluntarily into an imminent danger, as it had many of
those on the raft, and which, several of them might have
avoided. Goffin, accusing only fate and the laws of na-
ture, to which we are subject, in every situation, had not
to defend his soul against all the odious and terrible im-
pressions of all the unchained passions of the human
heart : hatred, treachery, revenge, despair, fratricide, all
the furies in short, did not hold up to him their hideous
and threatening spectres; how great a difference does

222 NARRATIVE OF A

" were in France," he continued, " my re-
" lations, my countrymen, would mitigate
" my sufferings ; but here, under a burning
" climate, where every thing is strange to
" me, surrounded by these Africans, who
66 are hardened by the habitual sight of
" the horrors produced by the slave trade,
" nothing relieves me; on the contrary, the
66 length of the nights, the continuance of
" my sufferings, the sight of those of my
" companions in misfortune, the disgusting
" filth by which 1 am surrounded, the inat-
" tention of a soldier who acts as nurse, and
" is always drunk or negligent, the insup-
" portable hardness of a wretched bed,scarce-
" ly sheltered from the inclemency of the
" air, all announce to me an inevitable
" death. I must resign myself to it, and
66 await it with courage! I was less to be

the nature of their sufferings, suppose in the souls of
those who had to triumph over the latter? and yet,
what a contrast in the results! Coffin was honored and
with justice; the men shipwrecked on the raft, once pro-
scribed, seem to be for ever forsaken. Whence is it that
misfortune so perseveringly follows them? Is it that,
when power has been once unjust, has no means to efface
its injustice but to persist in it, no secret to repair its
wrongs, but to aggravate them?

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 223

" pitied on the raft ; then my imagination
" was exalted, and I scarcely enjoyed my
66 intellectual faculties! but here, I am only
" an ordinary man, with all the weaknesses
" of humanity. My mind is continually
" absorbed in melancholy reflections; my
" soul sinks under incessant sufferings, and
" I daily see those who shared my unhappy
" fate, drop before me in to the grave."*

While he was wholly absorbed in this
distressing soliloquy, he saw two young offi-
cers enter the room, followed by three or
four slaves, carrying various effects. These
two officers approached, with an air of kind-
ness, the mournful and motionless Correard,
ee Accept," said they, Cf these trifling pre-
cc sents, they are sent to you by Major
" Peddy, and Captain Cambpell :" we, sir,
have desired the happiness of bringing you
this first assistance ; we were commissioned
by all our comrades, to obtain from you
accurate information respecting your wants;
you are, besides, invited to partake of our

' Three men saved from the raft, died in a very short
time ; those who crossed the desert, being too weak to go
to Deccard, were in considerable numbers in this same
hospital, add perished there successively.

224 NARRATIVE OF A

table, all the time we shall pass together :
the Major, and all the officers, beg you to
remain here, and not to go to the pestilen-
tial camp at Deccard, where a mortal dis-
temper would carry you off in a few days."
It would be ungrateful not to name these
two young officers : one bears the name of
Beurthonne, without being a relation of
the Governors ; the name of the other is
Adam.

While these generous officers were ful-
filling, with so much politeness and kind-
ness, these acts of humanity, Major Peddy
entered the room, followed by other slaves,
also loaded with things, which he came to
offer to the friend of the naturalist, Kummer,
by whom he was accompanied. The Major
approached the unfortunate Correard, who
seemed as if awaking from a dream; he
embraced him, shedding tears, and vowing
to him a friendship which never abated
during the whole time that he remained
with him. What a sublime image is a fine
man, almost two metres in height, who
sheds tears of pity at the sight of an unfor-
tunate man, who was not less affected, and
shed them in abundance, penetrated with

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 225

the most delicious feelings of gratitude
and admiration. After he had recovered
from the emotion excited in him by the
sight of the melancholy situation of the
stranger, whom he had just snatched from
misery, the Major made him the most
obliging offers : and that Mr. Correard
might not decline them, he assured him,
beforehand, that he himself and many of
his comrades had received similar assis-
tance from Frenchmen ; and that their
countrymen ought to allow him the honour
of discharging, if it were possible, his debt
to their nation, for the generous treatment
which he had received from them.* Offers so
nobly made, could not but be accepted by
Mr. Correard, who expressed to his bene-
factor, how happy he should esteem himself
to be able to merit the friendship that he
had just offered him, and that he wished
nothing so much as to be able, one day, to

* Major Peddy had fought against the French in the
Antilles and in Spain ; the bravery of our soldiers, and
the reception given him in France at the time of our disas-
ters, had inspired him with the greatest veneration for our
countrymen, who had, on more than one occasion, shewn
themselves generous towards him.

Q

226 NARRATIVE OF A

shew his gratitude in a manner worthy of
himself, and of a Frenchman. From that
time Mr. Correard received all imaginable
assistance from the Major and his officers,
and it may be said with truth, that he owes
them his life, as do the four French officers
who were with him.

On the 24th of August, Mr. Clairet
paid the debt of nature. It was thirty-four
days after our arrival at St. Louis. Mr.
Correard had the grief to see him die at his
side, and to hear him say before his death,
that he died satisfied, since he had had time
to recommend to his father a natural son
whom he loved. At this time Major Peddy
had not yet relieved Mr. Correard; he was
without clothes, so that he could not attend
the funeral of his comrade, who had just
expired, worn out by the sufferings which
he had experienced on the raft.

The remains of this young officer re-
ceived the honours due to them. The
English officers, and especially Major
Peddy, acted on this occasion in a manner
worthy of praise.

Perhaps our readers will not be sorry
to be made acquainted with some of the

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 227

details of this mournful ceremony. They
are drawn up by Mr. Correard, who still
feels a sad pleasure in calling to mind the
moments which necessarily made upon him
so great an impression.

The body of the unfortunate Clairet
was laid out in a subterraneous apartment
of the hospital, whither immense crowds
repaired to see once more the mortal re-
mains of one who was almost regarded as
an extraordinary man; and who, at this
moment, owed to his cruel adventures, the
powerful interest, which the public favor
attached to him and to those, who had so
miraculously escaped from all the combined
afflictions sustained on the fatal raft.

" About four o'clock in the afternoon,0
says Mr. Correard, " I heard the mournful
" sounds of martial instruments under the
" windows of the hospital. This was a
" dreadful blow to me, not so much because
" it warned me of the speedy fate which in-
" fallibly awaited me, as because this funeral
" signal announced to me the moment of
" eternal separation from the companion of
' niy sufferings: from the friend, whom
ik our common misfortunes had iven we,

228 NARRATIVE OF A

" when 1 passed with him the most dread-
" ful moments of my life. At this sound I
" wrapped myself in my sheet, and crawled
" to the balcony of my window, to bid him
Ci the last farewell, and to follow him with
" my eyes as far as possible. I know not
" what effect the sight of me may have pro-
" duced, but when I now reflect upon it
66 myself, I imagine that the people must
" have believed it was a spectre welcoming
" a corpse to the abode of the grave.

" As for me, notwithstanding my emo-
" tion, the sacrifice which I supposed 1 had
" made of my life, permitted me to contem-
" plate and to follow in detail the sad spec-
" tacle on which my almost extinguished
" eyes eagerly dwelt. I distinguished a
" crowd of slaves who had obtained permis-
cc sion from their masters to be present at
66 the ceremony. A body of English sol-
" diers was placed in a line ; after them
" came two lines of French soldiers and
" sailors. Immediately after, four soldiers
" bore the coffin on their shoulders, after
" the manner of the ancients. A national
" flag covered it, and hung down to the
" ground ; four officers, two French and

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 229

cc two English, were placed at the angles,
St diagonally opposite, and supported the
" corners; on the coffin were laid the
" uniform and the arms of the young
" soldier, and the distinctive marks of his
" rank. On the right and left French officers
" of the army and navy, and all the officers
" of the administration, ranged in two files,
" formed the procession. The band of mu-
" sic \vas at their head: afterwards, came
" the English staff with the respectable
" Major Peddy at its head, and the corps
" of citizens, led by the mayor of the town;
" lastly, the officers of the regiment, and a
" detachment, commanded by one of them,
" closed the procession. Thus was con-
" ducted to his last repose, this other victim
" of the fatal raft, snatched in the flower of
;fi his age, from his friends and his country,
" by the most fatal death, and whose fine
" qualities and courage rendered himwor-
•* thy of a less deplorable fate."

This brave officer, who was only
twenty-eight years of age, had been eight
years in the service; he had received the
cross of the Legion of Honor at the Champ
de Mai, as a reward for the services which

230 NARRATIVE OF A

he had performed at Talavera de la Reina,
Sierra Morena, Saragossa, Montmiraill,
Champaubert, and Montereau ; he was pre-
sent, also, at the too deplorable day of
Waterloo; he was then ensign-bearer of his
regiment.

Such were the events that passed in the
isle of St. Louis. The bad season, which, in
these countries is so fatal to the Europeans,
began to spread those numerous and dread-
ful maladies, which are so frequently accom-
panied by death. Let us now turn to the
unhappy persons assembled in the camp at
Daccard, not far from the village ot that
name, situated on the Peninsula of Cape
Verd.

The French Governor, as we have al-
ready observed, being unable to enter into
the possesssion of the colony, resolved to go
and remain upon Cape Verd, which had
been recognized to be the property of France.
On the 26th of July the Argus brig, and a
three-masted vessel belonging to Messrs.
Potin and Dureeur, took on board the re-
mains of the crew of the Medusa, that is,
the men who had landed near Portendick,
and some persons from the raft: those whose

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 231

health were the most impaired remained in the
hospital at St. Louis. These two vessels set sail;
the Governor embarked on board that with
three masts, and they arrived in the Goree
Roads at nightfall. The next day the men
were removed to Cape Verd : several soldiers
and sailors had already repaired to it;
(these were those who had first crossed the
desert :) the flute, la Loire, had conveyed
them thither some days before, with the
commander of the frigate. It had also
landed the troops it had on board, consist-
ing of a company of colonial soldiers. The
command of the camp was confided to Mr.
deFonsain, a respectable old man, who died
there the victim of his zeal. What procured
him this fatal distinction was the resolution
taken by the Governor to go and reside in
the island of Goree, to be able to superintend
the camp, and the ships, and doubtless for
the sake of his health.*

* The Governor, who it seems did not like the sight
of the unfortunate, had, however, no reason to fear that it
would too much affect his sensibility. He had elevated
himself above the little misfortunes of life, at least, when
they did not affect himself, to a degree of impassibility,
which would have done honor to the most austere stoic,

NAltltATlVE 01 A

The shipwreck of the frigate having
much reduced the number of the garrison,
and occasioned the loss of a great quantity
of provisions which she had on board, it
was necessary to dispatch a vessel to France,
to obtain assistance and fresh orders, on ac-
count of the difficulties that had been raised
by the English Governor. The Echo cor-
vette was chosen for this purpose, which
sailed on the 29th of July, in the evening.
She had on board fifty-five of those who

and which, doubtless, indicates the head of a statesman r
in which superior interests, and the thought of the pub-
lic good, leave no room for vulgar interests, for mean
details, for care to be bestowed on the preservation of a
wretched individual. Thus, when the death of some un-
happy Frenchman was announced to him, this news no
further disturbed his important meditations than to make
him say to his secretary, " Write, that Mr such a one is
" dead."

The governor is, at the bottom, doubtless, a man not
destitute of sensibility; for example, he never passed by
the king's picture (if any strangers were present) but he
shed tears of emotion. But bis great application to busi-
ness, the numerous occupations, the divers enterprises
which have agitated his life, have, if we may so express
it, so long distracted his thoughts that he has at length
felt the necessity of concentrating them wholly in himself*

We cannot here become the historians of the governor ;

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 233

had been shipwrecked, three of whom were
officers of the navy, the head surgeon, the
accountant, three eleves of the marine, and
an under surgeon. After a passage of thirty-
four days, this corvette anchored in Brest
Roads. Mr. Savigny says, that during the
six years he has been in the navy, he has
never seen a vessel so well kept, and where
the duty was done with so much regularity
as on board the Echo. Let us return to the
new establishment, which collected the
remnant of us on Cape Verd.

\re do not know whether his modesty will ever permit
him to publish the memoirs of his life; but the public
who know, or easily may know, that having been an apo-
thecary in Bengal, a physician in Madagascar, a dealer in
small wares, and land-surveyor in Java, a shopkeeper's
clerk in the isle of France and Holland, an engineer in the
camp of Batavia, commandant at Guadaloupe, chief of a
bureau at Paris, he has succeeded after passing through all
these channels, in obtaining the orders of St. Louis, and
the Legion of Honor, the rank of colonel, and the command
of a colony; the public, we say, will reasonable conclude,
that the governor is, without doubt, a universal man, and
that it is very natural that so superior a genius should have
set himself above many little weaknesses, which would
have arrested his flight, and which are proper for none but
weak minds, for good people who are made to creep on
upon the common route, and to crawl on the ground.

234 NARRATIVE OF A

A camp was formed there to receive them
neara village inhabited by negroes, andcalled
Daccard, as has been stated above. The na-
tives of the country appeared to be pleased
at seeing the French found an establishment
on their coast. A few days after, the sol-
diers and sailors having had some misunder-
standing, the latter were removed, and dis-
tributed between the Loire and the Argus.

The men who formed this camp were
soon attacked with the diseases of the coun-
try. They were ill fed, and many of them
had just endured long fatigues. Some fish,
very bad rum, a little bread, or rice, such
were their provisions. The chace also con-
tributed to supply their wants; but the
excursions which they made to procure game,
frequently impaired their health. It was in
the beginning of July that the bad season
began to be felt. Cruel diseases attacked
the unhappy French ; who being exhausted
by long privations, these terrible maladies
spread with dreadful rapidity. Two thirds
of them were attacked by putrid fevers, the
rapid progress of which hardly allowed the
physicians time, to administer that precious
remedy, the produce of Peru, of which, by

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 335

some mismanagement, the hospitals were
nearly destitute. (22) It was in these dis-
tressing circumstances that Mr. de Chau-
mareys came to take the command of the
camp. Other measures were taken, and the
hospitals were no longer in want of bark ;
but dysenteries, which frequently proved
mortal, spread every where. On all sides
there were none but unhappy men who
gave themselves up to despair, and who
sighed after their country : it was scarcely
possible to find men enough for the duty of
the camp. It is remarkable, that the crews
of the vessels, which were in the roads of
Goree, were hardly sensible of the influence
of the bad season : it is true these crews
were better fed, better clothed, and sheltered
from the inclemency of the air ; it is, besides,
pretty certain, that this road is healthy,
while the maladies of the country prevail
on shore. Such was the situation of the
camp of Daccard, when, on the 20th of No-
vember, the French Governor, was autho-
rized, by Mr. Macarty, Governor General
of the English settlements, to inhabit, on the
former coast of the French possessions, the

236 NARRATIVE OF A

place which should suit him the best. Mr.
Schtnalz chose St. Louis.*

As we were neither of us at the camp
of Daccard, we have not been able to detail
all that passed there, and to speak only of
things, with which we are perfectly ac-
quainted, we have been obliged to pass over
this part of our narrative rather slightly.

Mr. Correard, who had remained at the
isle of St. Louis, hastened to pay his re-
spects to the governor, when he came, in
consequence of the permission of Mr. Ma-
carty to inhabit that town. He relates, that
on this occasion, the governor received him
very well, pitied him much, and protested
that if he had not been taken better care of,
it was not his fault : Mr, Schmalz, allowed,
that he had been the worst treated of all the
shipwrecked persons, a thing which he had
long known ; " But, added he, your inisfor-
cc tunes are terminated, and henceforward
" you will want for nothing. I will send

* The giving up of the colony did not take place till
six months after our shipwreck. It was_not till the 25th
of January, 1817, that we took possession of our settle-
ments on the coast of Africa.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 237

" you, every day, very good rations of rice,
" meat, good wine, and excellent bread;
besides, in a short time, I will put you
" to board with Mr. Monbrun, where you
<c will be extremely well off." These last
promises were as unavailing as the first had
been. One day, however, in a fit of the
fever, Mr. Correard sent his servant to the
governor with a note, in which he asked for
a bottle of wine, and one of brandy ; he, in
fact, received what he had asked for ; but
when he was recovered from his delirium,
he was going to send back these two bot-
tles; however, on reflection, he thought it
would not be proper, and he resolved to
keep them. This is all that he was able to
obtain from the French authorities, during
five month's time that he remained at Saint
Louis. It is even probable that he would
have returned to France without having cost
his government the smallest trifle, but for
that fit of the fever, which deprived him of
his reason, and during which, he made the
request which he afterwards thought to be
indiscreet and improper.

On the 23rd, or 24th of November, he
again saw his two benefactors Major Peddy

238 NARRATIVE OF A

and Captain Campbell, who were about to
depart on their great expedition to the in-
terior of Africa.

At the moment of their separation.
Major Peddy was eager to give to Mr.
Correard the last marks of true friendship,
not only by his inexhaustible generosity,
but also by good advice, which the event has
rendered very remarkable, and which, for
this reason, we think it necessary to mention
here. The following is pretty nearly the
discourse which the good Major addressed
to Mr. Correard at their last interview :
" Since your intention," said he, " is to
" return to France, allow me, first of all, to
" give you some advice; I am persuaded
" that, if you will follow it, you will one day
tc have reason to congratulate yourself on
" it. I know mankind, and without pre-
" tending exactly to guess how your Mi-
" nister of the Marine will act towards
66 you, I, nevertheless, think myself justi-
" fied in presuming that you will obtain
" no relief from him; for, remember that
" a minister, who has committed a fault.
" never will suffer it to be mentioned to
" him, nor the persons or things presented

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 239

Ci to him, that might remind him of his
" want of ability ;* therefore, believe me, my
" friend; in stead of taking the road to Paris,
" take that to London ; there you will find

* What would our good Major have said if he had
known that our Minister of the Marine, Mr. Dubouchage,
had exposed himself in a far greater degree, to the em-
barrassment of the species of shame, attributed to him
here, by confiding seven or eight expeditions to officers
who do no more honour to his choice and discernment, than
the expedition to Senegal has done.

Besides the Medusa, which was conducted so directly
upon the bank of Arguin, by the Viscount de Chauma-
reys, Knight of St. Louis, and of the Legion of Honour, and
in the intervals of his campaigns, receiver of the droits
reunis, at Bellac, in Upper Vienue, every body knows
that the Golo, bound from Toulon to Pondichery, nearly
perished on the coast, by the unskilfulness of the Captain,
Chevalier Amblard, Knight of St. Louis, and the Legion of
Honour, who, in order not to lose sight of maritime affairs,
had become a salt merchant, near Toulon.* .Neither is the
debut of the Viscount de Cheflfontaine forgotten, who, on
quitting Rochefort, whence he was to sail to the Isle of
Bourbon, put into Plymouth to repair his masts, which he
had lost after being three or four days at sea. Who does
not know that it would be in our power to mention more
examples of this kind?

We spare the French reader these recollections, which
are always painful ; besides, what could our weak voice
add to the eloquent expressions which resounded in the
last session, in the chamber o4' deputies ; when a member,

210 NARRATIVE OF A

<c a number of philanthropes, who will
cc assist you, and I can assure you that
" henceforward, you will want for nothing.
" Your misfortunes have been so very great

the friend of his country and of glory, pointed out the
errors of the Minister of the Marine, and raised his voice
against those shadows of officers whom favor elevated to
the most important posts. He represented, with reason,
how prejudicial it was to government, that the command
of ships and colonies should be given as caprice dictates,
and to gratify the pretentious of vain pride, while expe-
rienced officers were overlooked, or disdainfully repulsed,
condemned to figure on the lists of the half-pay, of the re-
forms, and even before the time, which would have called
them to a necessary, or at least legal repose. How bur-
densome to the State, are these rctraites which render
useless, men whose zeal and talents ought to insure no
other than their vessel, who wished but to spend their
life there in uninterrupted service, who would have found
there a tomb, the only one worthy of a French sailor,
rather than suffer any thing contrary to duty and honour.
Instead of that, we have seen titles stake the reward of
knowledge, repose of experience, and protection of merit.
Men proud of thirty years of obscurity, make them figure
on the lists, as passed under imaginary colours, and this
service of a novel description establishes for them the
right of seniority. These men, decorated with ribbons of
all colours, who counted very well the number of their
ancestors, but of whom it would have been useless to ask
an account of their studies, being called to superior com-
mands, have not been able to shew anything but their

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 241

" that there is no Englishman who will
(< not feel a pleasure in assisting you. Here,
4< Sir, are 300 francs, which will suffice for
" the expences of your voyage, whether
"• you go to Paris or to London. Reflect a
" moment on what I propose to you, and
" if your resolution is such as [ wish you
" to take, let me know it immediately, that
" I may give you letters of recommendation
" to all my friends, as well as to my patrons,
" who will be truly happy to serve you."

Mr. Correard was deeply affected by
what he had just heard ; the noble genero-

orders, and their unskilfulness. They have done more:
they have had the privilege of losing the vessels and the
people of the State, without its being possible for the laws
to reach them ; and after all, how could a tribunal have
condemned them ? They might have replied to their
judges, that they had not passed their time in studying
the regulations of the service, or the laws of the marine,
and that, if they had failed, it was without knowledge or
design. In fact, it would be difficult to suppose that they
intended their own destruction ; they have but too well
proved that they knew how to provide for their own
safety. And what reply could have been made to them,
if they had confined their defence to these two points?
We did not appoint ourselves ; it is not we who are to
blame,

R

2-12 NARRATIVE OF A

sity of the excellent man to whom he al-
ready owed his life, and who entered with
such perfect readiness, into all the details
which he thought the most proper to finish
his work, and insure the happiness of his
poor friend, filled the heart of the latter
with emotion and gratitude; yet, shall we say
it? The advice to goto London, which the
Major had just given him, had in it some-
thing that distressed him ; he had not heard
it without recollecting that he was a French-
man, and some secret suggestions of self-love
and national pride, told him that aFrench-
man who had served his country, and
to whom unparalleled misfortunes had
given so many claims to the justice, as well
as to the kindness of his own government,
could not, without offering a kind of insult
to his fellow countrymen, begin by going
to England, and there throwing himself on
the public compassion. These sentiments,
therefore, suggested much more by his heart
than by his understanding, dictated his
answer to the Major.

It was not difficult for him to express,
with warmth, all the gratitude which he
owed him, forihe noble and delicate manner

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 243

in which he had sought him out. and re-
lieved him in his misfortune.

" As for the pecuniary assistance which
ec you still offer me/' continued he, " I accept
" it with great pleasure, because benefits
" conferred by you, can only do honour to
<c him who receives them, and because I
<c hope, one day, to repay this debt with
" interest, to your countrymen, if I can
" meet with any who have need of my as-
" sistance. As for your other proposal, Ma-
" jor, allow me not to be of your opinion,
" and to have a little more confidence in
4C the generosity of my government, as well
" as in that of my countrymen. If T acted
4C otherwise, would you not be authorised
" to have a bad opinion of the French
" character, and then, I appeal to yourself,
" generous Englishman, should not I have
<f lost my claims to your esteem? Believe
" me. Major, France can also boast of
" a great number of men, whose patri-
" otism and humanity may rival those
" which are so frequently found in Great
" Britain. Like you we are formed to the
<c sentiments, to the duties which compose
<f the true love of our country and of li-

R 2

244 NARRATIVE OF A

" berty. In returning to France, I firmly
" believe that I return into the bosom of a
" great family. But if, contrary to my ex-
" pectation, it were possible that I should
" find myself, one day, abandoned by my
" government, as we were by some men
" who have nothing French about them but
" their dress; if France, which so often and
" so nobly welcomes the unfortunate of
" other countries, should refuse pity and
" assistance to her own children, then, Ma-
" jor, should I be obliged to seek, else-
cc where, a happier fate and a new country :
" there is no doubt but that I should chuse
" that of my generous benefactors in pre-
" ference to every other/*

Major Peddy answered Mr. Correard
only by tears. The transport of patriotism,
in which the latter had naturally indulged
himself, had found, as may be supposed,
the heart of the noble Briton, in harmony
with that of him whom he protected ; he
felt a visible satisfaction, and an emotion
which he did not attempt to dissemble. The
Major closely embraced Mr. Correard, bid-
ding him farewell for ever; it seemed that
this worthy man forsesaw his approaching
end.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 245

He was in fact destined to sink beneath
the fatigues of the journey which he was
about to undertake.

This expedition was composed, besides
the Major, who commanded in chief, and
the Captain, \vho was the second in com-
mand, and charged with the astronomical
observations, of a young Physician, who
was third in command ; of Mr. Kummer,
the naturalist (a Saxon naturalized in
France); of a Mulatto, who acted as inter-
preter; of thirty white soldiers, almost all
workmen; of a hundred black soldiers, and
of about ten camels, a hundred and fifty
horses, as many asses, and a hundred oxen
to carry burdens ; so that there were above
a hundred and thirty men, and four hun-
dred animals. All the equipages wrere em-
barked on board six small vessels, which
ascended the Rio Grande to the distance of
about fifty leagues up the country. The
respectable commander of this expedition
could not resist the influence of the cli-
mate; he was attacked by a cruel disease,
which terminated his existence a few days;
after his departure from the island of St,

246 NARRATIVE Ol A

Louis. Such men ought to be imperish-
able *.

* Just as we are going to send this sheet to the
press, we learn from the newspapers, that this expedition
has failed ; that it was not able to proceed above fifty
leagues into the interior, and that it returned to Sierra
Leone, after having lost several officers, and among them
Captain Campbell, who had taken the command after the
death of Major Peddy. Thus the good fall and the
Thersites live, and are often even honoured. Captain
Campbell was one of our benefactors, may his manes be
sensible to our regret, and may his family and country
permit us to mingle with their just affliction, this weak
tribute of respect, by which we endeavour as far as lies in
our power ro discharge the sacred debt of gratitude !

Among the losses which this expedition has expe-
rienced, it is feared that we must reckon that of our excel-
lent companion, the Naturalist Kummer; nevertheless, as
no possitive information of his death has yet been re-
ceived of his fate, his numerous friends, in the midst of
their fears, still cherish some hopes : May they not be dis-
appointed.

The accounts which inform us of this event, attribute
the ill success of the expedition, to the obstacles opposed
to it by the natives of the interior, but enter into no de-
tails. We learn from geogaphers, that up the Rio Grande
there lives the warlike nation of the Souucsous,whom some
call the Fonllahs of Guinea. The name of their capital
is Teembo. They are Mahometans, and make war on the
idolatrous tribes who surround them, to sell their prisoners.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 247

The English physicians finding that
the health of Mr. Correard far from im-
proving, seemed on the contrary, to decline
more and more, persuaded him to return
to France. These gentlemen gave him
a certificate of such a nature, that the
French governor could not object to his de-
parture; he received his request perfectly
well, and two days after his passage was
secured ; but we shall see in the sequel what
was the motive of this favorable attention to
his request.

On the 28th of November, in the morn-
ing, he embarked on board of a coasting-
vessel, which conveyed him first on board
the Loire, which was bound for France : he
was no sooner embarked, than the fever
seized him, as it did almost every day; he
was in a dreadful situation, weakened by

A remarkable institution, called the Pouarh, seems to have
a great resemblance with the ancient secret Tribunal of
Germany. The Pouarh is composed of members who
are not admitted among the initiated till they have tinder-
gone the most horrible probations. The association exer-
cises the power of life and death; every body shuns him,
whose head it has proscribed. It may be that it was by
this species of government, which seems not to want
power, that the English expedition was stopped.

248 NARRATIVE OJt A

five months' illness, consumed by a burning'
fever, added to the heat of the noon-day
sun, which struck perpendicularly on his
head ; he thought he was going to die ; he
had, besides, painful vomitings, produced
by the heat, and by an indisposition caused
by the fish on which he had breakfasted
before his departure. The little vessel
crossed the bar; but it falling a dead calm,
it could not proceed : they perceived this
on board the Loire, and immediately dis-
patched a large boat to fetch the passen-
gers out of the heat of the sun. While this
boat was coming, Mr. Correard fell asleep
upon a coil of cables that were on the
deck of the little vessel ; but before he fell
quite asleep, he heard some one say,
<c Thwe's one who will never get to France"
The boat came in less than a quarter of an
hour; all those who were about my sick
friend, embarked on board the boat, without
any one's having the generosity to awaken
him ; they left him asleep, exposed to the
beams of the sun ; he passed five hours in
this situation, after the departure of the
boat. In his life he had never suffered so
much, except during the thirteen days on

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 249

the raft. When he asked, on awaking,
what was become of the other gentlemen,
he was told that they were gone, and that
not one of them had shewed any intention
of taking him with them. A breeze
springing up, his vessel at last reached the
Loire, and there on the deck, in the pre-
sence of the sailors, he reproached in the
bitterest manner, those who had abandoned
him, and even said oifensive things to
them. These sallies, the consequence of
his exasperation, caused him to be looked
upon as out of his mind, and nobody trou-
bled himself about the severe truths which
he had thus publicly uttered. The Loire
sailed on the 1st of December, and arrived
in France on the 27th of the same month.

When Mr. Correard got to Rochefort,
he waited on the Intendant of the Marine,
who received him kindly, and authorised
him to remain in the hospital as long as he
should think necessary for his recovery.
He was placed in the officers' ward, where
he received the utmost attention from the
medical gentlemen, who besides the aid ot
their art, shewed him the greatest regard

250 NARRATIVE OV A x

and mitigated his misfortunes by kind con-
solations. Mr. Savigny saw every day his
companion in misfortune, and he often re-
peated, " Iain happy, I have at length met
" with men sensible to my misfortunes." After
having passed thirty-three days in this fine
hospital, he judged his health sufficiently
recovered, and desired to leave it, in order
to go to his family.

We shall here conclude the nautical
part of our history; but as, since our return
to France, particular circumstances and a
series of events, which we were far from
foreseeing, have, as it were prolonged the
chain of our adventures, we think it will
not be amiss to add another article, respect-
ing what has happened to us since we have
returned to our country.

Mr. Savigny thought, that after having
undergone unexampled misfortunes, he had
a right to describe all the sufferings to
which he and his companions in misfortune
had been exposed for thirteen days. Was
it ever heard that the unhappy were
forbidden to complain? Well, the fresh
misfortunes which have befallen him, and

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 251

which he is going to lay before our readers,
have arisen, from his not having buried in
silence these disastrous events.

During his passage on board the Echo,
he wrote the account of our unhappy adven-
tures; his intention w7as to deliver his nar-
rative to the Minister of the Marine. When
he arrived in France, in the month of Sep-
tember, some persons advised him to go to

Paris, where, said they, " Your misfor-
" tunes will procure you the favor of
" the Ministry ," and it was considered as
an absolute certainty, that some recom-
pense would make him forget the consider-
able losses which he had sustained, the
dangers which he had just escaped, and the
pain arising from his wounds, for at that
time he still wore his right arm in a sling.
He listened to the advice which was given
him, because it came from very sensible
persons, and set out for the capital, carry-
ing his manuscript with him. He arrived
at Paris on the 11th of September; his first
care was to go to the office of the Minister
(of the Marine), where he deposited all the
papers which he had drawn up respecting
the shipwreck of the Medusa. But what

2-32 AARRAT1VE OF A

was his astonishment to see the day after,
the Journal dcs Debats of the 13th of Sep-
tember, an extract from his narrative, copied
almost literally : he then endeavoured to

m

discover whence the editors con Id have ob-
tained these details; it cost him but little
time to solve the riddle.

We shall not here explain by what
means his manuscript became known to the
editor of the Journal. We shall here con-
tent ourselves with saying, that while Mr.
Savigny was still at Brest, a person, who
has connexions with the officer of the marine,
with the intention of serving him, asked him
for a copy of his memoir, saying, that by
the medium of a person in office, he could
get it conveyed to the minister of the marine.
This copy of our adventures was entrusted
to this person, arid by him sent to Paris.
Mr. Savigny had acted in this manner, be-
cause his intention, at that time, was to go to
his family, without passing through the ca-
pital. It appears that this copy was not
discreetly kept, since it reached the editor of
the Journal des Debats : certainly, he who
received it from Brest, was very far from
wishing to injure the author of the memoir,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 253

If he had had the smallest idea of all the dis-
agreeable con sequences ai sing from the pub-
licity which he gave to the narrative, by
shewing it to several persons, he would have
kept it more carefully, or at least, he would
have delivered it immediately to the minister
of the marine for whom it was intended.
This publicity, by means of the Journal,
drew upon Mr. Savigny the most serious
remonstrances. The very same day he was
sent for to the office ; he was told that his
excellency was discontented, and that, he
must immediately prove, that he was inno-
cent of the publication of our misfortunes,
which affected all France, and excited a
lively interest in the fate of the victims.
ButforMr. Savigny,every thing was changed ;
instead of the interest, which his situation
ought to inspire, he had called down upon
himself the severity of the minister, and was
to justify himself, for having dared to write
that he had been very unfortunate, by the
fault of others. The reception he met with
at the office affected him so much, that but,
for the advice of some persons, he would
have resigned his commission at once. There
was but one means to prove, that it was not

254 NARRATIVE OF A

he, who had given his narrative to the editor
of the Journal des Debats : this was to ob-
tain the certificate of the editor himself.
Conscious of the truth,, he went to him, and
that honorable writer, without hesitation,
did homage to the truth, by the following
certificate.

" I certify that it is not from Mr. Sa
" vigny, that I have the details of the ship-
" wreck of the Medusa inserted in the
" journal of the 13th of September, 1816."
(Signed) The Editor of the Jour-
nal des Debats.

This certificate was put into the hands
of M. * * * * and by him presented to his ex-
cellency, who, however, did not appear
satisfied, because this certificate, though it
proved, that Mr. Savigny was not the person
who had rendered public the history of our
adventures, threw no light on the means by
which the manuscript had become known
to the editor. One of the principal persons
in the office, having signified to him the
opinion of his excellency, who found this
justification insufficient, Mr. Savigny again
had recourse to the editor of the journal,
who gave a second certificate as follow

VOYAGE TO SENEGAI*. 255

" I certify, that it is not from Mr. Sa-
" vigny, that I have the details inserted in
" the Number of the 13th of September,
" but from the office of the Minister of the
" Police/' After this new proof, it was no
longer doubted, but that Mr. Savigny had
been the victim of an indiscretion, and he
was told that he might return to his post.
He therefore left the capital, after having
experienced many vexations ; but those,
which the publication of our misfortunes
was to cause him, were not yet at an end.

The English translated the details con-
tained in the Journal of the 13th of Sep-
tember, and inserted them in one of their
Journals which reached Senegal. In this
amplified translation, there were some
pretty strong passages, which were far
from pleasing the governor, and M. * * * *,
one of the officers of the frigate. They
perceived that there was but one means to
combat the narrative ; this was to endeavour
to make it believed, that it was false in many
particulars. A report was therefore drawn
up at St Louis ; it was brought to Mr. Cor-
reard to be signed, who, after perusing it.
refused, because he found it contrary to the

256 NARRATIVE OF A

truth. The governor's secretary came several
times to the hospital, to urge him for his
signature ; but he persisted in his refusal :
the governor himself pressed him very earn-
estly one day that he went to solicit leave
to depart; he answered, that he would never
consent to sign a paper quite at variance
with the truth, and returned to his hospital.
The next day, his friend, Mr. Kummer,
went to him, and invited him to return to
the governor's, in order, at length, to sign
this paper, because he had been informed,
that if he persisted in his refusal, he should
not return to France. These gentlemen,
must therefore, have felt themselves deeply
interested, to be reduced to employ such
measures towards an unfortunate man, ex-
hausted by a long sickness, and whose reco-
very depended on his return to Europe,
which they thought not to grant him, except
on condition of his signing a false narrative,
contrary to what he had himself seen ; for
one paragraph was employed to prove that
the towrope had broken ; could he sign it,
who was himself an eye witness, and who
had been assured by more than twenty per-
sons, that it had been made loose. Besides

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 257

this falsehood, it was stated one passage, that,
when the raft was left, the words we abandon
them, were not pronounced ; in another
passage, that Mr. Savigny, in publishing
his account, had shewn himself ungrateful
to his officers, who had done every thing to
serve him personally; there were, besides,
some improper personalities : he was in par-
ticular much surprised to see at the bottom
of this paper, the signature of a man, whose
life Mr. Savigny had saved with his own
hand.* Mr. Correard's perseverance in

* This remark on the conduct of one of our compa-
nions whom we had known, under more favourable circum-
stances, had cost us some pain in the first edition : there-
fore, we did not expressly name the person meant. When
we now name Mr. Griffon, we conceive ourselves to be
fulfilling a duty, which his present sentiments impose
on us.

A man of honor, especially, when in the state of weak-
ness, and of mental and bodily infirmity to which we were
reduced, might be misled for a moment ; but when he
repairs this involuntary error, with the generosity which
dictated the following letter, we repeat it, there is no longer
any crime in having thus erred, and it is justice, and a
very pleasing duty for us to do homage to the frankness, to
the loyalty of Mr. Griffon, and to congratulate ourselves,
on having found again the heart of the companion of our

258 NARRATIVE OF A

withholding his signature, triumphed over
injustice, and his return to Europe was no
longer retarded. But the same manoeuvres

misfortunes, such as we had known him, and with all his
rights to our esteem.

The following is the letter which he has just written
to Mr. Savigny, and which is a highly valuable proof of
the truth of our accounts.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Griffon to Mr. Savigny.

At present, Sir, I owe you a testimony of gratitude for
your attention in anticipating me. I know, that in your
eyes I could not merit so much generosity from you : it is
noble to forget the ills that have been done us, and to do
good to those who have sought to injure us: your conduct
towards me is admirable ; 1 confess, that, though my recla-
mations were just at the first, I have suffered myself to be
carried too far by the first impulse of a weak and exalted
imagination, which led me to decry my unhappy com-
panion in misfortune, because I fancied, that the account
which he had drawn up of our misfortunes might render
us odious to all our relations and friends.** Such are the
reasons which I alledged to you at Rochefort, and you
must then have perceived, that 1 spoke to you with frank-
ness, since I concealed nothing from you. I am not at
present without repentance, for not havingwaited for better
information, before I acted against one, whose firmness did
not a little contribute to save our lives.

Bourgneuf, January 7, 1818. GRIFFON DUBELLAY.

**

The same means were employed with Mr. Correard.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 259

had more success in anoflier quarter, and
Messrs. Dupont, Lheureux^ Chariot, Jean
Charles, and Touche-Lavilette could not
escape the snare which was laid for them.
They were labouringunderthat terriblefever
which carried off the French with so much
rapidity, when they were invited by the
governor to sign this narrative. Some
yielded to the fear of displeasing his excel-
lency ; others conceived hopes of obtaining
his protection, which, in the colonies is no
trifling advantage ; others again were so
weak, that they were not even able to make
themselves acquainted with the paper to
which they were desired to put their names.
It was thus, that our companions were in-
duced to give testimony against themselves,
to certify the contrary of what they had seen
respecting all that had been done, to bring
about our destruction. Our readers have
just seen the noble disavowal of Mr. Griffon,
of the false impressions which had deceived
him in respect to us : in order that the reader
may be able to form a just opinion of the
report directed against us, we insert here a
document equally precise and decisive : it is
a declaration of Mr. Touche-Lavillette, who

8 2

260 NARRATIVE OF A

acknowledges, that he signed in confidence,
a paper, the contents of which were unknown
to him, as well as the purpose for which it
was drawn up.*

Thus supported by authorities, the
value of which any body can now appre-
ciate, this lardy and inexact report was

* I, the undersigned chief of the workmen under the
command of Mr. Correard, engineer, geographer, one of
the members of the commission appointed by his excel-
lency the minister of the marine and the colonies, to exa-
mine Cape Verd and its environs, certify that, in the month
of November, 1816, a memorial was presented me to sign?
by order of the governor of Senegal ; that, at this time,
living in the hospital in the island of Goree, to be cured of
an epidemic fever, which then raged on Cape Verd ; it occa-
sioned temporary fits of delirium; that consequently, this
weakeningof my moral faculties, and even the state of mental
derangement, in which I was caused to sign this piece with-
out reading it: it appears, that it tended, in part, to blame
the conduct of Mr. Savigny on the raft, and for which 1
owe him, only commendations. It appears, also, according
to what has been told me, that I have been made to certify,
that the tow-rope broke and was not loosened ; 1 declare,
that my signature at the bottom of this memorial, having
been surreptitiously obtained, is null and void ; in testi-
mony whereof, I have delivered the present certificate to
serve towards repelling any attack that might be made
against Mr. Savigny, on the ground of this memorial.
Done at Paris, November 1, 1817. TOUCHE LAVILETTE.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 261

addressed to the minister of the marine.
Mr. Correard, when he landed at Rochefort,
informed Mr. Savigny of it, and gave him
a certificate of what has been just related.
The latter procured two others, which were
delivered to him, by those of his companions
in misfortune, who were in France. These
certificates will be found in the notes (I)
(2) (3).

(1) I, the undersigned, appointed to command the raft
of the Medusa frigate, certify, that Mr. Savigny, the sur*
geon, who embarked in the said raft, has given on all occa-
sions, in the unhappy situation in which we were placed*
proofs of the greatest courage and coolness, and that on
several occasions, his prudence was of the greatest service
to us, in suggesting to us means to maintain good order,
and discipline, of which we had so much need, and which
it was so difficult for us to obtain.

(Signed) COUDIJT.

\2) 1, the undersigned, certify, that Mr. Savigny, by
his courage and coolness, succeded in maintaining good
order upon the raft, and that, his prudent arrangements
saved the lives of the fifteen unfortunate persons, who
were taken up by the Argus brig.

(Signed) NICOLAS FRANCOIS.

(3) 1, the undersigned, certify, to all whom it may
concern, that I have refused to sign a memorial drawn up

by Mr. — , which was addressed to his excellency the

minister of the marine, and tended to disapprove the con-

262 NARRATIVE A OF

Provided with these three certificates,
Mr. Savigny solicited permission to go to
Paris, in order to be able to let his excel-
lency see, that they were seeking to deceive
him. Two months passed without informa-
tion. Mean time, Mr. Correard deparled
for the capital, taking a letter from his com-
rade, for a person in the office, to whom it
was delivered, and who did not give a deci-
sive answer to what was asked of him. At
length, Mr. Savigny received a letter from
Paris, in which he was informed, " That
Cf not only he would not receive the permis-
" sion which he solicited, but that, as long
" as the present minister was at the head of
" affairs, he would have no promotion."
This letter, which he had so long expected,
was dated May 10, 1817. Mr. Savigny dis-
gusted by all that he had just experienced,
gave in his resignation, after having served

duct of Mr. Savigny on board the raft, as well as to refute
some parts of the narrative of our shipwreck, inserted in
the Journal des Debats, the 13th of September, 1816,
besides, the events related in this memorial, appear to me
so entirely false, and so contrary to all that we owe to Mr.
Savigny, that it was impossible for me to put iny name to
it. (Signed) CORREARD.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 263

six years, and made as many expeditions
by sea. On leaving the service, this medical
officer, who had several times narrowly
escaped perishing in the waves, was ho-
nored by the regret of the superiors under
whom he has been employed, as may be
judged by the copy of the* certificate, which
they gave him when he resigned his situa-
tion. Fresh misfortunes have also befallen
Mr. Correard, from the time that he left
Rochefort, till the moment that he was able
to join his companion in misfortune, to write
together the account of their shipwreck.

On the 4th of February 1817, thinking
himself entirely recovered, he resolved to
set out for Paris, where business rendered
his presence necessary ; but as his pecuniary
resources were slender, and he had been

* The Board of Health certifies, that Mr. Jean Baptiste
Henry Savigny, has been employed in the character of
surgeon, fromjthe 15th of April,1811, to the 5th of May,1817»
and that in the course of his service, both by sea and land.
he has given proofs of zeal, emulation, and good conduct.
It is with regret, that the Board of Health, sees an
officer retire from the service, who is so distinguished by
his talents as Mr. Savigny.

(Signed) CHASLON, TUFFET, REJOU.

264 NARRATIVE OF A

at considerable expence to clothe himself,
(for he was almost naked when he landed
from the Loire) he thought he could make
the journey on foot. On the first day he felt
only a slight pain, on the second it in-
creased, and on the third, the fever seized
him. He was then three leagues from Poi-
tiers, near a very little village : exhausted
with fatigue, and weakened by the fever, he
resolved to go to the mayor, and ask him
for a billet; this functionary was from home,
but his wife said, that at all events, it would
be necessary first to obtain the consent of

Monsieur the Marquis de. Colonel of

the National Guard. The weary traveller
thought there could be no impropriety in
waiting on the Marquis : he was deceived
in his expectation ; the Colonel gave him a
very bad reception, and was insensible to
his entreaties; it was in vain that he shewed
him his certificates, his pass, his wounds,
and even his arms which shook with the
fever : nothing could move him. The un-
fortunate invalid, in despair, retired, cursing
the inhumanity, which he had not expected
to find in an officer of the National Guard,
promising in his own mind, never to forget

VOYAGE TO SENEGA I,. 265

his illustrious name, and the unfeeling man-
ner in which lie had answered to his re-
quests. Exhausted as he wras, he was
obliged to drag on another weary league on
foot, in order to reach a public house where
he might rest himself. The next day, with
much difficulty, he got to Poitiers. He had
the happiness to find a man of feeling in
the Mayor, who was much affected by his
melancholy situation ; it was, indeed, calcu-
lated to excite interest; for a few minutes
before he entered the town-hall, he fainted,
but the most charitable assistance was be-
stowed on him by a respectable lady, and
he soon recovered from this swoon. One of
the clerks soon gave liim a billet, assuring
him that it was upon one of the best houses
in the town ; which was true; and the poor
invalid owns, that in his life, he never
has received more affectionate care than that
which he met with in the house of Mr.
Maury, proprietor of the hotel of the Roman
Antiquities. Poitiers was therefore a place
of happiness for him. It was soon known
in the town, that one of the shipwrecked
persons from the raft, was within its walls ;
and during the whole day nothing was

266 NARRATIVE OF A

spoken of but that melancholy event. Two
persons, well known for their talents, and
the high offices which they have filled, came
to the relief of Mr. Correard : both had been
formerly exiled ; they knew what misfortune
was, and knew how to pity that of an un-
happy man, who had just experienced such
extraordinary hardships; they invited him to
spend the whole of the fine season at their
country houses ; but desiring to reach Paris
as soon as possible, he refused the generous
offer that was made him, and after having
rested three days at Poitiers, he left it by
the diligence, and at. last arrived in the
capital.

On his arrival, his first step was di-
rected by gratitude; he recollected the signal
services which he had received from the
English officers, during his abode at Saint
Louis ; and his heart urged him to enquire
of the ambassador of that nation, if he had
not received any intelligence respecting his
benefactors.*

* To His Excellency the^British Ambassador, at the

Court of France.
My Lord,
A Frenchman who, after a shipwreck without parallel,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 267

After he had thus discharged the duty
which was imposed on him by their bene-
ficence, he made all the necessary applica-
tions to the office of the Marine to obtain
an employment in the capital. He was
answered that it was impossible, advising

has been fraternally assisted by foreigners whom national
interests seemed calculated to estrange from him, is eager
to give utterance to the sentiments of gratitude with which
he is filled.

This Frenchman, My Lord, is Alexander Correard, an
engineer, an honorary member of the commission appointed
to examine Cape Verd and its environs, one of the fifteen
persons who escaped out of the hundred and fifty indi-
viduals shipwrecked, with the raft of the Medusa frigate,
of whom only eleven are still living.

It is this want of my heart, which emboldens me to
address Your Excellency, the worthy representative in my
country of that of my generous benefactors, whose names
will be ever memorable in the annals of humanity.

Yes, My Lord, it is a duty delightful to my heart, to
declare, that the justest title to the gratitude of all the
French has been acquired by Major Peddy, commanding
the Expedition to the Interior of Africa, charged to con-
tinue the great undertaking of Mungo Park, by the obliging
generosity which he shewed to the unfortunate men who
escaped from the fatal raft, by bestowing on them linen,
clothes, money and admitting them to his table, &c. These
attentions were aided by Captain Campbell, the second
in command, who never ceased to load me also with his
benefits ; in short, in imitation of them, all the English

208 iNARRATlVE OF A

him to make an application for a situation
in the colonies, particularly Cayenne. Three
months passed in useless solicitations to ob-
tain this employment, as well as the deco-
ration of the legion of honour, which he
had been led to hope for.

During: this time he neglected nothing

Officers, both those of the Expedition, as of the Royal
African Regiment in garrison at St. Louis, vied with each
other in relieving- us, especially Captain Chemme, Lieute-
nant Hommera, Adjutant-Major Grey, Ensigns Beurthonne
and Adams.

May Your Excellency receive with kindness, the sin-
cere expression of gratitude to the English nation, of a
French private citizen who has been ruined by this dread-
ful disaster. Above all, may what he has experienced
give his countrymen fresh reason to esteem these brave
officers, at the same time that it is a proof of the wisdom
of a government, which, among so many enlightened per-
sons, has so well chosen, to finish an immense enterprise,
co-operators, whose distinguished talents and social vir-
tues, must ensure success, which promises such great
advantages to the universe.

Relying on Your Excellency's generosity, Mr. Cor-
reard begs you to be pleased to transmit to him some in-
formation respecting his benefactors, and particularly the
honorable Major Peddy, to whom he has vowed eternal
attachment,

I have the honour to be, &c.

A. CORREARD.

Paris, March 5, 1817.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 269

which he thought might conduce to enable
him to attain the object which he thought
he might propose to himself without being
accused of extravagant pretensions. Ex-
cited by the advice of a great many persons,
whose judgment, as well as their noble and
generous sentiments, commanded implicit
confidence, he resolved to go to the very
fountain of favors, to carry into the royal
palace the sight of his strange misfortune, to
invoke that hereditary goodness, the bright
patrimony of the Bourbons, which so
many other unfortunate persons have not
solicited in vain. But the malignant in-
fluence of the adverse star, which so long
persecuted Mr. Correard, doubtless continued
to manifest itself here. Neither he nor any
other person will accuse the heart of the
august personages to whom he addressed
his petition ; but whether timidity, the na-
tural concomitant of misfortune, or a certain
delicacy, hindered him from renewing his
applications, for fear of seeming importunate,
whether, as in the crowd of solicitors who
surround princes, it is morally impossible
that some should not be forgotten or less
remarked, Mr. Correard's ill-fortune placed

270 NARRATIVE OF A

him among this less favored number, or
whether it b£ the effect of some other un-
known adverse cause, he obtained on this
side only vain hopes, as well as a just idea
of the obstacles of every kind, with which
the best princes are, as it were, surrounded
without being conscious of it, and which
keep back or turn aside the favor, which is
always granted in their heart, just at the
moment that it is on the point of being
declared,

He first presented a petition to His
Royal Highness Monsieur. He solicited the
insignia of that order which was instituted
torecompence all kinds of civil and military
merit, to spread among all classes of society,
the noble flame of emulation, of that order
which was offered to Goflin, whose firmness
forced his desponding companions, to hope
for the assistance that was preparing for
them: which has just been given to several
of the shipwrecked crew of La Caravane*

* The flute La Caravane, commanded by Mr. Le
Nonnand de Kergrist, perished in the dreadful hurricane,
which was experienced at Martinique and some other
Islands, on the 21st and 22nd of October last. Messrs.
Fournier Lieutenant, Legrandais, and Lespert Midship-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 271

who in their disaster, shewed themselves
equally generous and intrepid ; but who,
however, had nothing to complain of but
the elements, nothing to combat but the
tempest.

He has every reason to believe that
Monsieur had the goodness to sign his peti-
tion ; but he has not been able to discover
where, or how it has been lost on the way with-
out reaching its destination. In the inquiries
which he made at the office of the Prince's
Secretary, he metwith a young man eighteen
or 20 twenty years of age, who already
wore the same mark of merit which Mr. Cor-
reard desired, and who only expressed an
astonishment which was more than diso-
bliging, at the subject of his demand, asking
him if he had been twenty-five years in the
service. Mr. Correard, feeling on his side
something more than surprise, thought it
best to withdraw, but not till he had ob-
served to this very young man, that he who
appeared so difficult about the claims of

man, and Paulin Boatswain, have received the cross of the
Legion of Honor for their conduct on this occasion.^ — Vide
the Moniteur of January 22.

272 NARRATIVE OF A

others must, according to appearance, in
order to obtain the cross of the legion of
honor, have got the years of his ancestors
services counted instead of his own.

His friends again persuaded him to
petition the Duke dj Angouleme, from whom,
as High-Admiral of France, these friends
thought that Mr. Correard might expect an
intervention more likely to promote the suc-
cess of his application to the Minister of the
Marine. He therefore went to the Tuileries
on the 8th of May, and though his wounds
still rendered walking painful to him, he
had the good fortune to meet with the Prince
as he was coming from a review, and. to
present him a memorial as he passed. His
Koyal Highness received him graciously,
expressed his satisfaction at seeing one of
the persons who had escaped from the fatal
raft, and pressing his hand in the most
affable manner, said to him, " My friend,
" you have experienced very great misfor-
" tunes. It seems that amidst these disas-
" ters you have behaved well." After
having run over the memorial, the Prince
was pleased to add : 4C Thus it is that the
" King should be served; I will recom-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 273

Wfc jiiend you to His Majesty, and let him
" know your conduct and your situation."
These marks of kindness have hitherto
been all that Mr. Correard has obtained by
this memorial. However, His Royal High-
ness transmitted it to the navy-office, but
there is every reason to suppose that it will
remain buried there amidst the mass of pa-
pers; from which it might be presumed
that the recommendations of princes are
received with great indifference by the
clerks of ministers, and that their offices are
the shoals where the petitions of the un-
happy are lost ; in fact, a man of great ex-
perience, to whom Mr. Correard communi-
cated this mischance, told him, that, in such
an affair, he would rather have the protec-
tion of the meanest clerk, than that of the
first prince of the blood.

We think it superfluous to detain the
reader any longer, with two or three other
attempts, which were still more unfortunate,
and only revived painful recollections in the
mind of Mr, Correard.

At last he received a letter from the
Minister of the Marine, dated the 4th of
June : it was a thunder-clap to him, for he

T

274 NARRATIVE OI< A

was made to understand that all his appli-
cations would probably be in vain.

However, on the 20th of July, he received
a note from Mr. Jubelin, inviting him to call
at the Office of the Marine. His heart opened
at this ray of hope ; it was merely to know
whether it were true, that he had received
a pass to repair from Rochefort to his home.
He answered in the affimative, which seemed
to cause much surprise, for one had just
been refused to Mr, Richefort, who solicited
it in vain, though he was also one of those
shipwrecked. He profited by the opportu-
nity to inquire whether the expedition to
Cayenne was soon to depart? A vague
answer being returned, he represented how
unfortunate he and his companions on the
raft were, that they could obtain nothing,
while some officers of the frigate had been
appointed to commands. Mr. Jubelin answer-
ed that the ministry owed them nothing, and
particularly to him : that he had gone of
his own free will, and had engaged to ask
nothing of the minister, except what was
stipulated and mentioned in the treaty of
May 16, 1816, by which His Excellency
made to the explorers, numerous concessions

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 275

(which it would be too long to mention here)
on condition that they should correspond
with His Excellency, through the Governor
of Senegal ; that they should be placed un-
der the orders of that governor, and that
they should undertake nothing without his
approbation.

The impartial public will judge if, af-
ter such conventions, and having allowances,
and passes from the government, it was to
be presumed that he, who had been thus
treated, would be told that they owed him
nothing, not even assistance.

He learned, in the office, that the coun-
sellor of State, Baron de Portal, had the in-
tention to obtain for him, the decoration of
the Legion of Honor, and that, for this pur-
pose, he had had a memorial drawn up in
his favour : but the minister had written in
the margin, " I cannot lay this request be-
" fore the King.33 Thus the voice of the
unfortunate Correard could not reach the
throne ; the minister would not permit it.
Doubtless if His Majesty had been informed,
that some unhappy Frenchmen, who had
escaped from the raft of the Medusa> had

T 2

NAKIlATlVli 01 A

long and in vain solicited his minister, his
paternal goodness would have given them
proofs of his justice and his benevolence.
His kind hand which is extended even to
the guilty, by conferring his favors upon
us his faithful subjects, would have made us
forget our misfortunes and our wounds ; but
no, an unfriendly power, between us and
the throne, was an insuperable barrier, which
stopped all our supplications.

Mr. Correard persuaded of the inu-
tility of making fresh applications, gave up
for the present all farther solicitation for
what he had so well deserved by his cou-
rage and his services. The change in the
ministry has revived his hopes : a letter
from that department informs him that his
Excellency would willingly embrace an op-
portunity to serve him *.

A minister, when he is really so dis-

* Paris, Sept. 8, 1817,

Sir. — The Memorials which you addressed on the tenth
of June last, to the King and to His Royal Highness the
Duke of Angouleme, have been referred to my apartment.
J have examined the Memorials, as well as the letters
which you have written on the same subject to my prede-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL.

posed, easily finds means to employ an un-
fortunate man who asks but little.

Such are the vexations which we have
expei ienced since our return to France : now
returned to the class of citizens, though re-
duced to inactivity, after having exhausted
our resources in the service, disgusted, for-
gotten, we are not the less devoted to our
country and our king. As Frenchmen, we
know that we owe to them our fortune and
our blood. It is with the sincere expression
of these sentiments that we shall conclude
the history of our adventures.

In fine, we think that the reader
will not be sorry to have some notices
concerning the French settlements on the
coast of Africa. As they seemed to us
very interesting, we shall examine, but
briefly, the places themselves, and the
advantages that might be derived from
them.

cessors. If an opportunity should occur, in which 1 can
serve you, I will readily embrace it.

Receive, Sir, the assurance of my perfect considera-
tion.

The Minister Secretary of State of the Marine and
Colonies. COUNT Moif

278 NARRATIVE OF A

These details will be a happy digres-
sion from the sad accounts of our misfor-
tunes, and as the object of them is of great
public utility, they will not be out of their
place at the conclusion of a work, in which,
we have thought it our duty, less for our
own interest, than that of the public ser-
vice, to employ our humble efforts for the
disclosure of the truth.

The part of the coast beginning at Cape
Blanco, and extending to the arm of the river
Senegal, called the Marigot of the Marin-
gouins, is so very arid, that it is not fit
for any kind of cultivation ; but from that
Marigot, to the mouth of the river Gambia,
a space, which may be about a hundred lea-
gues, in length, with a depth of about two
hundred, we meet with a vast country, which
geographers call Senegambia.

Let us remark, however, before we go
any further, that, notwithstanding the steri-
lity of this part of the coast, it is not without
importance, on account of the rich produce
of the sea which bathes it. The agriculture
of the waters as a celebrated naturalist has
said, offers too many advantages, for the
places that are adapted to it, to pass un-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 279

observed : this part of the sea, known by
the name of the Gulphof Arguin, is especi-
ally remarkable for the immense quantity
of fish which visit it, at different seasons, or
which continually frequent these shores.
Thisgulph, included between Capes Blanco
and Merick, and the coast of Zaara, on
which, besides the isle of Arguin which
was formerly occupied, there are several
others at the mouth of what is called the
river St. John, is as it were closed towards
the west, in its whole extent, by the bank
which bears its name. This bank, by break-
ing the fury of the waves, raised by the winds
of the ocean, contributes by securing the
usual tranquillity of its waters, to render it
a retreat for the fish, at the same time that it
also favors the fishermen. In fact, it is from
this gulph, that all the fish are procured
which are salted by the inhabitants of the Ca-
naries, and which constitute their principal
food. They come hither every spring in
vessels of about 100 tons burden, manned
by 30 or 40 men, and they complete their
operations with such rapidity, that they sel-
dom employ more than a month. The fisher-
men of Marseilles and Bayonne might at-

280 NARRATIVE OF A

tempt this fishery. In short, whatever ad-
vantage may be sought to be derived from
this gulph, so rich in fish, it may be con-
sidered as the African Bank of Newfound-
land, which may one day contribute to supply
the settlements of Senegambia, if the Euro-
peans should ever succeed in establishing
them to any extent. Among the species of
fish found in this gulph, there is one. which
seems peculiar to itself; it is that, which
was caught on board the Medusa, and is
the principal object of the fishery in these
seas. An accurate description had been
made of it, and Mr. Kummer made an
exact drawing of it; but all was lost with
the frigate. All that can be recollected of
this description, is, that these fish which are
from two to three feet long, are of the genus
Gade or Morue (cod) ; that they do not
appertain to any of the species mentioned by
Mr. Lacepede, and that they belong to the
section in which the Merlan is placed.

Whence comes the name of Arguin?
who gave it to this gulph? If we consider
the heat of the sun which is experienced
here, and the sparkling of the sandy downs
which compose the coast, we cannot help

VOYAGE TO SFNEGAL. 281

remarking that Arguia in Phenician means
what is luminous and brilliant, and that in
Celtic, Guin signifies ardent. If this name
comes from the Carthaginians, who may
have frequented these coasts, they must have
been particularly struck with their resem-
blance to the famous Syrtes in their own
neighourhood, which mariners took so much
care to avoid.

Exercitas aut petit Syrtes Noto.

Some division of territory, or of pastur-
age among the hordes of the desert, was
doubtless the cause, that the Europeans, who
desired to carry on the gum trade, formerly
chose the dangerous bay of Portendic, sur-
rounded by a vast amphitheatre of burning
sands, in preference to Cape Merick. Perhaps,
the Trasas of the west, could not advance to
the north of this bay, without quarrel ling with
the other Moors, who frequent Cape Blanco.
This Cape Merick seems preferrable for com-
merce, either as a factory, to trade with the
Moors, or as a place of protection for the
traders, and the fishery. Its elevation and
nature, afford a facility of defence, which is
not found at Portendic ; where there is not

282 NARRATIVE OF A

at present the smallest appearance of vege-
tation.

The Estuary of the river, St. John, at
the back of this Cape, is now entirely desti-
tute of verdure, and humidity, and salt is
abundant in the neighbourhood.

But, as we have said above, it is when
we penetrate a little into the interior, that
an immense country, rich in the gifts of na-
ture, invites European cultivation, and offers
the fairest prospect of success for the colonial
productions.

The soil is in general good, and all colo-
nists from the Antilles, who have visited
these countries, think that they are well
adapted to the cultivation of all kinds of
colonial produce. This immense country
is watered by the Senegal and the Gambia,
which bound it to the north and south.
The river Faleme crosses it in the eastern
part, as well as many other less considerable
rivers, which, flowing in different directions,
water principally that part covered with
mountains which is called the high country,
or the country of Galam. All these little rivers
fall at length into the two large ones, of
which we have spoken above.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 283

These countries are very thickly
peopled, and are in general mild and
hospitable. Their villages are so nume-
rous, that it is almost impossible to go
two leagues without meeting with some,
that are very extensive and very populous.
Nevertheless, we have no more than two
settlements ; those of St. Louis and Go-
ree ; the others, which were seven or eight
in number, have been abandoned ; either,
because the French and the English, who
have occupied them in turn, have wished
to concentrate the trade in the two settle-
ments which still exist; or because the
natives no longer found the same advantage
in bringing their goods and slaves. It
is, however, true, (as we have been as-
sured) that in consequence of the aboli-
tion of those factories, the considerable
commerce which France carried on upon
this coast before the revolution, has been
reduced to one fourth of its former extent.
(23)

The town of St. Louis, the seat of the
general government, is situated in longitude
18° 48' 15" and in latitude 16° 4 10". It is
built on a little island formed by the river

284 NARRATIVE OF A

Senegal, and is only two leagues distant
from the new bar formed by the inundation
of 1812. Its situation in a military point
of view, is pretty advantageous, and if art
added something to nature, there is no doubt,
but this town might be rendered almost im-
pregnable ; but in its present state, it can
hardly be considered as any thing more than
an open town, which four hundred reso-
lute men, well commanded, might easily
carry. At the mouth of the river is a bar,
which is its strongest bulwark. It may even
be said, that it would be impossible to pass
it, if it were well guarded ; but the coast of
the point of Barbary, which separates the
river from the sea is accessible ; it would be
even possible, without meeting with many
obstacles, and with the help of flat bottomed
boats, to land troops and artillery upon it.
When this landing is once made, the place
may be attacked on the side of the north,
which is entirely destitute of fortifications.
There is no doubt, but that, if it were attacked
in this manner, it would be forced to sur-
render at the first summons However,
many have hitherto considered it as impreg-
nable, believing that it was impossible to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL 285

make a landing on the coast of Barbary,
but as we are convinced of the contray, be-
cause the English already executed this
manoeuvre at the last capture of this place,
we venture to call the attention of the go-
vernment to the situation of St. Louis, which
would certertainly become impregnable if
some new works were erected on different
points.

This town has, in other respects, no-
thing very interesting in it, only the streets
are strait, and pretty broad, the houses toler-
ably well built and airy. The soil is a burn-
ing sand, which produces but few vegetables :
there are only eight or ten little gardens, con-
taining from two to four ares of ground at
the most, all cultivated, and in which, within
these few years orange and lemon trees have
been planted, so that there is reason to sup-
pose, that, with some care, these trees would
thrive perfectly well. Mr. Correard saw a
fig-tree and an European vine, which are
magnificent, and bear a large quantity of
fruit. Since the colony has been restored to
the French, several kinds of fruit-trees have
been planted, which thrive in an extraordi-
nary manner. Five or six palatuviers, and

286 NARRATIVE OF A

a dozen palm trees are dispersed about the
town.

The parade is tolerably handsome ; it
is situated opposite the castle, and what is
called the fort and the barracks. On the
west it is covered by a battery of ten or
twelve twenty-four pounders, and two mor-
tars ; this is the principal strength of the
island. On the east is the port, where
vessels lie in great safety. The population
of the town amounts to 10,000 souls, as
the Mayor told Mr. Correard. The in-
habitants of the island are both Ca-
tholics and Mahometans; but the latter
are the most numerous, notwithstanding
this, all the inhabitants live in peace and
the most perfect harmony. There are no
dissentions about religious opinions : every
one prays to God in his own manner; but it
is observed, that the men who have abjured
Mahornetanism, still retain the custom of
having several wives. We think that it
would not be very difficult to abolish it
among the blacks, who are struck with the
pomp of our religious ceremonies : they
would be much more inclined to the Catho-
lic religion, if it tolerated polygamy, a habit

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 287

which will inevitably render all the efforts
of the Missionaries abortive, as long as they
commence their instruction by requiring its
abolition.

The isle of St. Louis, by its important
position, may command the whole river,
being placed at the head of an Archipelago
of pretty considerable islands : its extent
is however small. Its length is 2,500
metres from north to south; audits breadth
from east to west is, at the north part, 370
metres ; in the middle of its length 28
metres; and at the south only 370 metres.
The elevation of its soil is not more than 50
centimetres above the level of the river: in
the middle it is however a little higher,
which facilitates the running of the waters.
The river dividing to form the isle of St.
Louis has two arms, which reunite below
the island: the principal situated on the
east is about 1000 metres in breadth, and
that on the west about 600. The currents
are very rapid, and carry with them quanti-
ties of sand, which the sea throws back
towards the coast; this it is that forms a bar
at the mouth of the river; but the currents
have opened themselves a passage, which is

288 NARRATIVE OF A

called the pass of the bar. This pass is
about 200 metres broad and five or six metres
in depth. Very often these dimensions
are less; but at all times only such vessels
can pass over it as draw four metres water
at the utmost: the overplus is very neces-
sary for the pitching of the vessel, which is
always very considerable upon this bar. The
waves which cover it are very large and
short; when the weather is bad, they
break furiously, and intimidate the most in-
trepid mariners.

The western arm of the river is sepa-
rated from the ,sea by a point called the
Point ofBarbary. It is inconceivable how
this slip of land, which is not above 250
metres in its greatest breadth, and is formed
only of sand, should be able to resist the
efforts of the river, which always tends to
destroy it; and those of the sea, which breaks
upon it sometimes with such fury, that it co-
vers it entirely, and even crossing the arm of
the river, comes and breaks on the shore of
the island of St. Louis. Almost opposite the
chateau and on the Point of Barbary, is a
little battery of six guns at the most, which
is called the Fort of Guetander ; it is. on

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 289

the summit of a hill of sand which has been
formed by the wind, and increases daily ; it
is even already pretty high, and is surround-
ed by a great number of huts of the blacks,
which form a pretty extensive village :
these huts tend to hold the sand together,
and to prevent its sinking. The inhabi-
tants of this village are very superstitious, as
the following anecdote will prove.

In the course of the month of Septem-
ber, Messrs. Ku miner and Correard crossed
the arm of the river, to visit the coast of
Barbary and the village of Guetander ;
when they landed on the point, they pro-
ceeded towards the north, and having gone
three or four hundred paces along the
shore, they found a turtle, the diameter of
which was a metre at the least; it was
turned upon its back and covered with a
prodigious quantity of crabs, (toulouroux)*
which are found along the sea-coast. Mr.
Correard stopped a moment, and remark-
ed that, when he had wounded one of

* A kind of crab found on the sea-coast ; it is the
Cancer cursor of Linnaeus, and the same that is found on
the shores of the Antilles.

IT

£99 NARRATIVE OF A

these animals with his cane, the others de-
voured it instantly. While he was looking
at these crabs feeding on the turtle, Mr.
Kummer went on towards the south, and vi-
sited the burying-places of the blacks. Mr.
Correard joined him, and they saw that the
natives erect over the tombs of their fathers,
their relations and friends, little sepulchres,
some made of straw, some of slight pieces of
wood, and even of bones. All these frail
monuments are consecrated much more by
gratitude than by vanity. The blacks pro-
hibit all approach to them in the strictest
manner. Mr. Kummer, whom his com-
panion had left to return to the shore, was
examining very tranquilly these rustic
tombs, when suddenly one of the Africans
armed with a sabre, advanced towards him,
crouching and endeavouring to surprise
him; Mr. Kummer had no doubt but this
man had a design upon his life, and retired
towards Mr. Correard, whom he found again
observing the crabs and the turtle. On
relating to him what had just passed, as
they were unarmed, they resolved immedi-
ately to pass the river, by throwing them-
selves into a boat ; they had soon reason to

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 291

congratulate themselves on having done so,
for they perceived several men who had col-
lected at the cries of the black, and, if they
had not taken flight, it is probable that
their innocent cariosity would have cost
them their lives.

The left bank of the river, which is
called Grande Terre, is covered with per-
petual verdure, the soil is fertile, and wants
only hands to cultivate it.

Opposite, and to the east of St. Louis,
is the isle of Sor, which is four or five
leagues in circumference; it is of a long and
almost triangular form: there are two ex-
tensive plains in it, where habitations might
be erected. They are covered with grass
two metres in height, a certain proof of the
advantages that might be derived from the
cultivation of this island. Cotton and in-
digo grow there naturally, the ground is in
some parts low and damp, which gives rea-
son to suppose that the sugar-cane would
succeed. It might be secured against the
inundations which take place in the rainy
season, by erecting little causeways a metre
in height, at the most. There are in this
island, principally on the east side, man-

u2

292 NARRATITE OF A

goes, palatuviers, a great quantity of gum
trees, or mimosas, and magnificent Bao-
babs*.

Let us stop for a moment before this
colossus,which,by the enormous diameter to
which it attains, has acquired the title of the
Elephant of the vegetable kingdom. The
Baobab often serves the negroes fora dwell-

* The Baobab or Adansoia of botanists, is placed in
the class Monadelphia polyandria, in the family of malva-
ceous plants, and has but one species. The first of these
trees seen by Adanson, were twenty-seven feet in diame-
ter, about eighty-three feet in circumference. Ray says
they have been seen thirty feet in diameter, and Goldberry
says he saw one of thirty-four feet. According to the
calculations of Adanson, a tree, twenty-five feet in diame-
ter, must have taken 3750 years to acquire these dimen-
sions, which would allow a foot growth in 150 years, or an
in inch in twelve years and a half; but an observation of
Goldberry's would quite overturn this calculation. He,
in fact, measured a Baobab thirty-six years after Adansou,
and found its diameter increased by only eight lines. The
growth is not therefore uniformly progressive, and must
become slower at a certain period of the age of this tree
in a proportion which it is hardly possible to determine.
Otherwise, if we admitted that it takes thirty-six years to
increase in diameter only eight lines, it would require
fifty-four years for an inch, and 648 for a foot, which
would make 16,200 years for a tree twenty-four feet in
diameter!

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 293

ing, the construction of which costs no fur-
ther trouble than cutting an. opening in the
side to serve as adoor,and taking out the very
soft pith which fills the inside of the trunk.
The tree, far from being injured by this
operation, seems even to derive more vigour
from the fire which is lighted in it for the
purpose of drying the sap, by carbonising
it. In this state it almost always happens,
that the bark, instead of forming a ridge
at the edge of the wound, as happens with
some trees in Europe, continues to grow,
and at length covers the whole inside of the
tree, generally without any wrinkles, and
thus presents the astonishing spectacle
of an immense tree recompleated in its or-
ganisation, but having the form of an enor-
mous hollow cylinder, or rather of a vast
arborescent wall bent into a circular
form, and having its sides sufficiently
wide asunder to let you enter into the space
which it encloses. If casting our eyes on
the immense dome of verdure which forms
the summit of this rural palace, we see a
swarm of birds adorned with the richest
colours, sporting in its foliage, such as rol-
lers with a sky-blue plumage, senegallis,

294 NARRATIVE Of A

of a crimson colour, soui-mangas shining
with gold and azure ; if, advancing under
the vault we find flowers of dazzling white-
ness hanging on every side, and if, in the
center of this retreat, an old man and his
family, a young mother and her children
meet the eye, what a crowd of delicious
ideas is aroused in this moment? Who would
not be astonished at the generous fore-sight
of nature? and where is the man who would
not be transported with indignation if, while
he was contemplating this charming scene,
he beheld a party of ferocious Moors violate
this peaceful asylum, and carry off some of
the members of a family, to deliver them
up to slavery? It would require the pencil
of the author of the Indian Cottage, to do
justice to such a picture.

This is not the only service which the
blacks, who inhabit Senegambia, derive from
the Adansonia or Ifoobab. They convert its
leaves, when dried, into a powder which they
call Lalo, and use it as seasoning to almost
all their food. They employ the roots as
a purgative ; they drink the warm infusion
of its gummy bark, as a remedy for disorders
in the breast ; they lessen the inflamation

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 295

of the cutaneous eruptions, to which they
are subject by applying to the diseased parts
cataplasms made of the parenchyma of the
trunk: they make an astringent beverage cf
the pulp of its fruit ; they regale themselves
with its almonds, they smoke the calyx of
its flowers instead of tobacco; and often by
dividing into two parts the globulous cap-
sules, and leaving the long woody stalk
fixed to one of the halves, which become
dry and hard, they make a large spoon or
ladle.

It has been found that the substance,
called very improperly, terra sigillata of
lemnos, is nothing more than the powder
made of the pulp of the fruit of the Baobab.
The Mandingians and the Moors carry this
fruit as an article of commerce into various
parts of Africa, particularly Egypt; hence,
it finds its way to the Levant. There it is that
this pulp is reduced to powder, and reaches
us by the way of trade. Its nature was long
mistaken : Prosper Alpinus was the first
who discovered that it was a vegetable sub-
stance.

After the Isle of Sor, towards the South
is that of Babague, separated from the former

295 NARRATIVE OF A

and that of Safal, by two small arms of the
river; this island, in an agricultural point
of view, already affords a happy result to
the colonists, who have renounced the in*
human traffic in slaves, to become peaceable
planters. Many have already made plan-
tations of cotton, which they call lougans.
Mr. Artique, a merchant, has hitherto been
the most successful. His little plantation
brought him in 2100fr. in 1814, which has
excited in many inhabitants of St. Louis a
desire to cultivate pieces of land there. Af-
ter his example, we now see every where
beginnings of plantations, which already
promise valuable crops to those who have
undertaken the cultivation of these colonial
productions. The soil of Babague is more
elevated than that of the surrounding islands.
At its southern extremity, which is pre-
cisely opposite the new bar of the river,
there is a very great number of huts of the
blacks, a military post with an observatory,
and two or three country houses.

The Isle of Safal, belonging to Mr. Pi-
card, offers the same advantages. Its soil
is fertile as that of the islands of which we
have just spoken. No drinkable water is

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 297

found in any of them ; but it would be easy
to procure excellent water by digging wells
about two metres in depth.

Cotton and indigo grow every where
spontaneously; what then is wanting, to
these countries, to obtain in them what the
other colonies produce? Nothing but some
men, capable of directing the natives in
their labours, and of procuring them the
agricultural implements, and the plants of
which they stand in need. When these men
are found, we shall soon see numerous ha-
bitations arise on the banks of this river,
which will rival those in the Antilles. The
blacks love the French nation more than
any other, and it would be easy to direct
their minds to agriculture. A little adven-
ture, which happened to Mr. Correard, will
shew to what a degree they love the French.

In the course of the month of Septem-
ber, his fever having left him for some days,
he was invited by Mr. Francois Valentin, to
join a hunting party in the environs of the
village of Gandiolle, situated six leagues to
the South, South East of St. Louis. Mr Du-
pin, supercargo of a vessel from Bordeaux,
who was then at Senegal, and Mr. Yonne,

298 NARRATIVE OF A

brother of Mr. Valentin, were of the party.
Their intention was to prolong the pleasures
of the chace, for several days ; in conse-
quence, they borrowed a tent of the worthy
Major Peddy, and fixed themselves on the
banks of the gulph which the Senegal forms,
since its ancient mouth is entirely stopped
up, and a new one formed, three or four
leagues higher up than the former. There
they were only a short league from the vil-
lage of Gandiolle. Mr. Correard directed
his course, or rather his reconnaissances, a
little into the interior, for he had conceived
the idea of taking a plan of the coast, and
of the islands formed by the Senegal. He
was soon near to Gandiolle, and stopped
some moments at the sight of an enormous
Baobob tree, the whiteness of which much
surprised him : he perceived it was covered
with a cloud of the birds called aigrettes.*
He advanced across the village to the foot
of this tree, and fired two shot successively,
supposing he should kill at least twenty of

* These aigrettes or white herons, are found in large
flocks in this part of Africa ; they follow the cattle to feed
on the insects with which they are infested.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 299

these birds. Curiosity induced him to mea-
sure the prodigious tree, on which they
were perched, and he found that its cir-
cumference was 28 metres. While he was
examining this monstrous production of the
vegetable kingdom, the report of his piece
had caused a great many blacks to come out
of their huts, who advanced towards Mr.
Correard, doubtless, with the hope of ob-
taining from him some powder, ball, or to-
bacco. While he was loading his piece,
he fixed his eyes upon an old man, whose
respectable look announced a good disposi-
tion ; his beard and hair were white, and his
stature colossal ; he called himself Samba-
durand. When he saw Mr. Correard look-
ing at him attentively, he advanced towards
him, and asked him if he was an English-
man? No, replied he, I am a Frenchman.
— How, my friend, you are a Frenchman !
that gives me pleasure. — Yes, good old man,
I am. — Then the black tried to put on a
certain air of dignity to pronounce the word
Frenchman, and said, " Your nation is the
" most powerful in Europe, by its courage
and the superiority of its genius, is it not?3
-Yes. — It is true that you Frenchmen
are not like the white men of other nations

300 NARRATIVE or A

of Europe whom I have seen ; that does not
surprise me ; and then, you are all fire, and
as good tempered as we blacks. I think
you resemble Duraud in vivacity and sta-
ture ; you must be as good as he was; are
you his relation ? — No, good old man. I
am not his relation; but I have often1 heard
speak of him. — Ah! you do not know
him as I do: it is now thirty years since
he came into this country with his friend
Rubault, who was going to Galam This
Frenchman, whose language I learned at
St. Louis, loaded us all with presents; I
still keep a little dagger which he gave me,
and I assure you that my son will keep it as
long as I have done. We always remember
those white men who have done us £:ood,
particularly the French whom we love very
much. — <c Well," answered Mr. Correard,
" 1 am sorry I have nothing which can suit
you, and be kept for a long time, or I would
offer it you with pleasure, and you would
join the remembrance of me with that of
the philanthropic Durand, who had con-
ceived plans which, if they had been exe-
cuted, would, perhaps, have been the glory
of my country, and the happiness of yours;
but here, take my powder and bail, if that

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 301

can do you pleasure. " — Ah! good French-
man, I would willingly take them, for I
know that you have as much as you please
in your own country;* but at this moment
it would deprive you of the pleasure of the
chace. — No, take it all. — Take my advice
Ton babe : let us divide it, that will be bet-
ter. In fact, they divided. The black in-
vited Mr. Correard to enter his hut to re-
fresh himself. " Come Toubabe," said he,
" come, my women shall give you some
milk and millet flour, and you shall smoke
a pipe with me."

Mr. Correard refused, in order to con-
tinue his sport, which was interrupted by
the cries of the blacks, who pursued a young
lion, which came from the village of Mouit,
and attempted to enter that of Gandiolle ;
this animal had done no harm, but the
natives pursued him in the hopes of killing
him, and to sell his skin. Dinnertime being
come, all the white hunters returned to their
tent. A few moments after, they saw a

7

* The blacks think that all the whites are very rich
in their own country.

•302 NARRATIVE OF A

young negro, twelve years of age at the
most, whose mild and pleasant countenance
was far from indicating the courage and the
strength which he had just displayed; he
held in his hands an enormous lizard quite
alive, at least a metre and eighty centime-
tres in length. These gentlemen were asto-
nisfyed to see this child holding such a ter-
ribl^ animal, which opened a frightful pair
of jaws, Mr. Correard begged Mr. Valentin
to ask him how he had been able to take,
and pinion it in this manner. The child an-
swered as follows in the Yoloffe language :
" I saw this lizard come out of a hedge, I
immediately seized it by the tail and hind
feet : I raised it from the ground, and with
my left hand took it by the neck ; and
holding it very fast, and at a distance from
my body, I carried it in this manner to the
village of Gandiolle, where I met one of
my companions, who tied his legs, and
persuaded me to come and present it to
the Toubabes who are in the tent ; he told
me also that they were Frenchmen, and as
we love them much, I have come to see
them, and offer them this lizard/" After

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 303

these details, Mr. Correard presented the
but end of his piece to the animal, which
made a deep indenture with its teeth ; having
then presented it the end of the barrel, it
immediately seized it furiously, and broke
all its teeth, which made it bleed very much ;
nevertheless, it made no effort to disengage
itself from its bonds.*

The environs of Gandiolle appear to be
extremely fertile ; we find there grass two
metres in height, fields of maize and millet.
This country is full of large pieces of water,
which the natives call marigots ; the major
part of which cover an immense space ; but
it would be easy to drain them by means of
some little canals, particularly in the part
near the coast. These lands would be very
productive, and proper for the culture of the
sugar cane : the soil is mud mixed with very
fine sand. (24)

/
* This lizard was probably a turpinambis. This animal,

which is not uncommon at Cape Verd, climbs up trees,
frequents the marshy places, and is said to inflict severe
wounds if it is not laid hold of with great precaution. The
inhabitants of the Mamclles assert that it devours young
crocodiles. This species seems to be the same as that
which frequents the banks of the Nile. It grows to the
length of four feet and uses its tail in swimming.

304 NARRATIVE OF A

After having examined the environs of
St. Louis, let us cast a glance upon the rock
called the Island of Goree, and its environs.
This isle is nothing of itself; but its posi-
tion renders it of the greatest importance ;
it is situated in longitude 19° 57, and in la-
titude 14° 407 10", half a league from the
main land, and thirty-six leagues from the
mouth of the Senegal. The Cape de Verd
Islands, are eighty leagues to the West. It
is this position that renders it mistress of all
the commerce of these countries. Its port
is excellent; and so great a number of ships
and boats are seen there that its road is
continually covered ; there is so much ac-
tivity that some persons have, said the
Island of Goree was, perhaps, the point in
the world, where there was most bustle and
population. The number of its inhabitants
is estimated at 5000 souls, which is by no
means in proportion with its confined
surface, which is not above 910 metres
in length, and 245 in breadth. Its cir-
cumference is not above 2000 metres. It
is only a very high rock, the access to the
coasts, of which is very difficult. The nu-
merous rocks, which surround it on all sides,

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 305

have made some navigators give it the name
of Little Gibraltar ; and if nature were
seconded by art, there is no doubt but like
that, it would become impregnable. It was
first taken possession of by Admiral d'Es-
trees, about the end of the year 1677. This
isle lies in the direction of S.S.E. and N.N.W.
and is only about 2600 metres distant from
Cape Verd. It is defended by a fort, and
by some small batteries in very bad con-
dition ; but it is, nevertheless, impregnable
by its position. In fact, it is not accessible,
except on the E.N.E. where there is a pretty
large and deep bay, capable of receiving
the largest ships. Its road is immense ;
vessels are .safe in it, and tolerably well
sheltered. At two leagues from Goree is the
bay of Ben, which affords the greatest faci-
lities for the careening of vessels, and for the
repairs of which they may stand in need.

The Island of Goree is cool during the
evening, the night and the morning ; but
during the day, there prevails in the island
an unsupportable heat, produced by the re-:
flection of the sun's rays, which fall perpen-
dicularly on the Basalt rocks which sur-
round it. If we add to this the stagnation

x

306 NAIUIATIVE OF A

of the air, the circulation of which is inter-
rupted by the houses, being very closely
built, a considerable population, which con-
tinually fills the streets, and is beyond all
proportion with the extent of the town, it
will be readily conceived that all these rea-
sons, powerfully contribute to concentrate
here such insupportable heat, that one can
scarcely breathe at noon day. The blacks
too, who certainly know what hot countries
are, find the heat excessive, and prefer living
at St. Louis.

The Island of Goree may become of
the greatest importance if the government
should ever think proper to establish a
powerful colony, from Cape Verd to the
river Gambia ; then this isle would be the
bulwark of the settlements on the coast of
Africa. But it will be objected that Goree
is very small, and that great establishments
can never be formed there ; we think, only,
that it is proper to be the central point, till
a greater colony shall be established on Cape
Verd, which nature seems to have intended
for it, and the advantages of which, in a
military and maritime point of view, are of
the highest importance. Men of sound judg-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 307

ment who have examined it, have considered
it calculated to become one day a second
Cape of Good Hope. It is certain that,
with time and by means of some works,
this Cape would become highly intejrest-
ing, and would serve as a depdt, to ac-
custom to the climate, such Europeans, as
might wish to settle either in the projected
colonies, or on those which might be found-
ed, between this Cape and the Gambia, or
on the islands of Todde, Reffo, Morphil,
Bilbas, and even in the kingdom of Galam.

The position and figure of Cape Verd
are such, that it would be easy to form
there an excellent port at a small expense ;
perhaps it would not be impossible to make
some use of the Lake or Marigot of Ben,
which is but a short distance from the sea.
Its road, which is the same as that of Goree,
might almost serve as a port, even in its
present state. The following is an extract
from a Letter, written to Mr. Correard by
a Physician, who has carefully examined
Cape Verd.

" This Cape is very different from what
" we thought. Its surface is not above six
i£ or eight square leagues; its population is

x 2

308 AARUAT1VE OF A

" very numerous, and by no means in pro-
" portion with the part of this peninsula,
" proper for cultivation, which is not above
" one-third of its surface. Another third
" serves for pasture for the flocks of the
" blacks; and the other part is too much
" vulcanised, too full of rocks, to afford any
" hope of advantage in an agricultural
" view. But its military position is admir-
" able; all seems to concur to render it im-
" pregnable, and it would even be easy to
" insulate it entirely from the Continent,
" and to form upon it several ports, which
" nature seems to have already prepared."

This letter likewise speaks of the advan-
tages offered by the environs of Rufisque,
which are so well known, that we may dis-
pense with speaking of them here. We
shall only mention as among the principal
points to be occupied, with the mornes of
Cape Rouge, Portudal, Joal, and Cahone.
this last on the river Salum near the Gam-
bia ; they are large villages, the environs of
which are covered with magnificent forests,
and the soil of which is perhaps the most
fertile of any in Africa. For more ample
accounts of these countries, we refer to the

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 309

excellent works of Messrs. Durand and
Geoffroy de Villeneuve, who have examined
them like enlightened observers, and per-
fectly well described them in their travels,
only that they have too much exaggerated
the agricultural advantages of Cape Verd.

We shall not have the presumption to
lay down plans, to propose systems, to en-
force such or such means for putting them
in execution. We shall merely terminate
our task by some general considerations
calculated to confirm what numerous and
able observers have already thought, of the
importance of the establishments in Africa,
and of the necessity of adopting some general
plan of colonisation for these countries.

However pride, prejudice and personal
interest, may deceive themselves respecting
the re-establishment of our WesternColonies,
nobody will be able longer to dissemble the
imitility of attempts to persevere in a false
route. Calculation will at length triumph
over blind obstinacy and false reasonings.
There is already a certain number of incon-
testable data, the consequences of which
must be one day admitted. And first,

310 NARRATIVE OF A

though some persons who fancy that, like
them, the whole world have been asleep for
these twenty-five or thirty years, still dream
of the submission of St. Domingo, reason-
able persons now acknowledge, that even
were the final success of such an enterprise
possible, its real result would be, to have ex-
pended, in order to conquer a desert, and
ruins drenched in blood, ten times more
men and money than would be sufficient to
colonise Africa. It is well known, also,
that the soil of Martinique is exhausted,
and that its productions will diminish more
and more ; that the small extent of Guada-
loupe confines its culture to a very narrow
circle, and does not permit it to offer a mass
of produce sufficient to add much to the
force of the impulse, which a country like
France, must give to all parts of its agri-
cultural and commercial industry. It is
not to be doubted, but that nature has given
to French Guiyana the elements of great
prosperity; but this establishment requires
to be entirely created ; every thing has hi-
therto concurred to prolong its infancy.
There are not sufficient hands; and how

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 311

will you convey thither the requisite number
of cultivators, when you have proclaimed
the abolition of the slave trade.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade : this
is the principle, pregnant with consequen-
ces, which should induce every enlightened
government speedily to change its whole co-
lonial system. Itwould be in vain to attempt
to prolong this odious trade by smuggling,
and thus still to draw from it some precarious
resources. This sad advantage would but
keep open the wound which has struck the
western colonies, without being able to
effect their recovery, as is desired by those
who seek to found their prosperity on the
regular farming out of one of the races of
mankind. The slave trade is abolished not
only by religion, by treaties, by the consent
of some powers, by the calculations and in-
terest of some others, which will not permit it
to be re-established; but it is abolished also
by the light of the age, by the wish of all
civilised nations; by opinion, that sovereign
of the world, which triumphs over every
obstacle, and subdues all that resist her
laws. Without the slave trade, you cannot
transport to the West Indies those throngs of
men whose sweat and blood are the manure

312 NARRATIVE OF A

of your lands: on the other hand, you see
the Genius of Independence hover over the
New World, which will soon force you to seek
friends and allies where you have hitherto
reckoned only slaves. Why then do you he-
sitate to prepare a new order of things, to
anticipate events, which time, whose march
you cannot arrest, brings every day nearer
and nearer? Reason, your own interest,
the force of circumstances, the advantages
of nature, the richness of the soil, every
thing tells you that it is to Africa, that you
must carry culture and civilization.

Without entering into the question,
whether the Government should reserve to
itself, exclusively, the right of founding co-
lonies on that continent, or whether it
ought to encourage colonial companies, and
depend on the efforts of private interest
suitably directed, let us be permitted fo
offer some views, on the prudent and tem-
perate course which ought to be laid down,
to arrive at a satisfactory result, not only in
respect to the civilization of the blacks, but
even relatively to the commercial advanta-
ges which the colonist must naturally have
in view.

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 313

Though the abolition of the slave trade
has been proclaimed, yet the present slaves
must he Jed to liberty only in a progressive
manner. The whites who are possessed of
negroes, should not be allowed to prolong
their possession and their dominion over them ,
beyond the space of ten years, and without
being permitted to resell them during that
period. During these ten years, the ne-
groes should be prepared for their new con-
dition as well by instruction as by the suc-
cessive amelioration of their situation ; it
would be necessary gradually to relax the
chain of slavery; and by affording them
means to lay up a part of the produce of their
labou . inspire them with the desire, and the
necessity of possessing something of their
own.

After these ten years, which may be
called a Noviciate, it is to be presumed, that
if lands were granted to them upon advan-
tageous conditions, fixed before hand, if
they were furnished in case of need, with
the agricultural instruments, the use of
which they would have learned, they would
become excellent cultivators : it is needless

314 NARRATIVE OF A

to remark that the man who cultivates the
soil, and whose labour the soil rewards, by
its produce, becomes strongly attached to
the land, which supplies both his wants and
his enjoyments, and is soon led by family
affections to the love of social order, and to
the sentiments .which constitute a good
citizen.

The blacks have been too long encou-
raged to sell their fellow-creatures, for us
to depend upon their soon forgetting this
deplorable traffic. But doubtless we ought
to begin by renouncing the perfidious means
of inflaming their cupidity and iheir pas-
sions. The articles which they are the most
desirous to obtain from us, ought to be the price
of the produce of the soil, and no longer the
means of exchange, and the aliment of this
dreadful traffic in human flesh. It would,
however, be proper that, as long as slaves
should continue to arrive from the interior,
the whites might buy them. This permis-
sion should be granted for a time, and in a
certain extent of country. Their slavery
should also be limited to ten years, as we
have said above, and their moral and physi-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 315

oal improvement, should be directed in such
a manner as to attach them to the soil by
exciting in them the love of property.

The laws and institutions which govern
the mother country, would incontrovertible*
be applicable to the new establishments. It
would certainly be presumable, that on ac-
count of particular considerations of moral
and political order, it would be proper to
allow local regulations, in forming which,
all proprietors enjoying the rights of citizen-
ship, ought to participate, without any dis-
tinction of colour. It would especially be
nighly important, that the regulations for
the government of the slaves, should be
founded on mildness and humanity, that
prudent and enlightened persons should su-
perintend the execution of them, and have
the necessary authority to prevent abuses,
and to secure to the slave the protection of
the law.

In order to obtain these results, it is
evident that it would be no less essential to
preserve the colonies from the scourge of
arbitrary authority, from the excesses of
power, which always accompany abuses,
injustice, and corruption. When favor and

316 N'ARRATIVE OF A

caprice are the only laws that are attended
to ; when intrigue supplies the place of
merit; when cupidity succeeds to honorable
industry; when vice and meanness are
titles to distinctions, and the true means of
making a fortune ; when honours are no
longer synonimous with honour; then so-
ciety presents only disorder and anarchy,
then people renounce obscure virtue, and la-
borious acquisition to follow the easy ways
of corruption; then enlightened men, for
whom public esteem is a sterile recommen-
dation, the true servants of the king, the
faithful friends of their country, are forcea
to disappear, to withdraw from employ-
ments, and the interest of the public, as well
as that of humanity, is miserably sacrificed
to the basest calculations, to the most guilty
passions.

He who desires the end, desires the
means of attaining it. The end at present,
should be to prepare every thing before-
hand, and rather sooner than later, in order to
repair in Africa the past losses and disas-
ters, which irremediable events have caused
in the Western Colonies, and to substitute
for their riches their prosperity, the pro-

VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 317

gressive decline of which ishenceforward ine-
vitable, new elements of wealth and prospe-
rity : the means will be to carry into these
countries, so long desolated by our relentless
avarice, knowledge, cultivation, and in-
dustry. By these means we shall see in
that vast continent numerous colonies arise,
which will restore to the mother country all
the splendour, all the advantages of her
ancient commerce, and repay her with in-
terest for the sacrifices she may have made
in the new world. But to effect this, let there
be no more secret enterprises; no more con-
nivance at fraudulent traffic, no more un-
happy negroes snatched away from their
families; no more tears shed on that sad
African soil, so long the witness of so many
afflictions; no more human victims, drag-
ged to the altars of the shameful, and insati-
able divinities, which have already devoured
such numbers: consequently, let there be
no more grounds for hearing in the English
Parliament, voices boldly impeaching our
good faith, attacking the national honour,
and possitively asserting that France main-
• tains in her African possessions, the system
of the slave trade in the same manner as she
did before she consented to its abolition.

318 NARRATIVE A OF

Africa offers to our speculators, to the
enterprises of our industry, a virgin soil,
and an inexhaustible population peculiarly
fitted to render it productive. It must be
our business to form them according to our
views, by associating them in these by a
common interest. In conquering them by
benefits, instead of subjugating them by
crimes, or degrading them by corruption,
let us lead them to social order and to hap-
piness, by our moral superiority, instead
of dragging them under scourges and chains
to misery and death, we shall then have
accomplished a useful and a glorious enter-
prise; we shall have raised our commercial
prosperity on the greatest interest of those
who have been the voluntary instruments of
it, and above all, we shall have expiated,
by an immense benefit, this immense crime
of the outrages, with which we so long
afflicted humanity.

INTRODUCTION.

The following Notes were communi-
cated to the Authors, when the second edi-
tion was already so far advanced, as to render
it impracticable to incorporate them with
the body of the work, and they are there-
fore placed at the end. Some of them are
extracted irom the Journal of Mr. Bredif,
who belonged to the expedition, and were
communicated by his uncle, Mr. Landry ;
the others are by an officer of merit, whose
modesty prevents the publication of his name.

The Translator has thought it would be
more convenient to place these notes in one
series, refering to the pages to which they
belong. Those of Mr. Bredif, are signed
(B) the others (A).

320

NOTES.

I. — Page 14. — On the Route to Africa.

IN going from Europe to the western coasts of Africa*
situated to the north of the line, it is better stil), to pass be-
tween ihr Azores and Madeira, and not to come within
sight of the coast, till you have nearly reached the latitude
of the point where you desire to land. Nothing but the
necessity of procuring refreshments can author se vessels,
bound to the Cape of Good Hope, or to the south of Ame-
rica, to touch at the Canaries, or at the Cape Verd Islands.
Notwithstanding the depth of the channels between the
tirst of these islands, these seas, which are subject both to
calms and hurricanes are not without danger. By keeping
at a distance, there is also the advantage of avoiding the
current of Gibraltar, and of not running- the risk of meeting
with the north west winds, which generally prevail along
the desert, (and hitherto insufficiently known.) Coasts of
Zaara, along which the Medusa sailed to no purpose, and
which winds also tend to impel vessels upon the dangerous
bank of Arguin. (A)

IT. — On the Manoeuvres before Funchal.

The usual indecision, which the commander of the
frigate displayed in all his resolutions, joined to a little
accident, made him change the intention which he had ex-

NOTES. 321

pressed of presenting- himself before Funchal. From a
singularity which nothing justified, he appeared to have
more confidence in one of the passengers, who had
indeed, frequented these seas, than in any of his officers,
in respect to the management of the vessel. As they ap-
proached Madeira, the vessel was worked almost entirely
according to the advice of this passenger ; but suddenly
the breeze, which is always strong in the neighbourhood
of these mountainous countries, fell when they got too near
it, the sails flagged, the current seemed rapid; but after
some hesitation in the manoeuvring of the vessel, which the
officers soon put into proper order, they recovered the
wind, and it was resolved to steer for TenerifFe. (A)

III. — Page 22. — On the Islands of Madeira and

Tenerijfe.

Madeira and TenerifFe seen on the side where their
capital cities lie, have a very different appearance. The
first is smiling with cultivation from its shores, almost
to the summit of the mountains. Every where the eye
discovers only little habitations surrounded by vine-
yards and orchards of the most delightful verdure: these
modest dwellings surrounded by all the luxuriance of
vegetation, placed under an azure sky, which is seldom
obscured by clouds, seem to be the abode of happiness, and
the navigator, long wearied by the monotonous prospect
of the sea, cheerfully hailed this delightful prospect.
TenerifFe, on the contrary, shews itself with every mark of
the cause by which it was formed. The whole south east
side is composed of black sterile rocks, which are piled
together in an extraordinary confusion ; even to the envi-
rons of the town of Saint Croix, scarcely any thing is seen,
on the greater part of these dry and burnt lands, but low

Y

322 NOTES

plants, the higher of which are probably Euphorbia, or
thorny Cereus ; and those which cover the ground, the hairy
lichen, Crocella tinctoria, which is employed in dying, and
which this island furnishes in abundance. Seen from the
sea, the town, which is in the form of an amphitheatre, ap-
pears to be situated in the recess, formed by two distinct
branches of mountains, of which the one towards the
south, forms the Peak properly so called ; it is particularly
remarkable at a distance for its slender towers, and for the
steeples of its churches, the construction of which, calls to
mind the arabic architecture. (A)

IV.— Page 22.— On the Mouth of the River St.
John.

There is probably an error in this account : the river
St. John, is much more to the south, and oh the north
side of Cape Aleric. The inlet, which was perceived dur-
ing the ceremony of the tropic, which was a little tardy, is
the gulf of St. Cyprian, into which the currents appear to
set. Early in the morning, and to the north of this gulph,
they passed a little island, very near the coast, and the
black colour of which, owing doubtless to the marine
plants that cover it, made a striking contrast with the
whiteness of the sandy downs of the great desert, the
abode of the Moors, and of wild beasts. — Tellus leonum
arida nutrix. (A)

V. — Page24. — Onthereconnaissance o/CapeBlanco .
Mr. de Chaumareys gave notice in the course of this
day, that he had a mind to anchor at a cable's length from
Cape Blanco. He talked of it till the evening, but on
going to bed he thought no more about it ; however, he
continually repeated that the minister had ordered him to

NOTES. 323

make that Cape ; and therefore, when somebody said the
next morning-, that this Cape was supposed to have been
seen at eight o'clock the preceding evening-, it was from
that time forbidden to doubt of it; and either from defe-
rence or persuasion itwas agreed, but not without laughing,
that the Cape had been seen at the hour mentioned. It
was from the course of the vessel at this moment that
the route was calculated till an observation was made at
noon. (A)

VI. — Page 25. — On the Refusal to answer the Sig-
nals of the Echo.

It would probably have been of no use to inform Mr.
de Chaumarey's of the signals of the Echo. The com-
mander of1 the Medusa, the chief of the division, had de-
clared already in the. roads of the island of Aix, his in-
tention to abandon his vessels, and to proceed alone in all
haste to the Senegal. Though he spoke of strictly follow-
ing the pretended instructions of the minister respecting
the route to be followed, it was, however, violating the
principle one, since it is useless to form a division if it
is not to go together. The corvette, commanded by Mr.
Venancourt succeeded, it is true, several times in joining
the commander; but soon, by the superior sail ing of the
Medusa, they lost sight of him again, and every time they
rejoiced at it. This resolution, not to sail in company,
was the chief cause of the loss of the principal vessel.
The Echo having determined, as was proper, to follow
its commander, alone passed to the north west of tlfe bank.
The two other vessels which had remained long behind
and were much more at liberty, passed more' than thirty

v2

324 NOTES.

leagues to the west of it, and thus proved that it was the
safest and shortest rout. (A)

VII.— Page 31. — On the Stranding of the Medusa.

From ten o'clock in the morning the colour of the
water visibly changed, and the head pilot, calculating after
his sea-torch before mentioned, declared, at half past
eleven, that they were at the edge of the bank, and this
was probable. From that moment the sailors were
entirely employed in drawing up the lines thrown out
alongside of the vessel, and the astonishing quantity of
fish, nil of the cod species, which were drawn on board,
added to the weeds that floated on every side, were more
than sufficient to make it believed that they were sailing
upon a shoal. We shall speak below of the species of this
fish ; but as for the weeds, which were perceived on every
side, besides that they gave reason to suppose that we
were approaching the land, their appearance in this
gulph, also gives ground to presume, that the currents of
these seas, at this season, set north, since the plants, with
exception of some Zosteres, were nothing but long stalks
of grasses ; most of them still furnished with their roots,
and many even with their ears, belonging to the tall grasses
of the banks of the Senegal, and the Gambia, which these
rivers bring away at the time of the inundations. All
those which could be observed were Parties or millets. (A)

VIII. — Page 31. — Moment of the Stranding of the
Frigate.

The officers wanted to tack about, as the water became
shallower every moment: but Mr. Rich efort, (who enjoyed

NOTES. 325

the confidence of Mr. de Chaumarey's,) declaring that there
was no reason to be alarmed, the captain ordered more
sail to be spread. Soon we had only fifteen fathoms,
then nine, then six. By promptitude the danger might still
have been avoided. They hesitated : two minutes after-
wards a shock informed usthatwe had struck; the officers,
at first astonished, gave their orders with a voice that
shewed their agitation : the captain was wholly deprived
of his ; terror was painted on the countenances of all those
who were capable of appreciating- the danger : I thought
it imminent, and expected to see the frigate bilge. I con-
fess that I was not satisfied with myself, at this first mo-
ment, I could not help trembling, but afterwards, ray
courage did not any more forsake me. (B)

XI. — Page 41 . — Confusion on Board the Frigate.

The frigate having stranded, the same thing happen-
ed, which usually does happen in critical circumstances,
no decisive measures were taken: to increase our misfor-
tunes the obedience of the crew to the officers was dimi
nished for want of confidence. There was no concert. A
great deal of time was spent, and the second day was
lost without having done any thing.

On the third, preparations were made to quit the
frigate, and the efforts made the day before to get her afloat,
were renewed, but only half measures were taken. The
other preparations to insure our safety were not carried on
with any activity. Every thing went wrong. A list of
the people was made, and they were distributed between
the beats and the raft, in order that they might hold them-
selves ready to embark when it should be time. 1 was
set down for the long boat.

326 NOTES

Our mode of living, during all this time, was extremely
singular. We all worked either at the pump or at the
capstern. There was no fixed time for meals, we eat just
as we could snatch an opportunity. The greatest confu-
sion prevailed, the sailors already attempted to plunder the
trunks. (B)

X.—Page 4$.—T/ie Frigate lost.

On the fourth the weather being fine, and the wind fa-
vourable to the motion which we wished to give to the vessel,
we succeeded in it. The most ardent hope was excited
among all the crew, we even supped very cheerfully ; we
flattered ourselves that we should free the vessel and sail
the next day. A beautiful evening encouraged our hopes,
we slept upon deck by moonlight; but at midnight the
sky was overclouded, the wind rose, the sea swelled, the
frigate began to be shaken. These shocks were much more
dangerous than those in the night of the third. At three
o'clock in the morningt he master-caulker came to tell the
captain that the vessel had sprung a leak and was filling;
we immediately flew to the pumps, but in vain, the hull
was split, all endeavours to save the frigate were given up,
and nothing thought of but how to save the people. (B)

XI. — Page 53. — Embarkment of the Crew.

On the 5th, about seven o'clock in the morning, all
the soldiers were first embarked on board the raft, which
was not quite finished, these unfortunate men crowded
together upon pieces of wood, were in water up to the
middle.

Mrs. and Miss Schmalz went on board their boat.
Mr. Schmalz, notwithstanding the entreaties of every body,
would not yet quit the vessel.

NOTES. 327

The people embarked in disorder, every body was
in a hurry. J advised them to wait patiently till
every one's turn came. I gave the example, and was
near being the victim of it. All the boats, carried away
by the current, withdrew and dragged the raft with them;
there still remained sixty of us on board. Some sailors,
thinking that the others were going to abandon them,
loaded their muskets, and were going to fire upon the
boats, and particularly upon the boat of the captain, who
had already gone on board. It was with the greatest dif-
ficulty that 1 dissuaded them from it. I had need of all
my strength, and all the arguments I could think of. I
succeeded in seizing some loaded muskets and threw them
into the sea.

When I was preparing to quit the frigate, J had con-
tented myself with a small parcel of things which were
indispensable ; all the rest had been already pillaged. I
had divided, with a comrade, eight hundred livres in gold,
which I had still in my possession ; this proved very fortu-
nate for me in the sequel. This comrade had embarked on
board one of the boats. (B)

XII.— Page 54.— On Mr.Espiau.

The name of this officer cannot be mentioned, in this
memoir, without acknowledging the services which he per-
formed on this occasion. To him we owe the lives of se-
veral sailors and soldiers who had remained on board
It is he who, notwithstanding the various dangers with
which he was surrounded, following only the impulse of
his courage, succeeded in saving them. In giving him a
command, the minister has paid the debt which the State
had contracted towards this officer for his honorable con-
du ct. (A)

328 NOTES.

XIII. — Page 54. — Embarkation of the Men who
remained on Board the Frigate.

1 began to believe that we were abandoned, and that
the boats, being too full, could take no more people on
board. The frigate was quite full of water. Being con-
vinced that she touched the bottom, and that she could
not sink, we did not lose courage. Without fearing death
it was proper to do every thing we could to save ourselves :
we joined all together, officers, sailors and soldiers. We
appointed a master-pilot for our leader, we pledged our
honour, either to save ourselves, or to perish all together;
an officer and myself promised to remain to the last.

We thought of making another raft. We made the
necessary preparations to cut away one of the masts, in
order to ease the frigate. Exhausted by fatigue, it was
necessary to think of taking some food; the gaily was
not under water ; we lighted a fire ; the pot was already
boiling, when we thought we saw the long-boat returning
to us; it was towed by two other lighter-boats, we all
renewed the oath, either all to embark, or all to remain.
It appeared to us that our weight would sink the long-
boat.

Mr. Espiau, who commanded it, came on board the
frigate, he said that he would take every body on board.
First, two women and a child were let down ; the most
fearful followed. I embarked immediately before Mr.
Espiau. Some men preferred remaining on board the
frigate to sinking, as they said, with the long-boat. In
fact, we were crowded in it to the number of ninety per-
sons ; we were obliged to throw into the sea our little
parcels, the only things we had left. We did not dare

NOTES. 329

to make the least motion for fear of upsetting our frail
vessel.

I had had some water-casks and a great many bottles
of wine put on board : I had got all these things ready
before hand. The sailors concealed in the long-boat what
ought to have been for every body ; they drank the whole
the first night, which exposed us to the danger of perish-
ing with thirst in the sequel.(B)

XIV. — Page 67. — Occurrences which took place
after the Raft was abandoned.

About half-past six in the evening, and just at sun-
set, the people in the boats descried the land : that is to
say, the high downs of sand of theZaara, which appeared
quite brilliant and like heaps of gold and silver. The sea,
between the frigate and the coast, appeared to have some
depth ; the waves were longer and more hollow, as if the
bank of Arguin rose towards the West. But as they
approached the land, the water suddenly became shallow,
and finding only a depth of three or four feet, they re-
solved to cast anchor till day-break. Several scattered
hills, a few rocky shoals nearly dry, made them presume
that they were in the Lagunes, formed by the River St.
John ; this opinion was verified by the sight of Cape Me-
ric, which appears like the continuation of a high hill
coming from the interior, but suddenly rising at its ap-
proach to the sea, like the torrents of Volcanic matter. In
passing before this cape, out at sea and towards the West,
the sea appeared to break over some shoals, which are
suspected to be the Southern end of the bank of Arguin,
which, according to some persons at Senegal, is dry at low
water. (A)

330 NOTfcS.

XV. — Page 68.— Forsaking the Raft.

When we had overtaken the raft, towed by the other
boats, we asked the latter to take from us at least twenty
men, or otherwise we should sink. They answered that
they were already too much loaded. . One of our move-
ments, towards the boats, made them fancy that despair had
inspired us with the idea of sinking them and ourselves at
the same time.

How could the officers imagine that such a design
was entertained by Mr. Espiau, who had just before dis-
played such a noble desire to assist his comrades? The
boats, in order to avoid us, cut the ropes which united
them together, and made all the sail they could from us*
In the midst of this confusion, the rope which towed the
raft, broke also, and a hundred and fifty men were
abandoned in the midst of the ocean, without any hope of
relief.

This moment was horrible. Mr. Espiau, to induce
his comrades to make a last effort, tacked and made a
motion to rejoin the raft. The sailors endeavoured to
oppose it, saying that the men qn the raft would fall upon
us, and cause us all to perish. " 1 know it, my friends/*
said he, " but 1 will not approach so near as to incur any
*' danger; if the other vessels do not follow me, J will
** think only on your preservation, I cannot do impossibili-
*' ties." In fact, seeing that he was not seconded, he re-
sumed his route. The other boats were already far off. " We
shall sink," cried Mr. Espiau, let us shew courage to the
very last. Let us do what we can : vive le roi ! This cry
a thousand times repeated rises from the bosom of the
waters which are to serve us for a grave. The boats also
repeated it, we were near enough to hear this cry of vive

NOTES. 311

le roi! Some of us thought that this enthusiasm was
madness: was it the fulness of despair which made them
speak so, or was it the expression of the soul broken by
misfortune ? I know not, but for my part, this moment
appeared to me sublime : this cry was a rallying cry,
a cry of encouragement and resignation. (B)

XVI. — Page 84, line 3. — On the sudden Gale ex-
perienced by the Raft.

This strong gale was the same North West wind which
in this season, as has been said before, blows every day
with great violence after sun-set; but which, that day,
began sooner, and continued till 4 o'clock the next morn-
ing, when it was succeeded by a calm. The two boats
which resisted it, were several times on the point of being
wrecked* The whole time that this gale lasted, the sea
was covered with a remarkable quantity of yaletes or phy-
salides, (physalis pelasgica) which arranged, for the most
part, in straight lines, and in two or three files, rut at an
angle the direction of the waves, and seemed at the same
time to present their crest or sail to the wind, in an oblique
manner, as if to be less exposed to its impulse. It is probable
that these animals have the faculty of sailing two or three
abreast, and of ranging themselves in a regular or syme-
trical order; but had the wind surprised these, so arranged
on the surface of the sea, and before they had time to sink,
and shelter themselves at the bottom, or did the sea, agi-
tated on these shores, to a greater depth than is supposed,
make them fear, in this situation, to be thrown upon the
coast? However it be, the orders of thp'»- m r<'li ; their
disposition, in respect to the force which impelled them, and
which they strove to resist ; the apparent stiffness of the

332 NOTES.

sail seemed equally admirable and surprising1. Mr. Rang,,
who has been mentioned with praise in this work, having
had the curiosity to catch one of these singular animals,
soon felt a tingling in his hand, and a burning heat, which
made him feel much pain till the next day. Bones of
seche gigantesque (sepia, cuttle-fish) already whitened by
the sun, passed rapidly along the side of the ship, and al-
most always with some insects, which having, imprudently
ventured too far from the land, had taken refuge on these
floating islands. As soon as the sea grew calm, they per-
ceived some large pelicans, gently rocking themselves on
the bosom of the waves. (A)

XVII. — Page 151. — Landing of the Sixty-three
Men of the Long-Boat.

The sea was within two fingers breadth of the gunnale
of the boat: the slighest wave entered ; besides, it had a
leak ; it was necessary to empty it continually : a service
which the soldiers and sailors, who were with me, refused.
Happily the sea was pretty calm.

On the same evening, the 5th, we saw the land, and
the cry of " land, land," was repeated by every body.
We were sailing rapidly towards the coast of Africa, when
we felt that we had struck upon the bottom. We were
again in distress: we had but three feet water; but
would it be possible for us to get the boat afloat again,
and put out into the open sea ? There was no more hope
of being able to reach the shore. As for myself, I saw
nothing but danger on the coast of Africa, and 1 preferred
drowning to being made a slave, and conducted to Mo-
rocco or Algiers. But the long-boat grounded only once ;
we proceeded on our route, and by frequent soundings we
got into the open sea towards night.

NOTES. 333

Providence had decided that we should experience
fears of every kind, and that we should not perish What
a night indeed was this ! The sea ran very high, the ability
of our pilot saved us. A single false manoeuvre, and we
must all have perished. We, however, partly shipped two
or three waves which we were obliged to empty immedi-
ately. Any other boat, in the same circumstances, would
have been lost. This long and dreadful night was at
length succeeded by day.

At day break we found ourselves in sight of land.
The sea became a little calm. Hope revived in the souls
•of the desponding sailors, almost every body desired to
go on shore. The officer, in spite of himself, yielded to
their wishes. We approached the coast and threw out a
little anchor that we might not run aground. We were so
happy as to come near the shore, where there was only two
feet water. Sixty-three men threw themselves into the
water and reached the shore, which is only a dry and
burning sand, it must have been a few leagues above Por-
tendic. I took care not to imitate them. 1 remained with
about twenty-six others in the long-boat, all determined
to endeavour to reach the Senegal with our vessel, which
was lightened of above two-thirds of its burden. It was
the 6th of July. (B)

XVII I. —Page Itt.—The Fifteen Persons in the
Yawl taken into the Long-Boat ; sequel of the
day of the 6th.

An hour after landing the sixty-three men, we per-
ceived behind us four of our boats. Mr. Espiau, notwith-
standing the cries of his crew who opposed it, lowered his
sails and lay-to, in order to wait for them. " They have
" refused to take any people from us, let us do better now

334 NOTES.

•< we are lightened, let us offer to take some from them/'
In fact, he made them this offer when they were within
hail ; but instead of approaching boldly, they kept at e.
distance. The smallest of the boats (a yawl) went from
one to the other to consult them. This distrust came from
their thinking, that, by a stratagem, we had concealed all
our people under the benches, to rush upon them when
they should be near enough, and so great was this distrust
that they resolved to fly us like enemies. They feared
every thing from our crew, whom they thought to be in a
state of mutiny : however, we proposed no other condi-
tion on receiving some people, than to take in some water,
of which we began to be in want, as for biscuit we had a
sufficient stock.

Above an hour had passed after this accident, when
the sea ran very high. The yawl could not hold out
against it : being obliged to ask assistance, it came up to
us. My comrade de Chasteluz was one of the fifteen men
on board of her. We thought first of his safety, he leaped
into our boat, 1 caught him by the arm to hinder his falling
into the sea, we pressed each others hands, what language.

Singular concatenation of events ! If our sixty-three
men had not absolutely insisted upon landing, we could
not have saved the fifteen men in the yawl ; we should have
had the grief of seeing them perish before our eyes, with-
out being able to afford them any assistance : this is not
all, the following is what relates to myself personally. A
few minutes before we took in the people of the yawl, I
had undressed myself in order to dry my clothes, which had
been wet for forty-eight hours, from my having assisted
in lading the water out of the long-boat. Before 1 took
off my pantaloons I felt my purse, which contained the
four hundred francs? a moment after 1 had lost it; this was

NOTES. 335

the completion of all my misfortunes. What a happy
thought was it to have divided my eight hundred francs
with Mr. de Chasteltiz who now had the other four hundred.

The heat was very violent on the sixth. We were
reduced to an allowance of one glass of dirty or corrupted
water ; and therefore to check our thirst, we put a piece
of lead into our mouths; a melancholy expedient !

The night returned ; it was the most terrible of all :
the light of the moon shewed us a raging sea : long and
hollow waves threatened twenty times to swallow us up.
The pilot did not believe it possible to avoid all those
which came upon us; if we had shipped a single one it
would have been all over with us. The pilot must have let
the helm go, and the boat would have sunk. Was it not
in fact better to disappear at once than to die slowly ?

Towards the morning the moon having set, exhausted
by distress, fatigue, and want of sleep I could not hold out
any longer and fell asleep ; notwithstanding- the waves
which were ready to swallow me up. The Alps and their
picturesque scenery rose before my imagination. I enjoyed
the freshness of their shades, I renewed the delicious
moments which I have passed there, and as if to enhance
my present happiness by the idea of past evils, the re-
membrance of my good sister flying with me into the woods
of Kaiserslautern to escape the Cossacks, is present to
my fancy. My head hung over the sea ; the noise of the
waves dashing against our frail bark, produced on my
senses the effect of a torrent falling from the summit; of a
mountain. I thought I was going to plunge into it. This
pleasing illusion was not complete ; 1 awoke, and in what
a state ! I raised my head with pain ; I open my ulcerated
lips, and my parched tongue finds on them only a bitter

336 NOTES.

crust of salt, instead of a little of that water which I had
seen in my dream. The moment was dreadful, and mr
despair was extreme. I thought of throwing myself into
the sea, to terminate at once all my sufferings. This despair
was of short duration, there was more courage in suffering.
A hollow noise, which we heard in the distance, in-
creased the horrors of this night. Our fears, that it might
be the bar of the Senegal, hindered us from making so
much way as we might have done. This was a great error;
the noise proceeded from the breakers which are met with
on all the coasts of Africa. We found afterwards, that we
were above sixty leagues from the Senegal. (B)

XIX. — Page 162. — Stranding of the Long-Boat,
and Two other Boats.

Our situation did not change till the eighth ; we suffered
more and more from thirst. The officer desired me to make
a list, and to call the people to distribute the allowance of
water; everyone came and drank what was given him.
I held my list under the tin cup, to catch the drops which
fell, and moisten my lips with them. Some persons at-
tempted to drink sea water; 1 am of opinion that they did
but hasten the moment of their destruction.

About the middle of the day, on the 8th of July, one
of our boats sailed in company with the long-boat. The
people on board suffered more than we, and resolved to go
on shore and get water if possible ; but the sailors mutinied
and insisted on being landed at once : they had drank
nothing for two days. The officers wished to oppose it ;
the sailors were armed with their sabres. A dreadful
butchery was on the point of taking* place on board this
unfortunate boat. The two sails were hoisted in order to

NOTE?. 337

strand more speedily upon the coast* every body reached
tiie shore, the boat filled with water and was abandoned.

This example, fatal to us, gave our sailors an inclina-
tion to do the same. Mr. Espian consented to land them ;
he hoped to be able afterwards with the little water that
remained, and by working the vessel ourselves, to reach the
Senegal. We therefore placed ourselves round this little water,
and took our swords to defend it. We advanced near to
the breakers, the anchor was got up, and the officer gave
orders to let the boat's painter go gently, the sailors on the
contrary, either let the rope go at once, or cut it. Our boat
being no longer checked, was carried into the first breaker.
The water passed over our heads, and three quarters filled
the boat: it did not sink. Immediately we hoisted a sail
which carried us through the other breakers. The boat
entirely filled and sunk, but there was only four feet water ;
every body leaped into the sea, and no one perished.

Before we thought of landing I had undressed myself,
in order to dry my clothes; I might have put them on again,
but the resolution to land having been taken, I thought
that without clothes, I should be more able to swim in
case of need. Mr. de Chasteltiz could not swim: he
fastened a rope round his middle, of which 1 took one end,
and by means of which, I was to draw him to me as soon
as I got on shore. When the boat sunk I threw myself
into the water, I was very glad that I touched the bottom,
for I was uneasy about my comrade. I returned to the
boat to look for my clothes and my sword. A part of
them had been already stolen, I found only my coat and
one of the two pair of pantaloons which I had with me.
A negro offered to sell me an old pair of shoes for eight
francs, for I wanted a pair of shoes to walk in.

The sailors had saved the barrel of water; and as soou

342 JVOTES.

as we were on shore they fought for the drinking of it.
I rushed in among them, and made my way to him who
had got the barrel at his mouth. 1 snatched it from him
and contrived to swallow two mouthfuls, the barrel was
afterwards taken from me, but these two mouthfuls did me
as much good as two bottles; but for them I could not
have lived longer than a few hours.

Thus I found myself on the coast of Africa wet
to the skin, with nothing in my pockets except a few
biscuits, steeped in salt water, to support me for several
days: without water, amidst a sandy desert inhabited by a
ferocious race of men : thus we had left one danger to
plunge into a greater.

We resolved to proceed along the sea coast, because
the breeze cooled us a little, and besides the moist sand
was softer than the fine moveable sand in the interior.
Before we proceeded on our march, we waited for the crew
of the other boat which had stranded before us.

We had proceeded about half an hour, when we
perceived another boat advancing with full sail, and
came with such violence on the beach that it stranded:
it contained all the family of Mr. Picard, consisting-
of himself and his wife, three daughters grown up,
and four young children, one of whom was at the breast.
I threw myself into the sea to assist this unhappy
family; I contributed to get Mr. Picard on shore, every
body was saved. I went to look for my clothes, but
could not find them ; 1 fell into a violent passion, and ex-
pressed in strong terms, the infamy of stealing in such
circumstances. I was reduced to my shirt and my trowsers.
I know not whether my cries, and my complaints, excited
remorse in the robber, but 1 found my coat and pantaloons
again, a little further off upon the sand. (B)

NOTES. 343

XX. — Page 162. — March in the Desert and Ar-
rival at St. Louis.

We proceeded on our journey for the rest of the day
on the 8th of July; many of us were overcome by thirst.
Many with haggard eyes awaited only death. We dug in
the sand, but found only water more salt than that of the
sea.

At last we resolved to pass the sandy downs along the
sea coast ; we afterwards met with a sandy plain almost as
low as the ocean. On this sand there was a little long and
hard grass. We dug a hole three or four feet deep, and
found water which was whitish and had a bad smell. I
tasted it and finding it sweet, cried out " we are saved!"
These words were repeated by the whole caravan who col-
lected round this water, which everyone dveoured with his
eyes. Five or six holes were soon made and every one took
his fill of this muddy beverage. We remained two hours at
this place, and endeavoured to eat a little biscuit in order
to keep up ( ur strength.

Towards evening we returned to the sea shore. The
coolness of the night permitted us to walk, but Mr. Picard's
family could not follow us. The children were carried,
the officers setting the example, in order to induce the
sailors to carry them by turns. The situation of Mr. Picard
was cruel ; his young ladies and his wife displayed great
courage ; they dressed themselves in mens clothes. After
an hours march Mr. Picard desired that we might stop, he
spoke in the tone of a man who would not be refused ; we
consented, though the least delay might endanger the
safety of all. We stretched ourselves upon the sand, and
slept till three o'clock in the morning.

We immediately resumed our march. It was the 9th

z'2

340 NOTES.

of July. We still proceeded along the sea shore, the wet
sand was more easy to walk upon ; we rested every half
hour on account of the ladies.

About eight o'clock in the morning we went a little
from the coast to reconnoitre some Moors who had shewn
themselves. We found two or three wretched tents, in
which there were some Mooresses almost all naked, they
were as ugly and frightful as the sands they inhabit. They
came to our aid, offering us water, goat's milk, and millet)
which are their only food. They would have appeared to us
handsome, if it had been for the pleasure of obliging us,
but these rapacious creatures wanted us to give them every
thing we had. The sailors, who were loaded with what
they had pillaged from us, were more fortunate than we, a
handkerchief procured them a glass of water or milk, or a
handful of millet. They had more money than we, and
gave pieces of tive or ten francs for things, for which we
offered twenty sous. These Mooresses, however, did not
know the value of money, and delivered more to a person
who gave them two or three little pieces of ten sous, than
to him who offered them a crown of six livres Unhap-
pily we had no small money, and I drank more than one
glass of milk at the rate of six livres per glass.

We bought, at a dearer price than we could have
bought gold, two goats which we boiled by turns in a little
metal kettle belonging to the Mooresses. We took out
the pieces half boiled, and devoured them like savages.
The sailors, for whom we had bought these goats, scarcely
left the officers their share, but seized what they could,
and still complained of having had too little. I could
not help speaking to them as they deserved. They conse-
quently had a spite against me and threatened me more
than once.

NOTES. 41

At four o'clock in the afternoon, after we had passed
the greatest heat of the day in the disgusting tents of the
Mooresses, stretched by their side, we heard a cry of
" To arms, to arms/" 1 had none; I took a large knife
which I had preserved, and which was as good as a sword.
We advanced towards some Moors and Negroes, who had
already disarmed several of our people whom they had
found reposing on the sea shore. The two parties were
on the point of coming to blows, when we understood that
these men came to offer to conduct us to Senegal.

Some timid persons distrusted their intentions. For
myself, as well as the most prudent among us, £ thought
that we should trust entirely totnenwho came in a small
number, and who, in fact, confided their own safety to us ;
though it would have been so easy for them, to come in-
sufficiently large numbers to overwhelm us. We did so,
and experience proved that we did well.

We set off with our Moors who were very well made
and fine men of their race ; a Negro, their slave was one of
the handsomest men I have ever seen. His body of a fine
black, was clothed in a blue dress which he had received
as a present. This dress became him admirably, his gait
was proud and his air inspired confidence. The distrust
of some of our Negroes, who had their arms unsheathed,
and fear painted on the countenances of some made
him laugh. He put himself in the middle of them, and
placing the point of the weapons upon his breast, opened
his arms, to make them comprehend that he was not afraid,
and that they also ought not to fear him.

After we had proceeded some time, night being come,
our guides conducted us a little inland, behind the downs
where there were some tents inhabited by a pretty con-
siderable number of Moors. Many persons in our caravan

342 NOTES.

cried out, that they were going1 to be led to death. But
we did not listen to them, persuaded that in every way we
were undone, if the Moors were resolved on our destruc-
tion, that besides, it was their true interest to conduct us
to Senegal, and that in short, confidence was the only
means of safety.

Fear caused every body to follow us. We found in
the camp, water, camels' milk, and dry, or rather rotten
fish. Though all these things were enormously dear, we
were happy to meet with them. I bought for ten francs
one of these fish which stunk terribly. I wrapt it up in
the only handkerchief I had left, to carry it with me. We
were not sure of always finding such a good inn upon
the road. We slept in our usual bed, that is to say stretched
upon the sand. We had rested till midnight : we took
some asses for Mr. Picard's family, and for some men whom
fatigue had rendered incapable of going any further.

I observed that the men who were most overcome by
fatigne were presisely those who were the most robust.
From their look and their apparent strength they might
have been judged indefatigable, but they wanted mental
strength, and this alone supports man in such a crisis.
For my part I was astonished at bearing so well so many
fatigues and privations. I suffered, but with courage ; my
stomach, to my great satisfaction did not suffer at all. I
bore every thing in the same manner till the last.

Sleep alone, but the most distressing sleep possible,
had nearly caused my destruction. It was at two or three
o'clock in the morning that it seized me, I slept as I walked.
As soon as they cried halt I let myself fall upon the sand
and was plunged into the most profound lethergy. No-
thing gave me more pain than to hear at the expiration of
a quarter of an hour " up, march."

NOTES. 343

I was once so overcome that 1 heard nothing-, I re-
mained stretched upon the ground while the whole caravan
passed by me. It was already at a great distance when a
straggler happily perceived me; he pushed me, and at last
succeeded in awaking me. But for him 1 should doubtless
have slept several hours. If 1 had awoke alone in the
middle of the desert, either despair would have terminated
my sufferings, or I should have been made a slave by the
Moors, which 1 could not have borne. To avoid this mis-
fortune 1 begged one of my friends to watch over me, and
to waken me at every stage, which he did.

On the 10th of July towards six o'clock in the morn-
ing, we were marching along the sea coast, when our guide
gave us notice to be upon our guard and to take our arms.
I seized my knife ; the whole party was collected. The
country was inhabited by a poor and plundering race of
Moors, who would not have failed to attack those who had
loitered behind. The precaution was good, some Moors
shewed themselves on the downs; their number encreased
and soon exceeded ours. To move them, we placed our-
selves in a line holding our swords and sabres in the air.
Those who had no arms waved the scabbards, to make them
believe that we were all armed with muskets. They did
not approach. Our guides went half way to meet them.
They left one man and retired : the Moors did the same on
their side. The two deputies conversed together for some
time, then each returned to his party. The explanation
was satisfactory, and the Moors soon came to us without
the leasr distrust.

Their women brought us milk which they sold horri-
bly dear; the rapacity of these Moors is astonishing, they
insisted on having a share of the milk, which they had
sold us.

344 NOTES.

Mean time we saw a sail advancing towards us: we
made all kinds of signal* to be perceived by it, and we
were convinced that they were answered. Our joy was
lively and well founded : it was the Argus brig which came
to our assistance, She lowered her sails and hoisted out
a boat. When it was near the breakers a Moor threw him-
self into the sea, carrying a note which painted our distress.
The boat took the Moor on board and returned wish the note
to the captain. Half an hour afterwards the boat returned
laden with a large barrel, and two small ones. When it
reached the place where it had taken in the Moor, the
latter threw himself into the sea again to bring back the
answer. It informed us that they were going to throw
into the sea a barrel of biscuit and cheese, and two others
containing brandy and wine.

Another piece of news filled us with joy; the two
boats which had not stranded on the roast as we had done
arrived at the Senegal, after having experienced the most
stormy weather. Without losing a moment the governor
had dispatched the Argus, and taken every measure to
assist the shipwrecked people, and to go to the Medusa.
Besides, he had sent by land camels loaden with provisions
to meet us, lastly, the Moors were desired to respect us,
and to render us assistance : so much good news revived
us, and gave us fresh courage.

I learned also that Mr. Schmalz and his family, those
very ladies, whom 1 had seen e\pose themselves with so
much com -insure to the fury of the waves, and who had
made me shed the only tears which our misfortunes had
drawn from me, were well and in safety. 1 should have
been sorry to die without having learned that they were
preserved.

When the three barrels were thrown into the sea we

NOTES. 345

followed them with our eyes ; we feared lest the current,
instead of bringing them to the coast, should carry them
into the open sea. At lasf we saw, clearly, that they ap-
proached us. Our Negroes and Moors swam to them, and
pushed them to the coast, where we secured them.

The great barrel was opened : the biscuit and cheese
were distributed. We would not open those of wine and
brandy. We feared lest the Moors, at this sight, would
not be able to refrain from falling upon the booty. We
continued our march, and about half a league farther on,
made a delicious feast on the sea-shore. Our strength
being revived, we continued our route with more ardour.

Towards the close of the d«y, the aspect of the country
began to change a little. The downs were lower: we
perceived, at a distance, a sheet of water: we thought, and
this was no small satisfaction to us, that it was the Senegal
which made an elbow in this place to run parallel to the
sea. From this elbow runs the little rivulet called Marigot
des Marinyoins ; we left the sea-shore to pass it a little
higher up. We reached a spot where there was some
verdure and water, and resolved to remain there till mid-
night.

We had scarcely reached this spot, when we saw an
Englishman coining towards uswiththreeor fourMarabous,
or priests ; they had camels with them ; they were doubt-
less sent by the English Governor of Senegal, to seek for
the shipwrecked people. One of the camels, laden with
provisions, is immediately dispatched ; those who conduct
it are to go, if necessary, to Portendic, to fetch our com-
panions in misfortune ; or at least to get some information
respecting them.

The English envoy had money to buy us provisions.
He informed us that we had still three days march to the

346 NOTES.

Senegal. We imagined that we were nearer to it; the
most fatigued were terrified at this great distance. We slept
all together on the sand. Nobody was suffered to go to a
distance for fear of the lions, which were said to haunt
this country. This fear did not at all alarm me, nor hinder
me from sleeping pretty well.

On the llth of July, after having walked from one
o'clock in the morning till seven, we arrived at a place
where the Englishman expected to meet with an ox. By
some misunderstanding there was none ; we were obliged
to pinch our bellies: but we had a little water.

The heat was insupportable; the sun was already
scorching. We halted on the white sand of these downs,
as being more wholesome for a resting place than the sand
wetted by the sea-water. But this sand was so hot, that
even the hands could not endure it. Towards noon we
were broiled by the beams of the sun darting perpendicu-
larly upon our heads. I found no remedy, except in a
creeping plant, which grew here and there on the moving
sand. I set up some old stalks, and spread over them my
coat and some leaves : thus 1 put my head in the shade ;
the rest of my body was roasted. The wind overturned,
twenty times, my slight scaffolding.

Meantime, the Englishman was gone, on his camel,
to see after an ox. He did not return till four or five
o'clock: when he informed us that we should find this
animal, after we had proceeded some hours. After a most
painful marcL till night, we, in fact, met with an ox which
was small, but tolerably fat. We looked at some distance
from the sea, for a place where there was supposed to be
a spring. It was only a hole, which the Moors had left
a few hours before. Here we fixed ourselves, a dozen fires
were lighted around us. A negro twisted the neck of the

NOTES. 347

ox, as we should have done that of a fowl. In five minutes
it was flayed and cut into pieces, which we toasted on the
points of our swords or sabres. Every one devoured his
portion.

After this slight repast, we all lay down to sleep. I
was not able to sleep: the tiresome buzzing of the mosqui-
toes, and their cruel stings, prevented me, though I was
so much in need of repose.

On the 12th, we resumed our march at three o'clock
in the morning. I was indisposed ; and to knock me up
entirely, we had to walkover the moving sand of the point
of Barbary. Nothing hitherto, had been more fatiguing:
every body complained ; our Moorish guides assured
us that this way was shorter by two leagues. We pre-
ferred returning to the beach, and walking on the sand,
which the sea-water rendered firm. This last effort was
almost beyond my strength, 1 sunk under it, and but for
my comrades, I should have remained upon the sand.

We had absolutely resolved to reach the point, where
the river joins the downs. There some boats, which were
coining up the river, were to take us on board, and convey
us to St. Louis. When we had nearly reached this spot,
we crossed the downs, and enjoyed the sight of the river
which we had so long desired to meet with.

Happily too, it was the season when the water of the
Senegal is fresh : we quenched our thirst at our pleasure.
We stopped at last ; it was only eight o'clock in the morn-
ing. We had no shelter during the whole day, except some
trees, which were of a kind unknown tome, and which had
a sombre foliage. I frequently went into the river, but
without venturing too far from the bank, for fear of the
alligators.

About two o'clock, a small boat arrived ; the master

348 NOTES.

of it asked for' Mr. Picard ; he was sent by one of the old
friends of that gentleman, and brought him provisions and
clothes for his family. He gave notice to us ail, in the
name of the English Governor, that two other boats loaded
with provisions, were coming. Having to wait till they
arrived, 1 could not remain with Mr. Picard's family. I
know not what emotion arose in my soul when 1 saw the
fine white bread cut, and the wine poured out, which would
have given rue so much pleasure. At four o'clock we also
were abie to eat bread and good biscuit, and to drink
excellent Madeira, which was lavished on us with little
prudence. Our sailors were drunk; even those among
us who had been more cautious, and whose heads were
stronger, were, to say the least, very merry. How did our
tongues run as we went down the river in our boats! After
a short and happy navigation, we landed at Saint Louis,
about seven o'clock in the evening.

But what should we do? whither should we go?
Such were our reflections when we set foot on shore. They
were not of long duration. We met with some of our
comrades belonging to the boats who had arrived before
us, who conducted us, and distributed us among various
private houses, where every thing had been prepared to
receive us well. 1 shall always remember the kind hospi-
tality which was shewn to us, in general, by the white
inhabitants of St. Louis, both English and French. We
were all made welcome; we had all clean linen to put on,
water to wash our feet ; a sumptuous table was ready for
us. As for myself, I was received, with several of my
companions, in the house of Messrs. Potin and Durecur
Merchants of Bordeaux. Every thing they possessed was
lavished upon us. They gave rue linen, light clothes, in
short, whatever I wanted. 1 had nothing left. Honour to

NOTES. 349

him, who knows so well how to succour the unfortunate ;
to him especially who does it with so much simplicity, and
as little ostentation as these gentlemen did. It seemed
that it was a duty for them to assist every body. They
would willingly have left to others no share in the good
that was to be done. English officers eagerly claimed the
pleasure, as they expressed it, of having some of the ship-
wrecked people to take care of. Some of us had feather
beds, others good mattrasses laid upon mats, which they
found very comfortable. 1 slept ill notwithstanding, 1 was
too much fatigued, too much agitated : I always fancied,
myself either bandied about by the waves, or treading on
the burning sands. (B)

XXI. — Page 178. — On the Manufactures of the
Moors.

The Moors tan skins with the dried pods of the Gum-
miferous Accia : thus prepared, they are impenetrable to
the rain, and it may be affirmed that, for their suppleness,
as \vell as for the brilliancy and finesss of their grain, they
might become a valuable fur in Europe, e-ither for use or
ornament. The most beautiful of these skins seemed to
be those of very young goats, taken from the belly of the
dam before the time of gestation is completed. The great
numbers of these animals, which are found round all the
inhabited places, allow the inhabitants to sacrifice many
to this species of luxury, without any extraordiny loss.
The cloaks, with a hood, which are mentioned in this
memoir, are composed of several of these skins, inge-
niously sewed together, with small and very fine seams.
These garments, designed as a protection against the cold
and the rain, are generally black, but some are also seen
of a reddish colour, which are not so beautiful, and heavier

350 NOTES.

these latter are made of the skins of the kind of sheep,
known by the name of guinea-sheep, which have hair
instead of wool. As for the goldsmiths work, made by
these people, it is executed by travelling- workmen, who
are at the same time armourers, smiths and jewellers.
Furnished with a leather bag which is provided with an
iron pipe, and filled with air, which they press and fill
alternately, by putting it under their thigh, which they
keep in constant motion, singing all the while ; seated
before a little hole dug in the sand, and under the shade
of some leaves of the date-tree laid upon their heads, they
execute on a little anvil, and with the help of a hammer,
and some small iron awls, not only all kinds of repairs
necessary to fire-arms, sabres, &c. but manufacture knives
and daggers, and also make bracelets, earrings, and neck-
laces of gold, which they have the art of drawing into
very fine wire, and forming into ornaments for women, in
a manner which, though it wants taste, makes us admire
the skill of the workman, especially when we consider the
nature, and the small number of the tools which he em-
ploys.

The Moors, like the Mahometan negroes, are for the
most part, provided with a larger or smaller number of yris-
gris, a kind of talisman consisting in words, or verses co-
pied from the Goran, to which they ascribe the power of
securing them against diseases, witchcraft and accidents,
and which they buy of their priests or Marabous. Some
Spaniards from TenerifFe, who came to Cape Verd, at the
time that the French Expedition had taken refuge there,
struck us all, by their resemblance with these Africans.
It was not only by their brown complexions that they
resembled them ; but it was also by their long rosaries,
in the same manner about their arms, resembling,

NOTES. 351

except the cross, those of the Moors, and by the great
number of Amulets, (yris-yris of another kind) whrch
they wear round their necks, and by which they seemed
to wish to rival the infidels in credulity. There is then, in
the South of Europe, as well as in the North of Africa, a
class of men, who would found their authority, upon
ig'norance, and derive their authority from superstition.

XXII. — Page 235.— On the Bark given to the

Sick.

The bark, which began to be administered at that
time, had been damaged, but an attempt was made to
supply the want of it by the bark which the negroes use
to cure the dysentery, and which they bring from the en-
virons of Rufisque. This bark, of which they made a secret,
seems to come from some terebinthine plant, and perhaps,
from the monbins, which are common on this part of the
coast. In the winter fevers which prevail at Goree, Cape
Verd, &c. two methods of cure were employed which had
different effects. These fevers were often attended with cho-
lic, spasms in the stomach, and diarrhea. The first method
consisted in vomitting, purging, and then administering
the bark, to which musk was sometimes added, when the
disorder grew worse. In this case, when the disease djd
not end in death, the fever was often succeeded by dysen-
tery, or those who believed themselves cured, were subject
to relapses. The second method, which Doctor Bergeron
employed with more success, was opposite to the former;
he vomited the patients but little, or not at all, endeavour-
ing to calm the symptoms, to strengthen the patient by bit-
ters, and at the last, he administered the bark.*

* It is to be observed that the author, in these two
uses the word Kina or Peruvian bark. — T.

352 NOTES.

The Negroes who, like all other people, have a mate-
ria medica, and pharmacopeia of their own, and who at
this season, are subject to the same disorders as the Euro-
peans, have recourse at the very beginning', to a more
heroic remedy, and such of our soldfers encamped at
Daccard, as made use of it, in general found benefit from
it. The Priest or Marabous, who often offered them the
assistance of his art, made them take a large 'glass of
rum-punch, very warm, with a slight infusion of cayenne
pepper. An extraordinary perspiration generally termi-
nated this fit. The patient then avoided, for some days,
walking in the sun, and eat a small quantity of roasted fish
and cous-cous, mixed with a sufficient quantity of cassia
leaves of different species, to operate as a gentle purga-
tive. In order to keep up the perspiration, or according
to the Negro Doctor, to strengthen the skin, he applied
from time to time, warm lotions of the leaves of the palraa
christi, and of cassia, (casse puantc.) The use of rum,
which is condemned by the Mahometan religion, and is a
production foreign to this country, gives reason to suppose
that the remedy is of modern date, among the Negroes.

XXIII.— Page 2&3.—On the Isle of St. Louis.

St. Louis is a bank of scorching sand, without drinka-
bie water or verdure, with a few tolerable houses towards
the South, and a great number of low smoky straw huts,
which, occupy almost all the North part. The houses
are of brick, made of a salt clay, ( argile salee ) which the
wind reduces to powder, unless they are carefully covered
with a layer of chalk or lime, which it is difficult to
procure, and the dazzling whiteness of which injures the
eyes.

Towards the middle of this town, if it may be so

NOTES. 353

called, is a large manufactory in ruins, which is honored
with the name of a fort, and of which the English have
sacrificed a part, in order to make apartments for the go-
vernor, and to make the ground floor more airy, to quarter
troops in it.

Opposite is a battery of heavy cannon, the parapet of
which covers the square, on which are some trees, planted
in strait lines for ornament. These trees are oleaginous
Benjamins (Bens Oleferes) which give no shade, and
ought to be replaced by tamarinds, or sycamores, which
are common in this neighbourhood, and would thrive well
on this spot. None but people uncertain of their privilege
to trade on this river, merchants who came merely to make
a short stay, and indolent speculators would have con-
tented themselves with this bank of burning sand, and
not have been tempted by the cool shades and more fertile
lands, which are within a hundred toises, but which, in-
deed, labour alone could render productive. Every thing
is wretched in this situation.

Saint Louis is but a halting place in the middle of
the river, where merchants who were going up it to seek
slaves and gum, moored their vessels, and deposited their
provisions, and the goods they had brought with them to
barter.

What is said in the narrative of the means of attacking
this port, is correct. When the enemy have appeared,
the Negroes have always been those who have defended
it with the most effect. But unhappily, there, as in the
Antilles, persons are already to be found, who are inclined
to hold out their hands to the English.

At Louis there are some palm-trees, and the lantara
flabelliformis. Some little gardens have been made ; but
a cabbage, or a salad, are still of some value. Want,

A A

354 NOTES.

the mother of industry, obliged some of the inhabitants,
during- the war, to turn their thoughts to cultivation, and
it should be the object of the government to encourage
them.

XXIV.— Page 303.— On the. Islands of Gorce and
Cape Verd.

At the distance of 1200 toises from the Peninsula of
Cape Verd, a large black rock rises abruptly, from the'
surface of the sea. It is cut perpendicularly on one side,
inaccessible in two thirds of its circumference, and ter-
minates, towards the south, in a low beach which it com-
mands, and which is edged with large stones, against
which the sea dashes violently. This beach, which is the
prolongation of the base of the rock, bends in an arch,
and forms a recess, where people land as they ran. At
the extremity of this beach is a battery of two or three
guns; on the beac-h of tin- landing-place, is an rpaule-
inent, with embrasures which commands it. The town
stands on this sand bank, and a little fort, built on the
ridge of I he rock, commands and defends it. In its pre-
sent state, Goree could not resist a ship of the line. Its
road, which is only an anchoring place in ihe open sea,
is safe in the most stormy weather; but it is exposed to
all winds except those that blow from the island, which
then serves to shelter it.

The Europeans who desire to carry on the slave trade,
have preferred this arid rock, placed in the middle of a
raging rea, to the neighbouring continent, where they
Mould find water, wood, vegetables, and in short, the
necessaries of life. The same reason which has caused
the preference to be given to a narrow and barren sand
bank, in the middle of the Senegal to build St. Louis, has
also decided in favor of Goree ; it is, that both of them are

NOTES. 355

but dens, or prisons, intended as a temporary confinement
for wretches who, in any other situation, would find means
to escape. To deal in men, nothing- is wanting but fetters
and jails, but as this kind of gain no longer exists, if it is
wished to derive other productions from these possessions,
and not to lose them entirely, it will be necessary to
change the nature of our speculations, and to direct our
views and our efforts to the continent, where industry and
agriculture promise riches, the production of which huma-
nity will applaud.

The point which seems most proper for an agricultu-
ral establishment, is Cape Belair, a league and a half to
the leward of Goree : its soil is a rich black mould, lying
on a bed of Lava, which seems to come from the Mamelles
It is there that other large vegetables, besides the Bao-
babs, begin to be more numerous, and which, farther on,
towards Cape Rouge, cover, like a forest, all the shores.
The wells of Ben, which supply Goree with water, are but
a short distance from it, and the lake of Tinguage, begins
in the neighbourhood. This lake, which is formed, in a
great measure, by the rain water of the Peninsula, contains
a brackish water, which it is easy to render potable ; it is
inhabited by the Guesiks, or Gnia-Sicks of the Yoloffes,
or Black Crocodiles of Senegal ; but it would be easy to
destroy these animals. In September, this lake seems
wholly covered with white nymphaea, or water-lilly, and
in winter time it is frequented by a multitude of water-
fowl, among which, are distinguished by their large size,
the great pelican, the fine crested crane, which has received
the name of the royal-bird, the gigantic heron, known in
Senegambia by the venerable name of Marabou, on account
of its bald head, with a few scattered white hairs, its lofty
stature, and its dignified gait.

A A 2

356 NOTES,

Considered geologically, the island of Goree is a
group of basaltic columns still standing, but a part of
which seem to have experienced the action of the same
cause of destruction and overthrow, as the columns of the
same formation of Cape Verd, because they are inclined
and overthrown in the same direction.

Cape Verd is a peninsula about five leagues and a
half long ; the breadth is extremely variable. At its junc-
tion, with the continent, it is about four leagues broad ; by
the deep recess which the Bay of Daccard forms, it is
reduced, near that village, to 600 toises, and becomes
broader afterwards. This promontory, which forms the
most western part of Africa, is placed, as it were, at the
foot of a long hill, which represents the ancient shore of
the continent. On the sea-shore, nnd towards the north-
east, there are two hills of unequal height, which serve as
a guide to mariners ; and which, from the substances col-
lected in their neighbourhood, evidently shew that they
are the remains of an ancient volcano. They have received
the name of Mamelles. From this place, to the western
extremity of the Peninsula, the country rises towards the
north-east, and terminates in a sandy beach on the oppo-
site side.

Almost the whole north-side is composed of steep
rocks, covered with large masses of oxyd of iron, or with
regular columns of basalt which, for the most part, still
preserve their vertical position. Their summits, which are
sometimes scorified, seem to prove that they hare been
exposed to a great degree of heat. The soil which covers
the plateau, formed by the summit of the Basaltic columns,
the sides of which assume towards the Mamelles, the ap-
pearance of walls of Trapp, but already, in a great degree,
changed into tuf, is arid and covered with briars. The-

NOTES. 357

soil of the Mamelles, like almost all that of the middle of
the Peninsula, which appears to lie upon argillaceous lava,
in a state of decomposition, is much better. There are
even to be found, here and there, some spots that are very
fertile; this is the arable land of the inhabitants. Towards
the south, all resumes more or less, the appearance of a
desert ; and the sands, though less destitute of vegetable
mould, extend from thence to the sea-shore. It is by ma-
nuring the land, with the dung of their cattle, that the
Negroes raise pretty good crops of sorgho. The popula-
tion of this peninsula may be estimated at ten thousand
souls. It is entirely of the Yolotfe race, and shews much
attachment to all the ceremonies of Islamism. The Mara-
bous or Priests, sometimes mounted on the top of the Nests
of the Termites, or on the walls surrounding their mosque,
call the people several times a-day to prayer.

The social state of this little people, is a kind of re-
public governed by a senate, which is composed of the
chiefs of most of the villages. They have taken from the
the Coran the idea of this form of government, as is the
case with most of those, established among the nations who
follow that law.

At the time of the expedition of the Medusa this
senate was composed as follows :

Moctar, supreme chief resident of Daccard.

Diacheten, chief of the village of Sinkieur.

Phall Yokedieff.

Tjallow-Talerfour Graff.

Motiirn Bott.

Bayemour Kaye.

Modiann Ketdym.

Mamcthiar Symbodioun.

Ghameu . . , .Wockam.

358 NOTES.

Diogheul, chief of the village of Gorr.

Baindonlz YofF.

iMofall Ben.

Schenegall Bambara.

This tribe was formerly subject to a Negro King in (he
neighbourhood ; but having revolted against him, though
very inferior in numbers, it defeated his army a few years
ago. The bones of the vanquished, that still lie scattered
on the plain, attest the victory. A wall, pierced with loop-
holes, which they erected in the narrowest part of the
Peninsula, and which the enemy was unable to force,
chiefly contributed to their success. The Yolloffes are in
general handsome and their facial angle has hardly any
thing of the usual deformity of the Negroes. Their common
food is cous-cous, with poultry, and above all fish; their
drink is brackish water, mixed with milk and sometimes
with palm wine. The poor go on foot, the rich on horseback,
and some ride upon bulls, which are always very docile,
for the Negroes are eminently distinguished by their good
treatment of all animals. Their wealth consists in land
and cattle; their dwellings are generally of reeds, their
beds are mats made of Asouman (maranta juncea) and
leopards' skins ; and their cloathing" broad pieces of cotton.
The women take care of the children, pound the millet,
and prepare the food ; the men cultivate the land, go a
hunting' and fishing, weave the stuff for their clothes,
and gather in the wax.

Revenge and idleness seem to be the only vices of
these people ; their virtues are charity, hospitality, so-
briety, and love of their children. The young women are
licentious, but the married women are generally chaste and
attached to their husbands. Their diseases among the
children, are worms, and umbilical hernia ; among the old

NOTES. 359

people, and particularly those who have travelled much,
blindness and optfealanua ; and among' the ftdult, affec-
tions of the heart, obstructions, sometimes leprosy, and
rarely elephantiasis. Among the whole population of the
Peninsula, there is only one person with a hunch back, and
two or three who are lame. During the day they work or
rest; but the night is reserved for dancing- and conversa-
tion. As soon as the sun has set, the tambourine is heard,
the women sing; the whole population is animated; love
and the ball set every body in motion. " Jlfrica dances
all the night," is an expression which has become pro-
verbial among the Europeans who have travelled there.

There is not an atom of calcareous stone in the whole
country: almost all the plants are twisted and thorny. The
Monbins are the only species of timber that are met with.
The thorny asparagus, A. retrofractus,is found in abundance
in the woods; it tears the clothes, and the centaury of
Egypt pricks the legs. The most troublesome insects of
the neighbourhood are gnats, bugs, and ear-wigs. The
monkey, called cynocephalus, plunders the harvests, the
vultures attack the sick animals, the striped hyoena and
the leopard prowl about the villages during the night; but
the cattle are extremely beautiful, and the fish make the sea
on this coast boil, and foam by their extraordinary num-
bers. The hare of the Cape and the gazell are frequently
met with. The porcupines, in the moulting season, cast
their quills in the fields, and dig themselves holes under
the palm trees. The guinea-fowl (Pintada), the turtle-
dove, the wood-pigeon are found every where. In winter
immense flocks of plovers of various species, are seen on
the edges of the marshes, and also great numbers of
wild ducks. Other species frequent the reeds, and the
surface of the water is covered with geese of different

3(50 NOTES.

kinds, among which is that whose head bears a fleshy
tubercle like that of the cassowary. The fishing- nets are
made of date leaves; their upper edge is furnished, in-
stead of cork, with pieces of the light wood of the Ascle-
pias. — The sails of the canoes are made of cotton.

Several shrubs, and a large number of herbaceous
plants of this part of Africa, are found also in the Antilles.
But among the indigenous plants, are the Cape Jessamine,
the Amaryllis Kubannee, the Scarlet Hoemanthus, the Glo-
riosa Superba, and some extremely beautiful species of
Nerions. A new species of Calabash, (Crescentia) with
pinnated leaves is very common. Travellers appear to
have confounded it with the Baobab, on account of the
shape of its fruits, the thickness of its trunk, and the way
in which its branches grow. Its wood, which is very
heavy and of a fallow colour, has the grain and smell of
ebony : its Yoloffe name is Bonda, the English have cut
down and exported the greatest part of it.

In short, Africa, such as we have seen it either on the
banks of the Senegal or the Peninsula of Cape Verd, is a
new country, which promises to the naturalist an ample
harvest of discoveries, and to the philosophical observer
of mankind, a vast field for research and observation.
May the detestable commerce in human flesh, which the
Negroes abhor, and the Moors desire, cease to pollute
these shores ! It is the only means which the Europeans
have left to become acquainted with the interior of this
vast continent, and to make this great portion of the family
of mankind, by which it is inhabited, participate in the
benefits of civilization.

THE END.

London : Printed by Schulze and Dean, 13, Poland-Street.

U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES