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diff --git a/old/11772-8.txt b/old/11772-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d45d8a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11772-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7376 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 +by J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Corréard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 + Undertaken by Order of the French Government, Comprising an Account + of the Shipwreck of the Medusa, 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. + + +Author: J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Corréard + +Release Date: April 3, 2004 [EBook #11772] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO SENEGAL IN 1816 *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Piotr Przemyslaw Karwasz and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. This file was produced from images generously made +available by gallica (Bibliothèque nationale de France) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr. + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: The spelling inconsistencies of the original +are retained in this etext.] + + + +NARRATIVE +OF A +VOYAGE +TO SENEGAL +IN 1816. + + +_No person can read this Interesting Narrative without being deeply +affected by the perils and misfortunes to which the small remnant of +persons, who were saved from this deplorable Shipwreck, were exposed. Of +one hundred and fifty persons embarked upon the raft, and left to their +fate, only fifteen remained alive thirteen days afterwards; but of these +fifteen, so miraculously saved, life constituted the sole possession, being +literally stripped of every thing. At Paris, some benevolent individuals +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._ + + + + + + NARRATIVE + OF A + VOYAGE TO SENEGAL + IN 1816; + +UNDERTAKEN BY ORDER OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, + COMPRISING AN ACCOUNT + OF THE + Shipwreck of the Medusa, + 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 CORRÉARD. + + ILLUSTRATED WITH THE NOTES OF M. BREDIF + AND EMBELLISHED WITH +A PLAN OF THE RAFT, AND A PORTRAIT OF KING ZAIDE. + +1818. + + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +At the moment that we publish a Second Edition of our Narrative, we learn +that Mr. Sevigny [A] is going to publish a pretended Account, 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 unhappily, 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 consequently, 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 public will judge of his account and ours. + +CORRÉARD AND SAVIGNY. + +[A] 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 anonymous company, which one +of the King's Ministers has recommended in the following manner: + +"The keeper of the seals has informed the magistrates, that an anonymous +company, which had formed itself under the name of the _Colonial +Philanthropic Society of Senegambia_, and which announced the project 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 condition 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 +prescribed by the law." + +(_Journal des Débats, Novembre _24, 1817.) + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The annals of the marine, record no example of a shipwreck so terrible as +that of the Medusa frigate. 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 +unhappy 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, besides, 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 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 by the slavery of the press, men without talents survive every +revolution, exhibit in every antichamber their privileged incapacity, and +braving public opinion, even that of their comrades, who are the first +victims of a foolish and arrogant prejudice, which deceives them, shew +themselves more eager to monopolise favours and honours, in proportion 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 +approbation. 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 +recompence. + +We have questioned, concerning the nautical details, several gentlemen of +the navy who were on board; we confess, however, that on comparing their +accounts, we have 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 truths; they will, however, be +directed only to those, whose unskilfulness, or pusillanimity have caused +these dreadful events. We venture to affirm, that the numerous +observations, which we have collected, will give to our work all the +accuracy rigorously 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, and 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 necessary 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. Landry, an officer of the Royal +University, Professor Emeritus of the Academy of Paris, and at present 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 by 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 +meddling 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 circumstances, 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 manner in which he knows how to give an +account of the facts which he has observed, and still more the 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 be will duly execute his Mission, and render himself worthy +of his Majesty's favours. + + + +[Illustration: PLAN of the RAFT of the MEDUSA, at the moment of its being +abandoned. 150 Frenchmen were placed on this Machine. 15 only were saved 13 +days after.] + + + + + +NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +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 definitively 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 masters 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 and England, concluded on the 3d of September, 1783. In 1808, our +possessions fell again into the power of the English, less by the +superiority of their arms, than by the treachery 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 confirmed that of 1783 in +its whole extent. + +The stipulations of this treaty regulate 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 property 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 whatsoever 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 month 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 +resuming her possessions and 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 commanding the African battalion, +composed of three companies of 84 men each.................. 253 + +A Lieutenant of Artillery, inspector of the powder magazines +and batteries, and commanding ten workmen of his arm........ 11 + +A Commissary, inspector of the marine, chief of the +administration.............................................. 1 + +Four Store-keepers.......................................... 4 + +Six Clerks.................................................. 6 + +Four Scouts (guetteurs)..................................... 4 + +Two Curés................................................... 2 + +Two Schoolmasters (instituteurs)............................ 2 + +Two Writers (greffiers, they supply the place of the +notaries and even of the mayors)............................ 2 + +Two Hospital Directors...................................... 2 + +Two Apothecaries............................................ 2 + +Five Surgeons............................................... 5 + +Two Port Captains........................................... 2 + +Three Pilots................................................ 3 + +A Gardener.................................................. 1 + +Eighteen Women.............................................. 18 + +Eight Children.............................................. 8 + +Four Bakers................................................. 4 + +Farther for an intended expedition into the country of +Galam. + +An Engineer of mines........................................ 1 + +A Geographical Engineer..................................... 1 + +A Naturalist (cultivateur naturaliste)...................... 1 + +Farther for an expedition which was to seek upon Cape Verd, +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 productions................... 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, &c. &c. + + +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_[1] frigate +of 44 guns, Captain Chaumareys; the _Echo_[2] corvette, Captain Cornet de +Venancourt; the flute _La Loire_, commanded by Lieutenant Giquel +Destouches; and the _Argus_[3] brig, commanded by Lieutenant Parnajon. The +wind was northerly, blowing a fresh breeze; we carried all our sails; but +had hardly cleared the port when the wind scanted a little, and we tacked +to double the Tower of Chassiron, which is placed at the extremity of the +Isle of Oleron.[4] After having plied to windward the whole day, in the +evening about five o'clock, the _Loire_ being unable to stem the currents +which were at that time contrary, and hindered her from entering the +_passes_, desired leave to cast anchor; M. de Chaumareys granted it, and +ordered the whole squadron to anchor. We were then half a league from the +Isle of Rhé, 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 weather was fine: the wind N.W. and consequently 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 under way had been given them +a few minutes before. At night we found ourselves between the lights of +Chassiron and La Baleine.[5] A few moments 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 announced 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 perceived that we were running directly upon a danger, +called _Les Roches Bonnes_.[6] 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; 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.[7] + +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, on the larboard side; a great many persons were at +the time, on the poop and the breast work, looking at the gambols of the +porpoises.[8] 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.[9] The sails 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° 45', Latitude, and the most _Southerly_ in latitude, +34° 30', 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 rock 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 observation 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.[10] This error in the +arrival, was at least thirty leagues in the East. It was attributed to the +currents 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.[A1] + +The next morning at day break we saw very distinctly the islands of Madeira +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 considerable 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.[A2] + +Madeira appears like an amphitheatre; the country houses which cover it +seem to be in a very good taste, and give it a charming appearance. All +these delightful 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 agreeable +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. Funchal, 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 narrow 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 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 at sun-rise we saw the islands called Salvages, and +in the evening we descried the Pico of Teneriffe, on the island of that +name. This lofty mountain, behind which the sun had just set, presented a +sight truly magnificent; its summit seemed to be crowned with fire: 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 mortar, 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 +Français_. One of our companions 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 English navy, failed before a handful of French, +who covered themselves with glory and saved Teneriffe; the Admiral was +obliged to take flight, after having lost an arm in the contest, which was +long and obstinate. + +Having doubled a point which extends into the sea, we entered the bay, at +the bottom of which is the town of St. Croix. The appearance of Teneriffe +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 some 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 +certain elevation excavations filled with sulphur are observed; and in its +neighbourhood 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 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. Laperère, who strongly insisted on bringing +away these unfortunate persons; his entreaties could 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 persecution 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 +compare their agricultural productions, on account of the great difference +of their soils: but in a commercial view, Teneriffe has the advantage of +Madeira. Its geographical position in the middle of the Canaries, enables +it to carry on an extensive trade, while Madeira is confined to the sale +and 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 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.[A3] + +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 time, the fire +was extinguished. 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 [A4], +which is very little known. We passed the tropic at ten o'clock in the +morning; the usual ceremony was there performed with a certain 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 ceremony +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 +consequences. 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, 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.[11] If it had fallen calm, 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 descried Cape Blanco[A5], 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 constantly kept company since we +left Madeira, burnt several charges of powder and hung a lanthorn at the +mizen-mast; 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 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_[A6]. 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 larboard 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 to the larboard, or she to the +starboard, since at day-break the corvette was no longer in sight. + +At sea a vessel may easily be perceived at the distance of six leagues. +From midnight till six in the morning, she must have gained above six +leagues 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 necessarily 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 morning 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.[12] 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 recommend 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.[13] 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 Corréard, we cannot pass over in silence, a scene +which took place in the morning. The Captain was deceived in the most +singular 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 in misfortune, who sees clearly, and who knows how to +distinguish between a rock and a cloud, because he has seen enough of them +in the Alps, where he was born, told those gentlemen that it was only a +cape of vapour; he was answered that the instructions which the minister +had given to the captain 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 desired 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. + +After this pretended reconnaissance of the 2d July, if we were persuaded +that we had seen that Cape, we should have steered west, to double the bank +of Arguin; 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 immediately 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 on board, whom this mark +of deference could not but offend. M. de Chaumareys, while we were doubling +Cape Barbas, presided at the farce performed in passing the Tropic, while +he who had gained his confidence, was walking up and down the deck of the +frigate, 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 observed to ascertain our position, we +saw, on the quarter deck, Mr. Maudet, ensign 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 communicated 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.[14] + +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 gave orders to +haul the wind as close as possible, but unhappily it was too late.[A7][B1] + +The frigate luffing, almost immediately gave a heel; it proceeded a moment +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 +unfavorable 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 centimetres 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 others not so deep; which made +us suppose that the reef is very uneven and covered with little elevations. +All the different manoeuvres which had been performed since the moment when +we found ourselves in eighteen fathoms, to that in which we struck, +succeeded each other with extraordinary rapidity: not above ten minutes +passed. Several persons have assured us that, if the ship had come entirely +to the wind, when we were in eighteen 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° 45' west longitude. This event spread the most +profound consternation; 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. 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 thunderstruck 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, immediately +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 insensible, and +as if unconcerned in these events. + +As soon as the frigate stranded, the sails were hastily lowered, the top +gallant 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 operation was fruitless; for the anchor, which was too weak, could not +make sufficient resistance and gave way: a bower anchor 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 together because the boat was not +able to carry so considerable a weight.[15] 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 put 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 +resistance, and would have been dragged on board again if they had +continued to work at the capstern.[16] 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. + +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.[17] It was necessary to have recourse to an expedient 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 +deposited 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 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 pretty 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 hollow, 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 currents, added to the difficulties. If the weather +had not been so extremely unfavorable 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 nothing but a calm could favor. The weather was bad +during the whole night; about four or five o'clock, at the morning 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 prosecuted: during the day of the +4. several 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 overboard. + +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 stern ports, tended to prevent it +from running a-head, by supporting its quarters 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, and 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 +factories. 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 preserved from injury: this method was indeed +attempted, but it was given up, because the means employed were +insufficient. 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.[B2] + +If the frigate had been lightened as soon as we struck, perhaps she might +have been saved.[18] 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 +probabilities, 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. + +At night the sky became cloudy, the winds came from the sea, and blew +violently. 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.[B3] 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 produced 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 captain'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 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 distressing 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 necessary to abandon her, was, that the water had +already penetrated between decks. A quantity of biscuit was hastily taken +from the store-room; wine and fresh water were also got out; these +provisions 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 ignorant 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 themselves 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; but no +attention was paid to this wise arrangement; 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 reason to repent it. Mr. Savigny was unfortunately of this +number; he might have stopped on board a boat, but an invincible attachment +to his duty made him forget the danger of the part which was allotted 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.[19] 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 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 captain's barge took +twenty-eight; the long boat, though in a very bad condition, destitute of +oars, took in, however, eighty-eight; an eight-oared boat which was to be +left at Senegal, for the service of the port, took twenty-five sailors; 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 and +ninety-seven persons;[20] there were on board the frigate, near four +hundred sailors and soldiers: thus it appears that several 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 abandoned, was +seventeen; which proves to us, that there were more than one hundred 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 Dalès, one of the seventeen who remained on +board the frigate, deposed in the council, that fourteen men had left the +long boat, because they did not think it capable of carrying so many, and +that he, with two 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 multitude of wretches, who all wanted to +escape death, and all sought to save themselves, either in the boats or +upon the rafts! The frigate's ladder was insufficient for so many: some +threw themselves 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 surprising 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 entirely destroyed: the vessel itself was cast on the +larboard quarter. + +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 of destruction. 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 bowsprit 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 fears, 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 to move upon the +raft, because we were so crowded together he thought it the easiest to call +to Mr. ---- who immediately 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 disappeared, and went on board one of the boats. + +How is it possible that a French sea officer should 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 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 imminent 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 loosened 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 manner in which he +abandoned his people. We regretted that the arm of the officer had been +withheld when he wished to prevent the captain's design; but, our regret +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 remained on board the frigate.[B4] Some +persons belonging to this boat have informed us, that they were told there +were, at the most, about twenty who could not embark; 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 soldiers +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 faculties 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, refused; 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.[B5] The fears of the former, (and +they are probably those who, according to the deposition of Dalès, returned +on board the frigate) were founded on the bad condition of the long-boat, +which let in the water on every side. After promising the men who persisted +in remaining, that assistance should be sent them, as soon as the others +arrived at Senegal, the long-boat stood off to join the little division. +Before he left the frigate, Mr. Espiau had the grand national flag +hoisted.[A8] + +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 take the +towrope, 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 Roi!_" +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 +circumstances obliged them to renounce the generous plan which they had +formed to save us, or to perish with us. These circumstances deserve to be +scrupulously examined; but our pen, guided by truth, must not fear to +record facts which truth itself dictates. It is true they are of so strange +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 +themselves 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 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 +on this first foundation, 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 sufficient height; +but it was not done, probably 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 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 the 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 dimensions. When we were no more than fifteen in it, we had +not space enough to lie down, and yet we were extremely close together. 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 hundred 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; but they did it with such precipitation, that, some persons who were +at their post, were in danger of being 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 seventy +centimetres 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, because several persons united to preserve them, and had much +difficulty to hinder them from being thrown into the sea like the flour +barrels. The raft, lightened by throwing away these barrels, was able to +receive more men; we were at length a hundred and fifty. The machine 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 got it up with difficulty; it was converted into a paste, +but we preserved it in that condition. Several considerate persons 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 +situation 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 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 approaching to +its cure, when we stranded and wholly incapacitated him from moving. One of +his comrades, moved by his situation, offered to take his place, but Mr. +Coudin, though wounded, preferred repairing 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 whether the order was given, but it is certain that +Mr. Coudin was obliged to remain 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 lieutenant 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 leaving 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 +remedied by covering the hole with a large 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 craft, by separating himself 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. Maudet 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 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 favorable as could be desired. This last tow-rope did not +break, as the governor has tried to persuade the minister of the marine, +and several persons who escaped from the raft. Walking on the terrace of a +French merchant at Senegal, in the presence of Messrs. Savigny and Coudin, +the governor explained the affair as follows: "Some men were on the front +of the raft, at the place where the tow-rope was fixed; which they pulled +so as to draw the boat nearer to them; they had already pulled several +fathoms of it to them, but a wave coming, gave a violent shock; these men +were obliged to let go; the boats then proceeded more rapidly, till the +rope was stretched; at the moment when the boats effected this tension the +effort was such, that the rope broke." This manner of explaining this last +desertion is very adroit, 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 companions 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, "_shall I let go?_" Mr. Clanet +opposed it, answering with firmness, "_No no_!" Some persons joined him, +but could obtain nothing, the tow-rope was let go: we considered it as +certain, that the commander of the other boats, on seeing the chief of the +expedition courageously devote himself, would have come and resumed their +posts: but it may be said that each individual boat was abandoned by all +the others: there was wanting, on this occasion, a man of great coolness: +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 +victims of the consequences of this desertion, but as men free from all +personal resentment, and who listen only to the voice of truth. + +The raft, drawn by all the boats united, 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 inspire some apprehensions: +but, in a few hours, the currents would change and favor us; we ought to +have waited for this moment, which would have infallibly demonstrated 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 that a short time would have sufficed +to tow us within sight of land, for, the evening 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 daybreak, we could no longer see the Medusa.[A9] + +At the first moment we did not really believe that we had been so cruelly +abandoned. We imagined that the boats had let loose, because they had +perceived a vessel, and hastened towards it to ask assistance. The +long-boat was pretty near us to leeward on the starboard. She lowered her +foresail half way down: her manoeuvre made us think that she was going to +take the first tow-rope: she remained so a moment, lowered her foresail +entirely, setup 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.[B6] As soon as this boat was gone, we had no doubt but that we +were abandoned; 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 premeditated. 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 obstinate combat would have taken place between, +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 example, +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 engineers, it was his duty not to +separate from the majority of those who had been confided 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 equipment of which, in truth, could not inspire much confidence. + +One of them, Captain Beinière, placed himself in the long-boat with 36 of +his soldiers. We had been told that these troops had been charged to +superintend the proceedings of 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, perhaps, 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 abandoned us, but, that their +will and their actions were paralized by the passive obedience 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 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 inevitable in the midst of perils so imminent. 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 companions would not, perhaps, have experienced a better +fate than the seventeen who were finally left on board the Medusa. + +After the disappearance of the boats, the consternation was extreme: all +the terrors of thirst and famine arose before our imaginations, and we had +besides to contend with a perfidious element, which already covered the +half of our bodies: when recovered 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 participated, 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 degrees, 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 misfortunes, and what +is worthy of remark, to bear great fatigues, moral energy is much more +necessary than corporeal strength, nay, than the habit of privations and +hard labour. On this narrow theatre where so many sufferings are united, +where the most cruel extremes of hunger and thirst are experienced, strong +and indefatigable men who have been brought up to the most laborious +professions, sink in succession under the 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 superiority +and their deliverance," When tranquillity was a little restored, we began +to look upon the raft for the charts, the compass 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 cries of rage and vengeance. Mr. Correard then recollected, +that he had seen one in the hands of one of the chief workmen under his +command, and enquired 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 little wine, and we distributed it thus prepared: 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[21] 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 ourselves 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 misfortunes and dangers. The officer who commanded, the raft +being unable to move, Mr. Savigny took on himself the care 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 retained, may be attributed to the too +great length of the pieces of wood which projected on each side. + +In the evening, our hearts and our prayers, with the impulse natural to the +unfortunate, were directed towards heaven; we invoked it with fervour, and +we derived from our prayers the advantage of hoping in our safety: one must +have experienced cruel situations, to imagine what a soothing charm, in the +midst of misfortune, is afforded by the sublime idea of a God, the +protector of the unfortunate. One consoling idea still pleased our +imaginations; 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 assistance: 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 dreadful night! Nothing but the idea of seeing the boats the next day, +gave some consolation to our people; who being most of them unused to the +motion of a vessel,[22] 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, fastened 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 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 horrors of a very +dark night; for some moments 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 frigate: 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 +eyesight, 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 precipitated 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 protection 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 +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 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 perceived, however, that this +almost inanimate body still had breath; we lavished on him all the +assistance in our power; he recovered by degrees, and was restored 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 afflicting sight of a melancholy +contrast. Two young lads, and a baker, did not fear to seek death, by +throwing themselves 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 appear. Despondency began again to seize all our people, +and a mutinous spirit manifested itself by cries of fury; the voice of the +officers was wholly disregarded. When the night came, the sky was covered +with thick clouds; the wind, which during the day had been rather high, now +became furious, and agitated the sea, which, in an instant, grew very +rough. + +If the preceding night had been terrible, this was still more horrible. +Mountains 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 violence 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 our raft a position almost +perpendicular, so that, in order to counterbalance it, we were obliged to +run to that side which was raised up by the sea.[A10] + +The soldiers and sailors, terrified by the presence of an almost inevitable +danger, gave themselves up for lost. Firmly 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 +presence 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 companions in misfortune; they openly expressed their intention to +rid themselves of the officers, who they said, wished to oppose their +design, and then to destroy the raft by cutting 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 regiment: a colossal stature, short curled hair, an +extremely large nose, an enormous mouth, a sallow complexion, gave him a +hideous air. He had placed himself, at first, in the middle of the raft, +and at every blow of his fist he overthrew those who stood in his way; he +inspired 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 themselves: of this number were some +subaltern 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 bristling with sabres and bayonets, +they retired 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 soldier attempted to defend him--threatened an officer +with his knife, and in attempting 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 cried lower the sail; a crowd of madmen 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 perceived 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 moment of delusion. Several passengers +displayed much courage and coolness in these cruel moments. + +Mr. Corréard 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 imprecations 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 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. Corréard 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 repugnance +they felt to combat their unhappy countrymen, they were however obliged to +use their arms without reserve; because many of the mutineers attacked them +with fury, it was necessary to repulse 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 received in the various combats they had +to maintain. At last their united efforts succeeded in dispersing the +masses that advanced furiously against them. + +During this combat, Mr. Corréard was informed, by one of his workmen who +remained faithful, that one of their comrades, 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. Dominique had received, in a charge, +several sabre wounds, one of which had laid open his head. Notwithstanding +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 revived this wretch; but as soon as he recovered +his strength, the ungrateful Dominique, again forgetting his duty and the +signal service that he had just received from us, went to rejoin the +mutineers. So much baseness and fury did 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 honor and to gratitude, he had remained among us. + +Just when we had almost finished applying 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. Corréard, 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 dead bodies, with +their backs leaning against a barrel. In a few minutes they had recovered +their senses. The first thought of the woman 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. Corréard, 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 unfortunate 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 narrow space, in which were united so many heart-rending afflictions, +so many cruel distresses, a fury so insensate, a courage so heroic, the +most pleasing and generous sentiments of nature and humanity. + +The man and his wife, who just before 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 fervently, 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 +attack, when we were forced to be constantly 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. Corréard, 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," recollected that there was, in fact, in the Department of the Upper +Alps, a place of devotion so called,[23] 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, "preserve 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," 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 happiness. 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 place 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 worthy 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 defence and the protection of the +colony. 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 heroes 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-established in our present code, is +compatible with the true object of all good legislation, that of correcting +while punishing, of striking only as far as is necessary to prevent and +preserve; in short, of producing 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 protection of society, +to the hands of those whom society has itself rejected from its bosom; that +it implies a contradiction to require courage, generosity, and that +devotedness which commands a noble heart to sacrifice itself for its +country and fellow creatures, from wretches branded, degraded 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 sentiment in the hearts of +beings of this description. + +Thinking that order was restored, we had returned to our post at the center +of the raft, only we took the precaution to retain our arms. It was nearly +midnight: after an hours apparent tranquillity, 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 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; several 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. Corréard, and soon rescued the workman from the danger which threatened +him. A few moments after, the mutineers, in another charge, seized on the +sub-lieutenant Lozach, whom they took, in their delirium, for Lieutenant +Danglas, 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 garrison in the Isle of Rhé. 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, informed us that it was still possible to save him. +Immediately Messrs. Clairet, Savigny, l'Heureux, Lavillette, Coudin, +Corréard, and some workmen, having formed themselves into little parties, +fell upon the insurgents with so much impetuosity that they overthrew 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 frigate, 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 unceasingly demanded his head, and +it was only by force of arms, that we succeeded in repressing their rage, +and in silencing their frightful cries. + +On this occasion we had also reason to be alarmed for the safety of Mr. +Coudin. Wounded 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 arms a sailor boy, of twelve years +of age, to whom he had attached himself. The mutineers 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 extreme 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 unimpaired 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 determination 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 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 plantations, 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 resolution to struggle against them, +their death was certain. Some became furious; others threw themselves into +the sea, taking leave 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, +"_between 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 saw ships, and called them to +their assistance, or a harbour, in the back ground of which there was a +magnificent city. + +Mr. Corréard 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 we shall be saved._" Mr. Corréard 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 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 companions if, during their sleep, they had seen combats and +heard cries of despair. Some of them replied that they had been continually +disturbed by the same visions, and that they were exhausted with fatigue: +all thought themselves deceived by the illusions of a frightful dream. + +When we recal to our minds those terrible scenes, they present themselves +to our imagination like those frightful dreams which sometimes make a +profound impression 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 accompanied by a delirium: a thousand objects appear before +the imagination of the patient: when restored to health, he sometimes +recollects the visions that have tormented him during the fever which +consumed him, and exalted his imagination. We were really seized with a +fever on the brain, the consequence of a mental exaltation carried to the +extreme. As soon as daylight beamed upon us, we were much more calm: +darkness brought with it a renewal of the disorder in our weakened +intellects. 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 number had, in +their delirium, thrown themselves into the sea: we found that between sixty +and sixty-five men had perished during the night; we calculated that, at +least, a fourth part had drowned themselves in despair. We had lost only +two on our side, neither of whom was an officer. The deepest despondency +was painted on every face; every one, now that he was come to himself, was +sensible of his situation; some of us, 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.[24] As soon as Mr. Corréard 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 continually 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 remained some hours at that dangerous post. After much +trouble they had succeeded in saving these two casks; which being every +moment violently driven against their legs had bruised them severely. Being +unable to hold out any longer, they made some representations to those who, +with Mr. Savigny, employed all their efforts to maintain order and preserve +the raft. One of them took his (Mr. Corréard) 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 towards the coast. Whether it +were an illusion or reality we thought we saw it, and that we distinguished +the burning air of the Zaara Desert. It is, in fact, very probable that we +were not very distant from it, for we had had winds from the sea which had +blown violently. In the sequel we 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 +unhappy 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, we beseech you, do not +feel indignation towards 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 +described, 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 firmness 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 excrements, 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 see the boats or some 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 +approaching dissolution. The evening passed over, and no assistance came. +The darkness 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 +dreams added to the horrors of our situation. 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 standing, 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 companions +extended lifeless on the rail. 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 who, the day before, had clasped +his trembling hands, vowing him an eternal friendship. This day was fine; +our minds, longing for more agreeable sensations, were harmonized 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 number 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;[25] 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, +during the day, which was very fine; a steel, 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 which we +wetted, and on this kind of scaffolding we made our fire: we placed it on a +barrel that the seawater 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 rendered less disgusting; it was this which the officers touched, +for the first time. From this day we continued to use it; but we could not +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, and Negroes, who had remained neuter in the first +mutiny, and some of whom had even ranged themselves on our side,[26] 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 promised, that when they were once on shore, they would enable +them to traverse Africa without danger. The desire of saving themselves, or +perhaps the wish to seize on the money and valuables, which had been put +into a bag, hung to the mast,[27] had inflamed the imagination of these +unfortunate wretches. We were obliged to take our arms again; but 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 +Spaniard, 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 +Italian 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 himself into the sea. The mutineers rushed forward 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 tumult cries, with which we were familiar, were +renewed, and we heard the imprecations 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 exposed; 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 success 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. + +In this horrible night, Lavillette gave further proofs of the rarest +intrepidity. It was to him, and to some of those who have escaped the +consequences of our misfortunes, that we are indebted for our safety. At +length, after unheard-of efforts, the mutineers were again repulsed, and +tranquillity restored. After we had escaped this new danger, we endeavoured +to take some moment'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 contusions 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 exhausted; 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; 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 employ +such means should be punished with death. This law was instantly put in +execution, and the two trespassers were thrown into the sea.[28] + +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, and the services he 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 people in general, bestowed upon +him all the care which they thought calculated to prolong 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. Coudin, 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 misfortune, who, in their turn, uttered cries of anguish, +which were every moment repeated. But their complaints were very seldom +accompanied by menaces; they pardoned every thing in the poor youth, who +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 retained some use of reason. + +We were now only twenty-seven remaining; 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 deliberated +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 +decision was made, who would dare to execute it? The habit of seeing death +ready to pounce upon us as his prey, the certainly of our infallible +destruction, without this fatal expedient, every thing in a word, had +hardened our hearts, and rendered them 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 moments 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 glorious 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 +shudder at the cry of outraged humanity, recollect at least, that it was +other men, fellow 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 considered 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, which +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. + +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 happily diverted our attention from the horrors +of our situation. All at once a white butterfly, of the species so common +in France, appeared fluttering over our heads, and settled on our sail. The +first idea which, as it were, inspired each of us made us consider 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 entrails; already some of the soldiers and sailors +devoured, with haggard eyes, this wretched prey, and seemed ready to +dispute 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 +towards the land, which 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 (_goeland_) 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, when 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 illusions 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 reposed: 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 resolved 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 +campaigns, and the distresses we endured upon our raft. The following is +what Lavillette the serjeant of artillery told us: "I have experienced, in +my various naval campaigns, 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 1813 and 1814, in Germany and France, I +shared all the fatigues which were alternately caused us by victory and +retreat, I was at the glorious days of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Leipzig, +Hanau, Montmirail, Champaubert, Montereau," &c. "Yes," continued he, "all +that I suffered in so many forced marches, and in the midst of the +privations which were 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 dreadful, I have to combat +Frenchmen and comrades. I have to contend, besides, with hunger and thirst, +with a tempestuous sea, full of dangerous monsters, and with the ardour of +a burning sun, which is not the least of our enemies. Covered with ancient +scars and fresh wounds, which I have no means of dressing, it is physically +impossible for me to save myself 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, who 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 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. Several 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 groan under the shameful yoke which +oppresses 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 disagreeable sensation, and made us utter plaintive +cries, so that each of us employed means to 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 sum 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 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 drinking +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; already emotions of rage were +rising in every heart, and if he had not partly yielded to those who +surrounded him, they would certainly 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 disputes were generally accompanied with violent +threats, and if they had been protracted we should, perhaps, have come to +the last extremities. + +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 believe was an essence of guiacum, +cinnamon, cloves, and other aromatic substances, produced 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, recurring to it at intervals; +we also moistened our hair with it, and held our hands plunged in the +water.[29] Misfortune rendered us ingenious, and every one thought of a +thousand means to alleviate his sufferings; extenuated by the most cruel +privations, the smallest agreeable sensation was to us a supreme happiness; +thus we eagerly sought a little empty phial, which one of us possessed, and +which had formerly contained essence of roses: as soon as we could get hold +of it we inhaled, with delight, the perfume which issued from it, and which +communicated to our senses the most soothing 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 distribution of wine, Messrs. +Clairet, Coudin, Charlot, and one or two of our sailors, conceived the +strange idea of destroying themselves, first intoxicating themselves with +what remained in our barrel. In vain Captain Dupont, seconded by Messrs. +Lavillette, 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 turning our attention to the new danger +which threatened us, at the moment when cruel discord 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 goodness 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 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 anguish; we despised life to such a +degree that many of us did not 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 little, +their burning thirst. A kind of polypus (mollusques),[30] known by seamen +under the name of _galère_, 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 Argus_," alluding +to the name of the vessel, which we presumed would be sent after us. This +consolatory idea did not quit us an instant, and we spoke of it frequently. + +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,[31] 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 upsetting; a +little mast and sail were fixed in the front; we intended to provide +ourselves with oars made of barrel staves, cut out with the only sabre we +had remaining: 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 assigned to us, and our departure fixed for the next +day, the 17th. 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 of +his body made it upset, and this accident proved to us the temerity of our +enterprise. It was then resolved that we should all await death in our +present situation; the cable winch 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 feel an +invincible disgust at the flesh which had till then, scarcely supported us; +and we may say that the sight of it inspired us with a sentiment of terror, +which was doubtless produced by the idea of approaching 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 distinguish 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 suspended between hope and fear; some +thought 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 ourselves, 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 resignation. At last, to calm our despair, we wished to seek +some consolation in the arms of sleep; the day before we had been consumed +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 the upper part of the mast, in the hope that it would reach +the government and our families. + +After we had passed two hours, absorbed in the most cruel reflections, the +master gunner of the frigate wishing to go to 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 scarcely 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. We 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 handkerchiefs, or pieces of linen to make +signals to the brig, which was approaching rapidly. Others prostrating +themselves, fervently thanked Providence for our miraculous preservation. +Our joy redoubled when we perceived a great white flag at the foremast +head, and we exclaimed "It is then to Frenchmen that we shall owe our +deliverance." We almost immediately recognised the brig to be the Argus: it +was then within two musket 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 manner, and took himself, those that +were the weakest, to convey them into the boat. After all the others were +placed in it, Mr. Lemaigre came and took in his arms Mr. Corréard, 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 unfortunate men, almost naked; their bodies +and faces disfigured by the scorching beams of the sun; ten of the fifteen +were hardly able to 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 appearance 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 perceived us, they added +some excellent wine to it; thus they restored our almost exhausted +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; +however, some of us had a great deal to suffer; for they were placed +between decks, very near the kitchen, which augmented the almost +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 reduced the vessel to ashes; but +timely assistance was 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 himself 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 were eager to serve us, and kindly +anticipated our wants. They had just snatched us 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 resources of his art, with a +degree of attention and gentleness which merit our eternal gratitude. + +It was, in truth, time that our sufferings 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. Corréard, 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 unhappy adventures. + +Through how many terrible trials have we past! Where are the men who can +say that they have been more unfortunate than we have? + +The manner in which we were 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 provisions to the +people from the boats who were crossing the great desert of Zaara; the +captain, thinking that it would be useless to look for our raft any longer, +steered his course towards the harbour from which he had been dispatched, +in order to announce that his search had been fruitless; it was when he was +running towards Senegal that we perceived him. In the morning 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, announced a vessel: when +the brig was nearer to us, 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, however, the captain had not received any positive orders on the +subject; and that we were indebted to chance alone, for the good fortune of +having been met with. We repeat with pleasure the expression of Mr. +Parnajon, addressed to one of us. "If they were to give me the rank of +captain of a frigate, I should feel a less lively pleasure, than that which +I experienced when I met your raft." Some persons said to us without +reserve, "We thought you were all 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 they may +want; after having assured himself of the fate of these unfortunate +persons, he will endeavour to continue his course to the Medusa, to see +whether the currents have carried the raft towards her." This is all that +was said of our wretched machine. It is very certain, that, at the Island +of St. Louis, we were given up; our friends believed we had perished: this +is so true, that some, who were going to send letters to Europe, wrote that +one hundred and fifty unfortunate people had been placed on a raft, and +that it was impossible they should have escaped. It will not, perhaps, be +out of place, to mention here a conversation which took place respecting +us. In a pretty large company, some persons said: "It is a pity that the +raft was abandoned; for there were many brave fellows on board; but their +sufferings are over; they are happier than we, for who knows how all this +will end." In short, as we were now found, the frigate steered again for +Senegal, and the next day we saw the land, for which we had been longing +for thirteen days: we cast anchor in the evening off the coast, and in the +morning, the winds being favorable, we directed our course to the road of +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 hundred 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 unparalelled sufferings, to which we +were a prey for thirteen days, we beg leave to name those who shared them +with us: + +_Alive when we were saved._ _Notice of their subsequent fate_. +Messrs. +Dupont, Captain of Foot; In Senegal. +L'Heureux, Lieutenant; In Senegal. +Lozach, Sub-Lieutenant; Dead. +Clairet, Sub-Lieutenant; Dead. +Griffon du Bellay, Ex-Clerk of the Navy; Out of employment. +Coudin, _élève de marine_; Midshipman. +Charlot, Serjeant Major (of Toulon); In Senegal. +Courtade, Master Gunner; Dead. +Lavillette. In France. +Coste, Sailor; In France. +Thomas, Pilot; In France. +François, Hospital Keeper; In the Indies. +Jean Charles, black Soldier; Dead. +Corréard, Engineer Geographer; Without employment. +Savigny, Surgeon. Resigned. + +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 brilliant manner; the governor, several +officers, both English and French, came to meet us, and one of the officers +in this numerous train, 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 miraculously +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 reduced; all seemed truly affected by our distress, and by +the intrepidity which we had shewn on the raft. Yet we could not contain +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 +attention, and rendered every assistance in their power. Messrs. Valentin +and Lasalle stimulated 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 assistance to the shipwrecked people belonging to the raft. + +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 Medusa, 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, necessarily, 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 +in these critical moments, in the barge. Mr. Barbotin, _élève_ of the +marine: and in the captain's barge, Mr. Rang,[32] also an _élève_ of the +marine, as deserving of praise for his knowledge, as for the courage he +displayed 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 courage, 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 Argus brig was appointed for this mission. The commander of this +vessel, burning with eagerness to fly to the assistance 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 principal, 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 shallows, 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, and 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, following the sea-coast. This landing +was effected to the North of Cape Meric, eighty or ninety leagues from the +Isle of St. Louis.[B7] 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 motions 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 distrusted the +other: the long-boat did its utmost to rally them; but they employed all +the means they could to avoid the meeting; even the officers assisted in +working them, because some persons had asserted that the crew of the +long-boat had mutinied, and had even threatened to fire on the other +boats.[33] The long-boat, on the other hand, which had just landed a part +of its people, advanced to inform the other boats that it was able to +relieve them, in case 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 +contained. At two o'clock in the afternoon, of the 8th,[B8] 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 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 8th: the first, +at five in the afternoon; the second, at eleven in the morning.[B9] The +officers joined their crews, ranged them in order, and proceeded towards +Senegal; but they were in distress, destitute of resources 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 +excessive 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 infinite 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. + +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 beverage and domestic purposes; the +water of the Senegal, may, however, be used at St. Louis at the time of the +rise or inundation. + +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 +enchantment, 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 are not always ranged parallel to each +other, but frequently 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 myriads 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 incessantly 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 11th, the Argus brig, which was cruising to +assist those who had landed; as soon as the brig perceived them, it +approached very near to the coast, lay-to, and sent a boat on shore with +biscuit and wine. + +On the 11th, in the evening, they met with more of the natives, and an +Irish captain 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 privations, 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 frightful deserts, which on all sides presented to their eyes only +the most profound solitude, and the prospect of inevitable destruction. + +During their progress, they had to struggle with the most dreadful extremes +of hunger 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 after the most urgent supplications that they granted +a little water to their wretched companions, who were consumed by a raging +thirst. When they met with any Moors, they obtained some assistance from +them; but these barbarians carried their inhumanity so far as to refuse to +shew them the springs which are scattered along the shore: sordid avarice +made them act in this manner to these unhappy people; for when the latter +had passed a well, the Moors drew water from it, which they sold to them at +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 natives 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 assistance 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 +numbers united, which, inspiring them with fear, 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 +stipulated that a large reward shall be given to the Moors, who meet in the +desert with persons that have been shipwrecked, and bring them to the +European factory: these barbarians were therefore induced by their +interest, and if they brought back those who went astray, it was only in +hope of obtaining a reward. + +The women and young children inspired 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 +induced 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 numerous 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 solitary place to take some +moments rest. She fell asleep upon the beach; to guard herself from the +mosquitoes, 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 appearance, and not content with this, lifting 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 comrades +what he had just seen. Several Frenchmen 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, prevented +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 when 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 prepared 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 +absolutely impossible for them to shelter themselves 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 the first victims: happily they did +not proceed 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 comrades 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.[B10] + +The sixty-three who embarked near the Moles of Angel, had a longer series +of fatigue 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 for want: among this number was an +unhappy 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 conceived 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, Kummer, and Mr. Rogery, having separated from the +troops, were forced to wander from one horde to another, and were at last +conducted to Senegal. Their story, which we are now going to give, will +complete the narrative of the adventures of our shipwrecked companions who +traversed the desert. + +After the stranding of the long-boat, Mr. Kummer 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. Kummer. This latter walked +the whole day without meeting with any body; towards the evening 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 +assurance, pronouncing as well as he could, a few words in Arabic, in which +language he had taken some lessons while in France, and which he +accompanied with profound salutations: "Receive," said he, "in your tents, +the son of an unfortunate Mahometan woman, whom I am going to join in Upper +Egypt; 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 effects, which they supposed the persons +shipwrecked 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 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. Kummer 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 punctually 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 border 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 remarkably beautiful. While traversing, with +the chief, the various quarters of the camp, Mr. Kummer beheld with +surprise, their manner of cleaning their beasts. 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, particularly 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 afterwards 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 +penetrated to these people; and they put questions 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 +perfidy 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 +handkerchief, great-coat, shoes, waistcoat, and some other things which he +carried in his pockets: he had nothing left but a bad pair of pantaloons +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 conducting 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_, then to the _South West_. +After walking a considerable time longer, they arrived at the shore, where +they found but few things. What particularly 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 the _East_, and 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. Kummer was tormented by the women and +children, who came every moment to touch and feel the fineness of his skin, +and to take away some fragments of his shirt, and the few 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, +and his pretended quality of the son of a Christian and of a Mahometan +woman, which caused him to be upon very good terms with Prince Muhammed, +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 motions of which, much astonished the Moors; our traveller +was on his side equally surprised, 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 towards +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 resume their course to the _North_, +and that in the end they would take him to Morocco; then he endeavoured to +impart his uneasiness to Prince Muhammed, who at last comprehended 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 _Andar_, +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 European 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 language. + +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 (marigots). They are +bunches of little red berries, and very refreshing: the Moors are very fond +of them, and make great use of them.[34] + +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 was +dead; at this sight, a mortal chillness pervaded all the limbs of the +unfortunate 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 perceived that his friend still breathed; he took hold of +him, and embraced him eagerly. These two unfortunate men were transported +with mutual joy, at meeting in the midst of their distress, with a fellow +countryman. 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, continually pinched him, and hindered him from taking a +moment's sleep. His character 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 returned, 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 himself, had +gone to the sea-shore to have assistance given to such of the persons +shipwrecked, 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 bargain with the two whites: to conduct them +to the Isle of St. Louis; the Prince demanded for his trouble, including +the expences of provisions and travelling, 800 gourdes for each, and +obliged them before they set out, to sign an agreement in the Arabic +language: Mr. Kummer 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 agreement 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 circumstances which particularly struck +them. They observed, that the children 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 extreme; a refusal, or a delay, in the executions of their orders +irritates them, and their anger is so violent that in the first transport, +the unhappy slave who may have excited 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 submission. 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 distinct races, which have +nothing in common, except, the extremely brown, or tanned colour of their +skin, and the shining black of 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 number) whose cranium and profile form a +singular 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 always 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 condescended to +draw their portrait. Juvenal somewhere speaks of the withered hands of the +Moors: _manus ossea Mauri_. But, besides, 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 instructing 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 appeared to them very +numerous: they constitute 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 people, as we have +said, call themselves _Trasas_, and profess the Mahometan religion; 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;[A11] they make this leather into pocketbooks, +to which they give different forms, but in general, that of a _sabretache_. +They also dress goats skins, and join several together to give them more +breadth; they are known under the name of _peaux de maures_, are excellent, +and afford a complete defence against the rain: in form, they nearly +resemble 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 +extensive, is in salt, which they carry to Tombuctoo, 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 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, into +little etuis, perfumed bags, and pocketbooks, 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 projected +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 zagayes 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 Billaï. Zaide received the two whites +kindly, ordered that they should be well-treated, and that Mr. Rogery +should not be molested, he being continually tormented by the children. 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 greatly 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 ordered 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 chief 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 1815, 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-Emperor, sometimes Buonaparte, and sometimes 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 Napoleon and +Buonaparte were two different persons. Mr. Kummer was also asked if his +father belonged to the army of Egypt; he said no, but that he was a +peaceable merchant, who had never borne arms. Mr. Kummer continued his +narrative, and astonished 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 Frenchmen, the King wished to shew them his +respect for the laws which govern his dominions; 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 +convincing 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 me to be arbitrator +between them; but the proposals which I made, though I thought them +reasonable, were not approved by them; so that after my proposals, 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 immediately. 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 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 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 continued, they +incessantly tormented him; and did not give him a fourth part of what was +necessary for his support, so that the unfortunate 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 +their way. + +The respectable Mr. Rogery, a man of rare probity, was disturbed by the +recollection of the agreement which he had made with Muhammed, in a moment +of difficulty, knowing very well that he could never fulfil 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 +zealous partisans of liberty, and of the abolition of the slave trade. + +On the 19th, in the morning, they arrived 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 mouth 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 cultivated; the fields are covered with plantations of cotton-trees, +with maize[35] and millet; 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). 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 +negress 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 defended me with courage; they then +carried desolation into our village, which a moment before enjoyed +tranquillity and happiness; on this sad day we saw whole families carried +off, and we were all conducted to that horrible market at St. Louis, where +the whites carry on the execrable trade of dealers in men; chance favored +me, and saved me from being sent to find death in America, amidst the +tempests which cover the ocean that separates it from Africa. I had the +good fortune to fall into the hands of the respectable General +Blanchot,[37] whose name and memory 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 my relations, and that, in +short, I could not habituate myself to your customs, he gave me my liberty, +and from that moment I have vowed eternal friendship to everything 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 continued 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 Mr. Kummer his watch. The French governor 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 suppose that they were +not acquainted with the value of the gourde, when they demanded 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 horrors 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 immediately take possession of our +establishments. But the English governor, Mr. Beurthonne, having learned +our shipwreck, either of his own authority, or having received orders to +that effect, from his government, refused to give up the colony. This +difficulty obliged the commander of the French expedition to take measures, +to wait for fresh orders from France. He was enjoined 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 settlements 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 inclined 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 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 Goree, to the French squadron, which should come +to take possession of them; but we think also, that he was desired to +evacuate them as late as possible, in case the English merchants or +government 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. + +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 were 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 extremely +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; because, 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 conjectures, we will conclude with one +remark: namely, them on this occasion the English 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 +colonies at the peace of 1802 and that of 1814; and it will be seen that +the British Government, without giving itself much trouble to assign +reasons, has adopted and faithfully followed the principle, of not +willingly giving up what it possessed.[38] + +The shipwreck of the Medusa favoured the designs of the governor; for, what +sensation could be produced by the arrival of an expedition, of which the +principal vessel no longer existed, and the three others appeared 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 reception for some days, should +have required their troops to be sent away from the colony: and what were +these troops? wretches almost 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 assembled at St. Louis, as we have +already said, the governor, two days before his departure for Cape Verd, +thought of sending a vessel on board the Medusa, to look for a sum of +100,000 francs,[39] which was intended 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 +unfortunate men were already hardly thought of any more. Mr. Corréard 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 left!" "Pooh," answered somebody, "seventeen! +there are not three left." "And if there 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 consternation, 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 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 pardonable. 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 belonging 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 persons inspired her with a degree of horror, +which she could not suppress. "It was really impossible for me," said she, +"to endure the presence of these men, without feeling a sentiment of +indignation." + +What then was our crime in the eyes of Miss Schmalz? Doubtless that of +knowing too well the persons really guilty of our misfortunes. Yes, on this +account, whenever Miss Schmalz saw us, which was extremely seldom, our +presence must have been a thunder-bolt to her. She could say to herself, +"these men have in their hands the fate of my father. If they speak, if +they utter complaints which they suppress here, if they are listened to, +(and how should they not be listened to in a country, where a charter, the +noble present of our august Monarch, causes justice 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 degradation, and the oblivion which generally +await the unhappy family of a great criminal." + +It is certain that, if we had listened to 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 oppressed! 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 we have inflicted_." + +The little vessel chosen to go to the frigate, was a schooner, commanded by +a lieutenant of the navy; the crew was composed of some black-drivers, and +some passengers. 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 entirely destroyed, and she +was obliged to return to port after having been a fortnight at sea, without +having been able to accomplish her purpose. She was then furnished with new +sails, which cost about ten days labour. As soon as she was ready, they +sailed for the third time, and reached the Medusa, fifty-two days, after +she had been abandoned. + +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, however, were +ready to place at his disposal, every thing in their power. Mr. Durecur was +the merchant favored. This house carries 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 house, Mr. Schmalz, his family and a numerous +suite. The general opinion was that, Mr. Durecur had got by his acts of +generosity, a decent profit of a hundred per cent; he was, besides, +recompenced, on the application of the governor, by that decoration, which +it seems, ought to be conferred for some brilliant action,[40] 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 +certainly, 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 unhappy fate. + +As soon as the boats and the raft had left the frigate, these 17 men +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 provision 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, they have been the victims of their rashness. That such was the +result of their fatal attempt, was proved by the remains of their raft, +which were found on the coast of the desert of Zaara, by some Moors, +subjects of King Zaide, who came to Andar to give the information. These +unhappy men were doubtless the prey of the sea-monsters 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 imagination 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 forcibly him who has had already to +struggle with adversity! 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 himself 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 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 knifes. 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.[41] + +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 succours to the three men of whom we have +just spoken, they proceeded to get out of the frigate, every thing that +could be removed; they cut a large hole in her, (_on la saborda_,) and were +thus able to save wine, flour, and many other things. Mr. Corréa had the +simplicity to think that the shipwrecked people were going to recover a +part, at least, of their effects, since a vessel, belonging to the king, +had reached the frigate. 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_, but that they were a +_good prize_; we could not understand this answer, but it was repeated to +us, and we learnt for the first time that we were at war with Frenchmen, +because 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 +themselves 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 +respectable sign, which represents a nation, cannot belong to that nation. +Well! this sign was employed in domestic uses.[42] Vases which belonged to +the captain of the frigate himself, were also saved, and were transferred +from his side-board to the table of the Governor, where Mr. de Chaumareys +recognized 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 +pantaloons, some in large grey great coats; others had shirts, waistcoats, +_police-bonnets_, &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 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 St. 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 +appears 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 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 +secretary and the paymaster. Yet neither of them was called in to be +present at these operations, though they lasted some days. However, 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 +soldiers, 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. Corréard remained the only Frenchman in the hospital at St. +Louis, till he should be entirely recovered. We are entirely ignorant of +the reasons which induced this Governor to employ such severe measures +towards about twenty unhappy persons, among whom three officers had been +part of the crew of the fatal raft. He however, 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 raft, and Mr. Savigny, were received at +Senegal by Mr. Lasalle, a French Merchant, who, on all occasions, bestowed +on them the most generous care, which spared them the new sufferings, to +which their companions in misfortune were exposed, and gives Mr. Lasalle a +title to their lasting gratitude. + +As for Mr. Corréard, 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 evening of their arrival, the Governor, +accompanied by the captain of the frigate, and by a numerous suite, came to +pay them a visit: the air of compassion, with which he addressed 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 strangers, 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 were left behind, that he had given orders +that they should want for nothing during his absence. All 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 complaints. In vain +they represented to the English physician that the ordinary ration of a +common soldier, which had been hitherto given them, was wholly unfit for +them, first, because their health required, if it was indeed wished to +recover them, better nourishment 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 answered 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 Governor, 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 garrison 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 excess 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, 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.[43] Forty days had passed, since the compassionate English had +come to the relief of these four companions in misfortune, without the +distressed Corréard'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 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 melancholy situation which we have just described, 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 uneasy +respecting the effects of the bad air of the camp of Deccard, on a +constitution so shaken as that of Mr. Corréard. Scarcely had the sensible +Mr. Kummer ceased speaking, when Major Peddy hastily went away, returned to +his apartment, and immediately got ready linen, clothes and money, and +while he was thus employed, this genuine philanthropist shed tears at the +fate of the unhappy man, whom he did not know, cursing those who had +cruelly abandoned him. His indignation was excited, because he had been +assured that ever since the departure of the French governor, Mr. Corréard +had heard nothing farther, either of him, or of his countrymen. Respectable +Major! worthy friend of humanity! in departing for the interior of Africa, +you have carried with you the regret and the gratitude of a heart, on which +your noble beneficence is indelibly engraven. + +While this unexpected relief was preparing Mr. Corréard, 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 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: 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 curiosity: 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 pension which +enabled him to subsist.[44] If I were in France," he continued, "my +relations, my countrymen, would mitigate my sufferings; but here, under a +burning climate, where every thing is strange to me, surrounded by these +Africans, who are hardened by the habitual sight of the horrors produced by +the slave trade, nothing relieves me; on the contrary, the length of the +nights, the continuance of my sufferings, the sight of those of my +companions in misfortune, the disgusting filth by which I am surrounded, +the inattention of a soldier who acts as nurse, and is always drunk or +negligent, the insupportable hardness of a wretched bed, scarcely sheltered +from the inclemency of the air, all announce to me an inevitable death. I +must resign myself to it, and await it with courage! I was less to be +pitied on the raft; then my imagination was exalted, and I scarcely enjoyed +my 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 into the grave.[45]" + +While he was wholly absorbed in this distressing soliloquy, he saw two +young officers enter the room, followed by three or four slaves, carrying +various effects. These two officers approached, with an air of kindness, +the mournful and motionless Corréard, "Accept," said they, "these trifling +presents, 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 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 pestilential camp at +Deccard, where a mortal distemper 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 fulfilling, with so much politeness and +kindness, 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 Corréard, 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 unfortunate man, who was not less affected, and, shed +them in abundance, penetrated with 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. Corréard might not decline them, he assured him, beforehand, that he +himself and many of his comrades had received similar assistance 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.[46] Offers so nobly +made, could not but be accepted by Mr. Corréard, who expressed to his +benefactor, 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 shew his gratitude in a manner worthy of +himself, and of a Frenchman. From that time Mr. Corréard 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. Corréard 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. +Corréard; 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 received 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 details of this mournful ceremony. They are drawn up by Mr. Corréard, +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 remains 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," says Mr. Corréard, "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 infallibly awaited me, as because this funeral signal +announced to me the moment of eternal separation from the companion of my +sufferings: from the friend, whom our common misfortunes had given me, when +I passed with him the most dreadful moments of my life. At this sound I +wrapped myself in my sheet, and crawled to the balcony of my window, to bid +him 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 produced, but when I now +reflect upon it 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 emotion, the sacrifice which I supposed I +had made of my life, permitted me to contemplate and to follow in detail +the sad spectacle on which my almost extinguished eyes eagerly dwelt. I +distinguished a crowd of slaves who had obtained permission from their +masters to be present at the ceremony. A body of English soldiers 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 two English, were placed at the +angles, 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 music was 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 conducted to his last repose, this other victim of the +fatal raft, snatched in the flower of his age, from his friends and his +country, by the most fatal death, and whose fine qualities and courage +rendered him worthy 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 be had performed at +Talavera de la Reina, Sierra Morena, Saragossa, Montmiraill, Champaubert, +and Montéreau; he was present, 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 dreadful maladies, which are so frequently accompanied +by death. Let us now turn to the unhappy persons assembled in the camp at +Daccard, not far from the village of that name, situated on the Peninsula +of Cape Verd. + +The French Governor, as we have already observed, being unable to enter +into the possession 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-roasted vessel belonging to Messrs. +Potin and Durécur, took on board the remains of the crew of the Medusa, +that is, the men who had landed near Portendick, and some persons from the +raft: those whose 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, consisting of a company of colonial soldiers. The command of the +camp was confided to Mr. de Fonsain, 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.[47] + +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 account of the difficulties that had +been raised by the English Governor. The _Echo_ corvette was chosen for +this purpose, which sailed on the 29th of July, in the evening. She had on +board fifty-five of those who had been shipwrecked, three of whom were +officers of the navy, the head surgeon, the accountant, three _élèves_ 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. + +A camp was formed there to receive them near a village inhabited by +negroes, and called Daccard, as has been stated above. The natives of the +country appeared to be pleased at seeing the French found an establishment +on their coast. A few days after, the soldiers and sailors having had some +misunderstanding, the latter were removed, and distributed between the +Loire and the Argus. + +The men who formed this camp were soon attacked with the diseases of the +country. 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 contributed 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 some mismanagement, the hospitals were nearly +destitute.[A12] It was in these distressing circumstances that Mr. de +Chaumareys 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 +November, the French Governor, was authorized, by Mr. Macarty, Governor +General of the English settlements, to inhabit, on the former coast of the +French possessions, the place which should suit him the best. Mr. Schmalz +chose St. Louis.[48] + +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 acquainted, we have been obliged to pass over this part of +our narrative rather slightly. + +Mr. Corréard, who had remained at the isle of St. Louis, hastened to pay +his respects to the governor, when he came, in consequence of the +permission of Mr. Macarty 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 +misfortunes are terminated, and henceforward you will want for nothing. I +will send 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 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. Corréard 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 bottles; 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, be +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 and Captain Campbell, who were about to depart on their great +expedition to the interior of Africa. + +At the moment of their separation, Major Peddy was eager to give to Mr. +Corréard 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. Corréard 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 have +reason to congratulate yourself on it. I know mankind, and without +pretending exactly to guess how your Minister of the Marine will act +towards you, I, nevertheless, think myself justified 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 to him, that might remind him of his want of +ability;[49] therefore, believe me, my friend; instead of taking the road +to Paris, take that to London; there you will find a number of +philanthropits, who will assist you, and I can assure you that +henceforward, you will want for nothing. Your misfortunes have been so very +great that there is no Englishman who will not feel a pleasure in assisting +you. Here, 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 I 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. Corréard was deeply affected by what he had just heard; the noble +generosity of the excellent man to whom he already 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 go to London, which the Major had just given +him, had in it something that distressed him; he had not heard it without +recollecting that he was a Frenchman, and some secret suggestions of +self-love and national pride, told him that a Frenchman 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, for the noble and delicate manner in which he had sought +him out, and relieved him in his misfortune. + +"As for the pecuniary assistance which you still offer me," continued he, +"I accept it with great pleasure, because benefits conferred by you, can +only do honour to him who receives them, and because I hope, one day, to +repay this debt with interest, to your countrymen, if I can meet with any +who have need of my assistance. As for your other proposal, Major, allow me +not to be of your opinion, and to have a little more confidence in the +generosity of my government, as well as in that of my countrymen. If I +acted 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 lost my claims to your esteem? Believe me, Major, France +can also boast of a great number of men, whose patriotism and humanity may +rival those which are so frequently found in Great Britain. Like you we are +formed to the sentiments, to the duties which compose the true love of our +country and of liberty. In returning to France, I firmly believe that I +return into the bosom of a great family. But if, contrary to my +expectation, 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, Major, should I be obliged to seek, elsewhere, a +happier fate and a new country: there is no doubt but that I should chuse +that of my generous benefactors in preference to every other." + +Major Peddy answered Mr. Corréard 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. Corréard, +bidding him farewell for ever; it seemed that this worthy man forsesaw his +approaching end. + +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, who was the second in command, 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 interpreter; 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 hundred animals. +All the equipages were embarked 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 climate; he was attacked by a cruel disease, which terminated his +existence a few days after his departure from the island of St. Louis. Such +men ought to be imperishable[50]. + +The English physicians finding that the health of Mr. Corréard far from +improving, 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 departure; 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 morning, 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 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 dispatched a large boat to fetch the passengers out of the heat +of the sun. While this boat was coming, Mr. Corréard 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, "_There'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 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 presence of the sailors, he reproached in the bitterest +manner, those who had abandoned him, and even said offensive things to +them. These sallies, the consequence of his exasperation, caused him to be +looked upon as out of his mind, and nobody troubled 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. Corréard 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 of their art, shewed him the +greatest regard and mitigated his misfortunes by kind consolations. Mr. +Savigny saw every day his companion in misfortune, and he often repeated, +"I am 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, +respecting 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 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 +adventures; his intention was to deliver his narrative to the Minister of +the Marine. When he arrived in France, in the month of September, some +persons advised him to go to Paris, where, said they, "_Your misfortunes +will procure you the favor of the Ministry_," and it was considered as an +absolute certainty, that some recompense would make him forget the +considerable 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, carrying 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 was his astonishment to +see the day after, the _Journal des Débats_ of the 13th of September, an +extract from his narrative, copied almost literally: he then endeavoured to +discover whence the editors could have obtained 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 content 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, and by him sent to Paris. Mr. +Savigny had acted in this manner, because his intention, at that time, was +to go to his family, without passing through the capital. It appears that +this copy was not discreetly kept, since it reached the editor of the +_Journal des Débats_: certainly, he who received it from Brest, was very +far from wishing to injure the author of the memoir. If he had had the +smallest idea of all the disagreeable consequences arising from the +publicity 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 innocent of the publication of our +misfortunes, which affected all France, and excited a lively interest in +the fate of the victims. But for Mr. 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 +he, who had given his narrative to the editor of the _Journal des Débats_: +this was to obtain 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. Savigny, that I have the details of the +shipwreck of the Medusa inserted in the journal of the 13th of September, +1816." + +(Signed)--The Editor of the _Journal des Débats_. + +This certificate was put into the hands of M. ---- and by him presented to +his excellency, 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 +follows. + +"I certify, that it is not from Mr. Savigny, 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 contained in the Journal of the 13th of +September, 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. Corréard to be signed, who, after perusing it, +refused, because he found it contrary to the 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 earnestly 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, exhausted by a long +sickness, and whose recovery 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 +persons, that it had been _made loose_. Besides 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 particular 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.[51] Mr. Corréard's perseverance in withholding his +signature, triumphed over injustice, and his return to Europe was no longer +retarded. But the same manoeuvres had more success in another quarter, and +Messrs. Dupont, Lheureux, Charlot, Jean Charles, and Touche-Lavilette could +not escape the snare which was laid for them. They were labouring under +that terrible fever 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 excellency; 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 induced 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 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.[53] + +Thus supported by authorities, the value of which any body can now +appreciate, this tardy and inexact report was addressed to the minister of +the marine. Mr. Corréard, 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 (54) (55) (56). + +Provided with these three certificates, Mr. Savigny solicited permission to +go to Paris, in order to be able to let his excellency see, that they were +seeking to deceive him. Two months passed without information. Mean time, +Mr. Corréard departed for the capital, taking a letter from his comrade, +for a person in the office, to whom it was delivered, and who did not give +a decisive answer to what was asked of him. At length, Mr. Savigny received +a letter from Paris, in which he was informed, "That not only he would not +receive the permission 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 +disgusted by all that he had just experienced, gave in his resignation, +after having served 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 honored by the regret of the superiors +under whom he has been employed, as may be judged by the copy of the [57] +certificate, which they gave him when he resigned his situation. Fresh +misfortunes have also befallen Mr. Corréard, 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 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 increased, and +on the third, the fever seized him. He was then three leagues from +Poitiers, 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 unfortunate 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 his illustrious name, and +the unfeeling manner in which he had answered to his requests. Exhausted as +he was, 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, calculated to excite interest; for a few minutes before he +entered the town-hall, he fainted, but the most charitable assistance was +bestowed on him by a respectable lady, and he soon recovered from this +swoon. One of the clerks soon gave him 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 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. Corréard: both had been formerly exiled; they +knew what misfortune was, and knew how to pity that of an unhappy 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 directed 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.[58] + +After he had thus discharged the duty which was imposed on him by their +beneficence, he made all the necessary applications to the office of the +Marine to obtain an employment in the capital. He was answered that it was +impossible, advising him to make an application for a situation in the +colonies, particularly Cayenne. Three months passed in useless +solicitations to obtain this employment, as well as the decoration of the +legion of honour, which he had been led to hope for. + +During this time he neglected nothing 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. Excited 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 influence of the adverse star, which +so long persecuted Mr. Corréard, 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 +natural 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. Corréard's ill-fortune +placed him among this less favored number, or whether it be the effect of +some other unknown 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 to recompence 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 Goffin, 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_,[59] 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 +petition; but he has not been able to discover where, or how it has been +lost on the way without reaching its destination. In the inquiries which he +made at the office of the Prince's Secretary, he met with a young man +eighteen or 20 twenty years of age, who already wore the same mark of merit +which Mr. Corréard desired, and who only expressed an astonishment which +was more than disobliging, at the subject of his demand, asking him if he +had been twenty-five years in the service. Mr. Corréard, feeling on his +side something more than surprise, thought it best to withdraw, but not +till he had observed to this very young man, that he who appeared so +difficult about the claims of 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 d'Angouleme, from +whom, as High-Admiral of France, these friends thought that Mr. Corréard +might expect an intervention more likely to promote the success 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 Royal +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 misfortunes. It seems that amidst these disasters you have +behaved well." After having run over the memorial, the Prince was pleased +to add: "Thus it is that the King should be served; I will recommend you +to His Majesty, and let him know your conduct and your situation." + +These marks of kindness have hitherto been all that Mr. Corréard has +obtained by this memorial. However, His Royal Highness transmitted it to +the navy-office, but there is every reason to suppose that it will remain +buried there amidst the mass of papers; 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 unhappy are lost; in fact, a man of great experience, to +whom Mr. Corréard communicated this mischance, told him, that, in such an +affair, he would rather have the protection 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. Corréard. + +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 was made to understand that +all his applications 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 affirmative, +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 opportunity 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 answered that the minister 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, 18l6, by which His Excellency made +to the explorers, numerous concessions (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 under the +orders of that governor, and that they should undertake nothing without his +approbation. + +The impartial public will judge if, after 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 counsellor of State, Baron de Portal, +had the intention to obtain for him, the decoration of the Legion of Honor, +and that, for this purpose, he had had a memorial drawn up in his favour: +but the minister had written in the margin, _"I cannot lay this request +before the King."_ Thus the voice of the unfortunate Corréard 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 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. Corréard persuaded of the inutility of making fresh applications, gave +up for the present all farther solicitation for what he had so well +deserved by his courage 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 opportunity to serve him[60]. + +A minister, when he is really so disposed, easily finds means to employ an +unfortunate man who asks but little. + +Such are the vexations which we have experienced since our return to +France: now returned to the class of citizens, though reduced to +inactivity, after having exhausted our resources in the service, disgusted, +forgotten, 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. + +These details will be a happy digression from the sad accounts of our +misfortunes, 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 service, 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 Maringouins; 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 leagues, 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 +sterility 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 unobserved: this +part of the sea, known by the name of the Gulph of Arguin, is especially +remarkable for the immense quantity of fish which visit it, at different +seasons, or which continually frequent these shores. This gulph, 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 breaking 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 Canaries, 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 seldom employ more than a month. The +fishermen of Marseilles and Bayonne might attempt this fishery. In short, +whatever advantage may be sought to be derived from this gulph, so rich in +fish, it may be considered as the African Bank of Newfoundland, which may +one day contribute to supply the settlements of Senegambia, if the +Europeans 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. Lacépède, 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 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 resemblance to the famous Syrtes in their own neighbourhood, +which mariners took so much care to avoid. + + _Exercitas aut petit Syrtes Noto._ + +Some division of territory, or of pasturage 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, surrounded 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 +quarrelling with the other Moors, who frequent Cape Blanco. This Cape +Merick seems preferrable for commerce, 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 at present the smallest appearance of +vegetation. + +The Estuary of the river, St. John, at the back of this Cape, is now +entirely destitute 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 nature, invites +European cultivation, and offers the fairest prospect of success for the +colonial productions. + +The soil is in general good, and all colonists 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 Falémé 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. + +These countries are very thickly peopled, and are in general mild and +hospitable. Their villages are so numerous, 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 Goree; 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 settlements +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 assured) that in consequence of the abolition 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.[A14] + +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 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 +impregnable; but in its present state, it can hardly be considered as any +thing more than an open town, which four hundred resolute 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 surrender at the first +summons. However, many have hitherto considered it as impregnable, +believing that it was impossible to make a landing on the coast of Barbary. +but as we are convinced of the contrary, because the English already +executed this manoeuvre at the last capture of this place, we venture to +call the attention of the government to the situation of St. Louis, which +would certainly become impregnable if some new works were erected on +different points. + +This town has, in other respects, nothing very interesting in it, only the +streets are strait, and pretty broad, the houses tolerably well built and +airy. The soil is a burning sand, which produces but few vegetables: there +are only eight or ten little gardens, containing 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 +suppose, that, with some care, these trees would thrive perfectly well. Mr. +Corréard 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 +extraordinary manner. Five or six _palatuviers_, and 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 mortars; 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. Corréard. The inhabitants of the island are both +Catholics 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 Mahometanism, 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 Catholic religion, if it tolerated +polygamy, a habit 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; and its 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 170 +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 quantities 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 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 necessary 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 intrepid mariners. + +The western arm of the river is separated from the sea by a point called +the _Point of Barbary_. 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 covers 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 château 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 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 surrounded by a great number of huts of +the blacks, which form a pretty extensive village: these buts tend to hold +the sand together, and to prevent its sinking. The inhabitants of this +village are very superstitious, as the following anecdote will prove. + +In the course of the month of September, Messrs. Kummer and Corréard +crossed the arm of the river, to visit the coast of Barbary and the village +of Guetander; when they landed on the point, they proceeded 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_)[61] which are found along the sea-coast. Mr. Corréard +stopped a moment, and remarked that, when he had wounded one of these +animals with his cane, the others devoured it instantly. While he was +looking at these crabs feeding on the turtle, Mr. Kummer went on towards +the south, and visited the burying-places of the blacks. Mr. Corréard +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 +prohibit all approach to them in the strictest manner. Mr. Kummer, whom his +companion 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. Corréard, whom he found again observing the crabs and the +turtle. On relating to him what had just passed, as they were unarmed, they +resolved immediately to pass the river, by throwing themselves into a boat; +they had soon reason to congratulate themselves on having done so, for they +perceived several men who had collected at the cries of the black, and, if +they had not taken flight, it is probable that their innocent curiosity +would have cost them their lives. + +The left bank of the river, which is called Grande Terre, is covered with +perpetual 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 extensive 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 indigo grow there naturally, the ground is in some parts +low and damp, which gives reason 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, mangoes, +_palatuviers_, a great quantity of gum trees, or mimosas, and magnificent +Baobabs[62]. + +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 for a dwelling, +the construction of which costs no further trouble than cutting an opening +in the side to serve as a door, 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 organisation, but having the form of an enormous 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 rollers +with a sky-blue plumage, _senegallis_, of a crimson colour, souï-mangas +shining with gold and azure; if, advancing under the vault we find flowers +of dazzling whiteness 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 Baobab. 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 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 of 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 capsules, 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 substance. + +After the Isle of Sor, towards the South is that of Babagué, separated from +the former 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 inhuman traffic in slaves, to become +peaceable planters. Many have already made plantations of cotton, which +they call lougans. Mr. Artique, a merchant, has hitherto been the most +successful. His little plantation brought him in 2400 fr. in 1814, which +has excited in many inhabitants of St. Louis a desire to cultivate pieces +of land there. After 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 +Babagué is more elevated than that of the surrounding islands. At its +southern extremity, which is precisely 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. Picard, offers the same advantages. Its +soil is fertile as that of the islands of which we have just spoken. No +drinkable water is 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 +habitations 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 adventure, +which happened to Mr. Corréard, will shew to what a degree they love the +French. + +In the course of the month of September, his fever having left him for some +days, he was invited by Mr. François 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. Dupin, supercargo of a vessel from +Bordeaux, who was then at Senegal, and Mr. Yonne brother of Mr. Valentin, +were of the party. Their intention was to prolong the pleasures of the +chace, for several days; in consequence, 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 village of Gandiolle. Mr. Corréard +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.[63] 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 birds. Curiosity induced him to measure the +prodigious tree, on which they were perched, and he found that its +circumference 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. +Corréard, doubtless, with the hope of obtaining from him some powder, ball, +or tobacco. While he was loading his piece, he fixed his eyes upon an old +man, whose respectable look announced a good disposition; his beard and +hair were white, and his stature colossal; he called himself Sambadurand. +When he saw Mr. Corréard looking at him attentively, he advanced towards +him, and asked him if he was an Englishman? 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?"--Yes.--It is true that you Frenchmen are not +like the white men of other nations 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 Durand in vivacity and stature; you must be as +good as he was; are you his relation?--No, good old man, I am not his +relation; but I have often 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 good, +particularly the French whom we love very much.--"Well," answered Mr. +Corréard, "I 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 conceived +plans which, if they had been executed, would, perhaps, have been the glory +of my country, and the happiness of yours; but here, take my powder and +ball, if that can do you pleasure."--Ah! good Frenchman, I would willingly +take them, for I know that you have as much as you please in your own +country;[64] but at this moment it would deprive you of the pleasure of the +chace.--No, take it all.--Take my advice Toubabe: let us divide it, that +will be better. In fact, they divided. The black invited Mr. Corréard to +enter his hut to refresh 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. Corréard refused, in order to continue 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 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 centimetres in length. These gentlemen were astonished to see this +child holding such a terrible animal, which opened a frightful pair of +jaws. Mr. Corréard begged Mr. Valentin to ask him how he had been able to +take, and pinion it in this manner. The child answered 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 these details, Mr. +Corréard 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.[65] + +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.[A15] + +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 position renders it of the greatest importance: it is +situated in longitude 19° 5', and in latitude 14° 40' 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 activity 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 circumference is not above 2000 metres. It is only a very +high rock, the access to the coasts, of which is very difficult. The +numerous rocks, which surround it on all sides, 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'Estrées, 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 condition; 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 facilities 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 reflection of the sun's rays, which fall perpendicularly on +the Basalt rocks which surround it. If we add to this the stagnation of the +air, the circulation of which is interrupted by the houses, being very +closely built, a considerable population, which continually fills the +streets, and is beyond all proportion with the extent of the town, it will +be readily conceived that all these reasons, 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 judgment 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 interesting, and would serve as a _dépôt_, to accustom to the +climate, such Europeans, as might wish to settle either in the projected +colonies, or on those which might be founded, 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. Corréard by a Physician, who has +carefully examined Cape Verd. + +"This Cape is very different from what we thought. Its surface is not above +six or eight square leagues; its population is very numerous, and by no +means in proportion 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 admirable; all seems to +concur to render it impregnable, 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 advantages offered by the environs of +Rufisque, which are so well known, that we may dispense 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 Gambia; 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 excellent works of Messrs. Durand and +Geoffroy de Villeneuve, who have examined them like enlightened observers, +and perfectly 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 +enforce 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 Western Colonies, nobody will be +able longer to dissemble the inutility 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 incontestable data, the +consequences of which must be one day admitted. And first, 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, reasonably persons now acknowledge, that even were the final +success of such an enterprise possible, its real result would be, to have +expended, 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 +Guadaloupe 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 +agricultural 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 +hitherto concurred to prolong its infancy. There are not sufficient hands: +and how 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 +consequences, which should induce every enlightened government speedily to +change its whole colonial system. It would 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 interest 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 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 hesitate 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 colonies 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 to offer +some views, on the prudent and temperate 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 +advantages which the colonist must naturally have in view. + +Though the abolition of the slave trade has been proclaimed, yet the +present slaves must be led 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 negroes should be prepared for their new condition as well by +instruction as by the successive 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 labour, 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 advantageous 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 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 encouraged 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 their passions. 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 permission 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 physical 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 +incontrovertibly be applicable to the new establishments. It would +certainly be presumable, that on account 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 citizenship, ought +to participate, without any distinction of colour. It would especially be +highly important, that the regulations for the government of the slaves, +should be founded on mildness and humanity, that prudent and enlightened +persons should superintend 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 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 society presents only disorder and anarchy, then people +renounce obscure virtue, and laborious acquisition to follow the easy ways +of corruption; then enlightened men, for whom public esteem is a sterile +recommendation, the true servants of the king, the faithful friends of +their country, are forced to disappear, to withdraw from employments, 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 beforehand, and rather sooner +than later, in order to repair in Africa the past losses and disasters, +which irremediable events have caused in the Western Colonies, and to +substitute for their riches their prosperity, the progressive decline of +which is henceforward inevitable, new elements of wealth and prosperity: +the means will be to carry into these countries, so long desolated by our +relentless avarice, knowledge, cultivation, and industry. 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 interest for the sacrifices she may +have made in the new world. But to effect this, let there be no more secret +enterprises; no more connivance at fraudulent traffic, no more unhappy +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, dragged to the altars of the shameful, and insatiable 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 positively +asserting that France maintains in her African possessions, the system of +the slave trade in the same manner as she did before she consented to its +abolition. + +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 happiness, 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 +enterprise; 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_ + + +[Transcriber's Note: These notes are put in the text with the +numbering Axx or Bxx] + +The following Notes were communicated to the Authors, when the second +edition was already so far advanced, as to render it impracticable to +incorporate them with the body of the work, and they are therefore placed +at the end. Some of them are extracted from 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, referring to the pages to which they belong. Those of Mr. +Bredif, are signed (B) the others (A). + + + + +NOTES. + + +[A1] I.--_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 still, to pass between the 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 authorise vessels, bound to the Cape of Good +Hope, or to the south of America, to touch at the Canaries, or at the Cape +Verd Islands. Notwithstanding the depth of the channels between the first +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) + +[A2] II.--_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 expressed 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 +approached 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) + +[A3] III.--_On the Islands of Madeira and Teneriffe_. + +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 vineyards 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 environs of the town of Saint Croix, +scarcely any thing is seen, on the greater part of these dry and burnt +lands, but low 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, appears 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) + +[A4] IV.--_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 on the north side of Cape Meric. The inlet, which +was perceived during 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) + +[A5] V.--_On the reconnaissance of Cape Blanco_. + +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 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 deference or +persuasion it was 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) + +[A6] VI.--_On the Refusal to answer the Signals of the Echo_. + +It would probably have been of no use to inform Mr. de Chaumarey's of the +signals of the Echo. The commander of the Medusa, the chief of the +division, had declared already in the roads of the island of Aix, his +intention to abandon his vessels, and to proceed alone in all haste to the +Senegal. Though he spoke of strictly following 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 sailing 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 the bank. The two other vessels which had remained long +behind and were much more at liberty, passed more than thirty leagues to +the west of it, and thus proved that it was the safest and shortest rout. +(A) + +[A7] VII.--_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, all 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 _Zosterés_, 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 _Panios_ or +millets. (A) + +[B1] VIII.--_Moment of the Stranding of the Frigate_. + +The officers wanted to tack about, as the water became shallower every +moment: but Mr. Richefort,(who enjoyed 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 afterwards a shock informed us that we 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 confess that I was not satisfied with myself, at this +first moment, I could not help trembling, but afterwards, my courage did +not any more forsake me. (B) + +[B2] IX.--_Confusion on Board the Frigate_. + +The frigate having stranded, the same thing happened, which usually does +happen in critical circumstances, no decisive measures were taken: to +increase our misfortunes the obedience of the crew to the officers was +diminished 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 boats and the raft, in order that +they might hold themselves ready to embark when it should be time. I was +set down for the long boat. 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 confusion prevailed, the sailors already +attempted to plunder the trunks. (B) + +[B3] X.--_The Frigate lost_. + +On the fourth the weather being fine, and the wind favourable 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 morning the +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) + +[B4] XI.--_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. + +The people embarked in disorder, every body was in a hurry, I 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 difficulty that I 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, I had contented 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 fortunate for me +in the sequel. This comrade had embarked on board one of the boats, (B) + +[A8] XII.--_On Mr. Espiau_. + +The name of this officer cannot be mentioned, in this memoir, without +acknowledging the services which he performed on this occasion. To him we +owe the lives of several 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 conduct.(A) + +[B5] XIII.--_Embarkation of the Men who remained on Board the Frigate_. + +I 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 convinced 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 gally 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 +persons; we were obliged to throw into the sea our little parcels, the only +things we had left. We did not dare 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 perishing with thirst in the +sequel.(B) + +[A9] XIV.--_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 the +Zaara, 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 +resolved 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 Meric, which appears like the continuation of a high hill coming from +the interior, but suddenly rising at its approach 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) + +[B6] XV.--_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 movements, +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 displayed 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 on the raft would fall upon +us, and cause us all to perish. "I know it, my friends," said he, "but I +will not approach so near as to incur any danger; if the other vessels do +not follow me, I will think only on your preservation, I cannot do +impossibilities." In fact, seeing that he was not seconded, he resumed 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_ _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) + +[A10] XVI.--_On the sudden Gale experienced 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 +morning, 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 _galères_ or +_physalides_, (physalis pelasgica) which arranged, for the most part, in +straight lines, and in two or three files, cut 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 symetrical 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, agitated 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 their march; their disposition, in respect to the force +which impelled them, and which they strove to resist; the apparent +stiffness of the sail seemed equally admirable and surprising. 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 _sèche gigantesque_ (sepia, cuttle-fish) already whitened by the sun, +passed rapidly along the side of the ship, and almost 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 +perceived some large pelicans, gently rocking themselves on the bosom of +the waves. (A) + +[B7] XVII.--_Landing of the Sixty-three Men of the Long-Boat_. + +The sea was within two fingers breadth of the gunnale of the boat: the +slightest 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 I preferred drowning to being made a +slave, and conducted to Morocco 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. + +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 immediately. 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 Portendic. I took care not to imitate them. I +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) + +[B8] XVIII.--_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 perceived behind us four of +our boats. Mr. Espiau, notwithstanding 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 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 a +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 +condition 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, I 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, without +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 I took off my pantaloons I felt my +purse, which contained the four hundred francs; a moment after I had lost +it; this was the completion of all my misfortunes. What a happy thought was +it to have divided my eight hundred francs with Mr. de Chasteluz 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 remembrance 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; I 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 +crust of salt, instead of a little of that water which I had seen in my +dream. The moment was dreadful, and my 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, increased 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) + +[B9] 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; every one came and drank what was +given him. I held my list under the tin cap, to catch the drops which fell, +and moisten my lips with them. Some persons attempted to drink sea water; I +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 strand more +speedily upon the coast, every body reached the shore, the boat filled with +water and was abandoned. + +This example, fatal to us, gave our sailors an inclination to do the same. +Mr. Espiau 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 Chasteluz could not swim: he fastened a rope round +his middle, of which I 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 soon 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. I 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; I fell into a violent +passion, and expressed 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 I +found my coat and pantaloons again, a little further off upon the sand. (B) + +[B10] XX.--_March in the Desert and Arrival 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 collected round this water, which everyone +devoured with his eyes. Fire 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 our 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 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 five 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. Unhappily 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 consequently had a spite against me and threatened me more than once. + +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_!" I 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, I thought that we should trust entirely to men who +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 considerable number of Moors. Many persons in our caravan cried +out, that they were going 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 destruction, 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 fatigue 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. Nothing gave me +more pain than to hear at the expiration of a quarter of an hour "_up, +march_." + +I was once so overcome that I heard nothing, I remained 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 I should doubtless have slept several +hours. If I 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 I could not have borne. To avoid this misfortune I begged +one of my friends to watch over me, and to waken me at every stage, which +be did. + +On the 10th of July towards six o'clock in the morning, 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 ourselves 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 halfway 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 least distrust. + +Their women brought us milk which they sold horribly dear; the rapacity of +these Moors is astonishing, they insisted on having a share of the milk, +which they had sold us. + +Mean time we saw a sail advancing towards us: we made all kinds of signals +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 himself into the sea, carrying a note which +painted our distress. The boat took the Moor on board and returned with 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 coast 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 I +had seen expose themselves with so much composure 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. I should have been sorry to die without +having learned that they were preserved. + +When the three barrels were thrown into the sea we 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 last we saw, clearly, that they +approached 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 day, 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 Maringouins_; +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 +midnight. + +We had scarcely reached this spot, when we saw an Englishman coming towards +us with three or four Marabous, or priests; they had camels with them; they +were doubtless 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 companions 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 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 11th 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 perpendicularly 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 I put my +head in the shade; the rest of my body was roasted. The wind overturned, +twenty times, my slight scaffolding. + +Meantime, this 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 march, 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 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 mosquitoes, 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 walk over 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 preferred returning to the beach, and walking on +the sand, which the sea-water rendered firm. This last effort was almost +beyond my strength, I 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 coming 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 morning. We had no shelter during the whole day, except some +trees, which were of a kind unknown to me, 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 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 +all, in the name of the English Governor, that two other boats loaded with +provisions, were coming. Having to wait till they arrived, I could not +remain with Mr. Picard's family. I know not what emotion arose in my soul +when I saw the fine white bread cut, and the wine poured out, which would +have given me so much pleasure. At four o'clock we also were able 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. I shall always remember the +kind hospitality 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 me linen, light clothes, in short, whatever I wanted. I had +nothing left. Honour to 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 shipwrecked people to +take care of. Some of us had feather beds, others good mattrasses laid upon +mats, which they found very comfortable. I slept ill notwithstanding, I was +too much fatigued, too much agitated: I always fancied, myself either +bandied about by the waves, or treading on the burning sands.(B) + +[A11] XXI.--_On the Manufactures of the Moors_. + +The Moors tan skins with the dried pods of the Gummiferous Accia: thus +prepared, they are impenetrable to the rain, and it may be affirmed that, +for their suppleness, as well as for the brilliancy and finesss of their +grain, they might become a valuable fur in Europe, either 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, +ingeniously 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 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 +necklaces 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 employs. + +The Moors, like the Mahometan negroes, are for the most part, provided with +a larger or smaller number of _gris-gris_, a kind of talisman consisting in +words, or verses copied from the Coran, 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, twisted in the some manner about their arms, +resembling, except the cross, those of the Moors, and by the great number +of Amulets, (_gris-gris_ of another kind) which 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 ignorance, and derive +their authority from superstition. + +[A12] XXII.--_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 environs +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 cholic, 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 did not end in +death, the fever was often succeeded by dysentery, 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, endeavouring to calm the symptoms, +to strengthen the patient by bitters, and at the last, he administered the +bark.[A13] + +The Negroes who, like all other people, have a materia medica, and +pharmacopeia of their own, and who at this season, are subject to the same +disorders as the Europeans, have recourse at the very beginning, to a more +heroic remedy, and such of our soldiers 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 terminated 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 purgative. 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 +palma christi, and of cassia, (_casse puante_.) 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. + +[A13] It is to be observed that the author, in these two passages, uses the +word _Kina_ or Peruvian bark--T. + +[A14] XXIII.--_On the Isle of St. Louis_. + +St. Louis is a bank of scorching sand, without drinkable 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 salée_) 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 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 governor, 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 Olefères_) 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 contented +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, indeed, 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, 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. + +[A15] XXIV.--_On the Islands of Goree 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 terminates, towards the south, in a low beach which it +commands, 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 can. +At the extremity of this beach is a battery of two or three guns; on the +beach of the landing-place, is an epaulement, with embrasures which +commands it. The town stands on this sand bank, and a little fort, built on +the ridge of the rock, commands and defends it. In its present state, Goree +could not resist a ship of the line. Its road, which is only an anchoring +place in the 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 sea, to the neighbouring +continent, where they would 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 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 humanity will applaud. + +The point which seems most proper for an agricultural 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 Baobabs, 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 Guésiks, or Guia-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 waterfowl, among which, are distinguished by their large size, +die 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. + +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 junction, 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, and towards the north-east, there are two +hills of unequal height, which serve as a guide to mariners; and which, +from the substances collected 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 opposite 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 have 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 +appearance of walls of Trapp, but already, in a great degree, changed into +tuf, is arid and covered with briars. The 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 manuring the +land, with the dung of their cattle, that the Negroes raise pretty good +crops of sorgho. The population of this peninsula may be estimated at ten +thousand souls. It is entirely of the Yoloffe race, and shews much +attachment to all the ceremonies of Islamism. The Marabous 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 republic governed by a +senate, which is composed of the chiefs of most of the villages. They have +taken from 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. +Mouim Bott. +Bayémour Kayé. +Modiann Ketdym. +Mamcthiar Symbodioun. +Ghameu Wockam. +Diogheul, chief of the village of Gorr. +Baindonlz Yoff. +Mofall Ben. +Schenegall Bambara. + +This tribe was formerly subject to a Negro King in the 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, sobriety, 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 people, and particularly those who have +travelled much, blindness and opthalamia; and among the adult, affections +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 conversation. 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. +"_Africa dances all the night_," is an expression which has become +proverbial 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 numbers. 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 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, instead of cork, with pieces of the +light wood of the _Asclepias_.--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 Rubannée_, the Scarlet Hoemanthus, +the Gloriosa 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. + +[1] The _Medusa_ was armed en flute, having only 14 guns on board; +it was equipped at Rochefort with the _Loire_. + +[2] Equipped at Brent. + +[3] Came from L'Orient. + +[4] The town of Chassiron is on the point of Oleron, opposite a +bank of rocks called _Les Antiochats_. + +[5] The light house of La Baleine is placed at the other end of +the Pertuis d'Antioche, on the coast of the Isle of Rhé. + +[6] _Les Roches Bonnes _are 8 or 9 leagues from the Isle of Rhé, +their position is not exactly determined on the charts. + +[7] Three knots make a marine league of 5556 meters. + +[8] 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. + +[9] The life buoy, is made of cask staves hooped together, 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 heaving the, vessel to, is +performed. + +[10] We do not know why the government makes its vessels take this +route; when one can proceed directly 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 that it is +impossible not to recognise them, with facility. They have also the +advantage of being placed in the course of the monsoons; though however, +west winds sometimes blow for several days together. 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 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 lost; by night all these reefs +are very dangerous, by day they are recognised by the breakers on them. + +[11] This route was not recommended by the instructions, but there +was on board an old sea officer, who announced himself as a pilot in these +seas; his advice was unfortunately attended to. + +[12] A description of the reef of Arguin may be found in the +_Little Sea Torch_. + +[13] 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. + +[14] Mr. Lapérère, 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. Lapérère and Maudet, +because if they had been attended to, the Medusa would be still in +existence. + +[15] 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. + +[16] The bottom was besides soft; being sand mixed with grey mud, +and shells, 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. + +[17] This plan was shewn to several persons; we ourselves saw it +in the hands of the governor, who sketched it, leaning on the great +capstern. + +[18] 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. + +[19] Why was it opposed? + +[20] The numbers above mentioned make only three hundred and +eighty-three, so that there is an error somewhere. T. + +[21] _Trois quarts_: it is not said of what measure; probably a +pint.--T. + +[22] The original is _n'ayant pas le pié marin_, not having a +sailors foot. + +[23] 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. + +[24] 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; we, however, kept the little cask as well as one of the +wine barrels, which was empty. These two casks were afterwards of use to +us. + +[25] These fish are very small; the largest is not equal to a +small herring. + +[26] 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. + +[27] 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 commander of +the raft and a captain of infantry divided it. + +[28] One of these soldiers was the same Piedmontese serjeant of +whom we have spoken above; he put his comrades forward, and kept himself +concealed in case their plot should fail. + +[29] 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; this measure was not employed on the fatal +raft. + +[30] Perhaps a kind of sea-nettle is here meant. + +[31] What is called a fish, is a long piece of wood concave on one +side, serving to be applied to the side of a mast, to strengthen it when in +danger of breaking, it is fastened by strong ropes; hence, to fish a mast. + +[32] The conduct of this young man merits some recompense. At the +end of 1816, there was a promotion of 80 midshipmen, who were to be taken +from the _élèves_ 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 _protégés_) applied to the +ministry, and were preferred. + +[33] 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;"_ 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. + +[34] 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, besides this fruit, the only one of a red or reddish colour which he +has remarked in this country, are those of some _caparidées_, very acid; +some _icaques_ before they are ripe; the _tampus_ or _sebestum_ of Africa, +and the wood of a _prasium_, 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. + +[35] 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 dourha 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 unguiculé_, 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 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 mahogony, (_mahogon_) which grows on the banks of Senegal. The _mahogon_ +or _mahogoni_ which, according to naturalists, has a great affinity to the +family of the _miliacées_, 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. Domingo, it is considered as a species +of _acajou_,[36] and they give it that name. The yellow _mahogoni_, of +India, furnishes the satin wood. There is also the _mahogoni febrifuge_, +the bark of which supplies the place of the Peruvian bark. Lamarque has +observed that the _mahogon_ of Senegal has only eight stamina; the other +kinds have ten. + +[36] Acajou is, we believe, generally used for mahogany.--T. + +[37] 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 expences 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 Blanchot,"_ &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 communication 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 +inhabitants, without distinction of colour, or of rank, should have only a +quarter of a ration of bread, and two ounces of rice 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 his aides-de-camp, +said: "go and tell the store-keeper, that I put him provisionally under +arrest, for having exceeded my orders; and you, gentlemen, know that I am +incapable of infringing on the means of subsistance 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 +example prevented every body from murmuring, and the colony was saved. +While they were suffering the severest 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 supplies. 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? + +[38] Every body knows the popular proverb, which very well +expresses our idea: "_That which is worth taking, is worth keeping_." + +[39] 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 +supposition? 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 certain 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 none who, at the same time, sell their lives; and +those whom people would accuse of something more than extreme incapacity, +have sufficiently proved in dangers which threatened themselves, that they +well knew how to provide for their own safety. + +[40] Probably the cross of the legion of honor--T. + +[41] 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 abandoned, 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 distresses, and were saved +in 1776 by Mr. de Trommelin, commanding the Dauphine corvette. + +The Favorite, commanded by Captain Moreau, fell in with the island of Adu +in 1767; he sent a boat on shore with a crew of eight men, commanded by Mr. +Rivière, 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 +Rivière 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 presence of danger may +derange the senses, and that then people may desert their companions on +board a vessel; but not to go to their assistance, when the danger is +surmounted, not to hasten to fly to their relief, this is inconceivable. + +[42] Persons whom we could name, divided the great flag, and cut +it up into table-cloths, napkins, &c. we mention with the distinction which +they deserve, Sophia, a negress belonging to the governor, and Margaret, a +white servant. + +[43] They dined almost every day with the English officers; 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. + +[44] The affair of the coal-mine of Beaujon, as a journalist 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 accident, 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 nature, to which we are subject, in +every situation, had not to defend his soul against all the odious and +terrible impressions 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 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! Goffin was honored and, with justice; the men shipwrecked on the +raft, once proscribed, seem to be forever forsaken. Whence is 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? + +[45] Three men saved from the raft, died in a very short time; +those who crossed the desert, being too weak to go to Daccard, were in +considerable numbers in this same hospital, and perished there +successively. + +[46] 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 disasters, had inspired him with the greatest +veneration for our countrymen, who had, on more than one occasion, shewn +themselves generous towards him. + +[47] 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 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 and which, doubtless, +indicates the head of a statesman, in which superior interests, and the +thought of the public 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 unhappy 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 his great +application to business, 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; we 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 +apothecary 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. + +[48] 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 settlements on the coast of Africa. + +[49] 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 embarrassment 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 Chaumareys, Knight of St. Louis, and of the +Legion of Honour, and in the intervals of his campaigns, receiver of the +_droits réunis_, at Bellac, in Upper Vienne, 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 _début_ of the +Viscount de Cheffontaine 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 of deputies: when a member, +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 +pretentions of vain pride, while experienced officers were overlooked, or +disdainfully repulsed, condemned to figure on the lists of the half-pay, of +the _reforms_, and even before the time, which would have called them to a +necessary, or at least legal repose. How burdensome to the State, are these +_retraites_ 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 take 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 commands, have not been able to shew anything but their 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. + +[50] 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 to discharge the sacred debt of gratitude! + +Among the losses which this expedition has experienced, it is feared that +we must reckon that of our excellent companion, the Naturalist Kummer; +nevertheless, as no positive information of his death has yet been received +of his fate, his numerous friends, in the midst of their fears, still +cherish some hopes: May they not be disappointed. + +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 details. We learn from geographers, 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. 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 undergone the most horrible probations. The +association exercises 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. + +[51] This remark on the conduct of one of our companions whom we +had known, under more favourable circumstances, had cost us some pain in +the first edition: therefore, 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 weakness, 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 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; I confess, that, though my reclamations 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 companion +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.[52] Such are the reasons which I alledged to you at Rochefort, and +you must then have perceived, that I spoke to you with frankness, since I +concealed nothing from you. I am not at present without repentance, for not +having waited 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. + +[52] The same means were employed with Mr. Corréard. + +[53] I, the undersigned chief of the workmen under the command of +Mr. Corréard, engineer, geographer, one of the members of the commission +appointed by his excellency the minister of the marine and the colonies, to +examine 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 +occasioned temporary fits of delirium; that consequently, this weakening of +my moral faculties, and even the state of mental derangement, in which I +was caused to sign this piece without reading it: it appears, that it +tended, in part, to blame the conduct of Mr. Savigny on the raft, and for +which I 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; I declare, that my signature at the bottom of this +memorial, having been surreptitiously obtained, is null and void; in +testimony 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. + +[54] I, the undersigned, appointed to command the raft of the +Medusa frigate, certify, that Mr. Savigny, the surgeon, who embarked in the +said raft, has given on all occasions, 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) COUDIN. + +[55] I, 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 FRANÇOIS. + +[56] I, 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 conduct 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 Débats_, 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 pat my +name to it. + +(Signed) CORRÉARD + +[57] The Board of Health certifies, that Mr. Jean Baptiste Henry +Savigny, has been employed in the character of surgeon, from the 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, RÉJOU. + +[58] _To His Excellency the British Ambassador, at the Court of +France._ + +My Lord, + +A Frenchman who, after a shipwreck without parallel, 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 Corréard, 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 +individuals 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 +continue 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 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, Lieutenant Hommera, Adjutant-Major +Grey, Ensigns Beurthonne and Adams. + +May Your Excellency receive with kindness, the sincere expression of +gratitude to the English nation, of a French private citizen who has been +ruined by this dreadful 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 persons, has so well chosen, to finish an immense +enterprise, co-operators, whose distinguished talents and social virtues, +must ensure success, which promises such great advantages to the universe. + +Relying on Your Excellency's generosity, Mr. Corréard begs you to be +pleased to transmit to him some information respecting his benefactors, and +particularly the honorable Major Peddy, to whom he has vowed eternal +attachment, + +I have the honour to be, &c. + +A. CORRÉARD. + +Paris, March 5, 1817. + +[59] The flute _La Caravane_, commanded by Mr. Le Normand 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 Midshipman, and +Paulin Boatswain, have received the cross of the Legion of Honor for their +conduct on this occasion.--Vide the _Moniteur_ of January 22. + +[60] 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. I have examined the Memorials, as well as the letters which +you have written on the same subject to my predecessors. If an +opportunity should occur, in which I can serve you, I will readily embrace +it. + +Receive, Sir, the assurance of my perfect consideration. + +The Minister Secretary of State of the Marine and Colonies. + +COUNT MOLÉ. + +[61] 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. + +[62] The Baobab or Adansoia of botanists, is placed in the class +Monadelphia polyandria, in the family of malvaceous plants, and has but one +species. The first of these trees seen by Adanson, were twenty-seven feet +in diameter, 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 diameter, must have taken 3750 years to acquire these +dimensions, 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 Adanson, 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! + +[63] 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. + +[64] The blacks think that all the whites are very rich in their +own country. + +[65] 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 _Mamelles_ 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. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in +1816, by J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Corréard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO SENEGAL IN 1816 *** + +***** This file should be named 11772-8.txt or 11772-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/7/7/11772/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Piotr Przemyslaw Karwasz and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/11772-8.zip b/old/11772-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..65d223f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11772-8.zip diff --git a/old/11772.txt b/old/11772.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1bce167 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11772.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7376 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 +by J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Correard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 + Undertaken by Order of the French Government, Comprising an Account + of the Shipwreck of the Medusa, 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. + + +Author: J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Correard + +Release Date: April 3, 2004 [EBook #11772] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO SENEGAL IN 1816 *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Connal, Piotr Przemyslaw Karwasz and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. This file was produced from images generously made +available by gallica (Bibliotheque nationale de France) at +http://gallica.bnf.fr. + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: The spelling inconsistencies of the original +are retained in this etext.] + + + +NARRATIVE +OF A +VOYAGE +TO SENEGAL +IN 1816. + + +_No person can read this Interesting Narrative without being deeply +affected by the perils and misfortunes to which the small remnant of +persons, who were saved from this deplorable Shipwreck, were exposed. Of +one hundred and fifty persons embarked upon the raft, and left to their +fate, only fifteen remained alive thirteen days afterwards; but of these +fifteen, so miraculously saved, life constituted the sole possession, being +literally stripped of every thing. At Paris, some benevolent individuals +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._ + + + + + + NARRATIVE + OF A + VOYAGE TO SENEGAL + IN 1816; + +UNDERTAKEN BY ORDER OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, + COMPRISING AN ACCOUNT + OF THE + Shipwreck of the Medusa, + 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 CORREARD. + + ILLUSTRATED WITH THE NOTES OF M. BREDIF + AND EMBELLISHED WITH +A PLAN OF THE RAFT, AND A PORTRAIT OF KING ZAIDE. + +1818. + + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +At the moment that we publish a Second Edition of our Narrative, we learn +that Mr. Sevigny [A] is going to publish a pretended Account, 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 unhappily, 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 consequently, 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 public will judge of his account and ours. + +CORREARD AND SAVIGNY. + +[A] 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 anonymous company, which one +of the King's Ministers has recommended in the following manner: + +"The keeper of the seals has informed the magistrates, that an anonymous +company, which had formed itself under the name of the _Colonial +Philanthropic Society of Senegambia_, and which announced the project 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 condition 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 +prescribed by the law." + +(_Journal des Debats, Novembre _24, 1817.) + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The annals of the marine, record no example of a shipwreck so terrible as +that of the Medusa frigate. 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 +unhappy 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, besides, 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 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 by the slavery of the press, men without talents survive every +revolution, exhibit in every antichamber their privileged incapacity, and +braving public opinion, even that of their comrades, who are the first +victims of a foolish and arrogant prejudice, which deceives them, shew +themselves more eager to monopolise favours and honours, in proportion 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 +approbation. 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 +recompence. + +We have questioned, concerning the nautical details, several gentlemen of +the navy who were on board; we confess, however, that on comparing their +accounts, we have 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 truths; they will, however, be +directed only to those, whose unskilfulness, or pusillanimity have caused +these dreadful events. We venture to affirm, that the numerous +observations, which we have collected, will give to our work all the +accuracy rigorously 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, and 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 necessary 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. Landry, an officer of the Royal +University, Professor Emeritus of the Academy of Paris, and at present 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 by 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 +meddling 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 circumstances, 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 manner in which he knows how to give an +account of the facts which he has observed, and still more the 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 be will duly execute his Mission, and render himself worthy +of his Majesty's favours. + + + +[Illustration: PLAN of the RAFT of the MEDUSA, at the moment of its being +abandoned. 150 Frenchmen were placed on this Machine. 15 only were saved 13 +days after.] + + + + + +NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +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 definitively 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 masters 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 and England, concluded on the 3d of September, 1783. In 1808, our +possessions fell again into the power of the English, less by the +superiority of their arms, than by the treachery 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 confirmed that of 1783 in +its whole extent. + +The stipulations of this treaty regulate 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 deg. 30', and +latitude 20 deg. 55' 30", to the mouth of the river Gambia in longitude 19 deg. 9', +and latitude 13 deg.; they guarantee this property 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 whatsoever 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 month 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 +resuming her possessions and 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 commanding the African battalion, +composed of three companies of 84 men each.................. 253 + +A Lieutenant of Artillery, inspector of the powder magazines +and batteries, and commanding ten workmen of his arm........ 11 + +A Commissary, inspector of the marine, chief of the +administration.............................................. 1 + +Four Store-keepers.......................................... 4 + +Six Clerks.................................................. 6 + +Four Scouts (guetteurs)..................................... 4 + +Two Cures................................................... 2 + +Two Schoolmasters (instituteurs)............................ 2 + +Two Writers (greffiers, they supply the place of the +notaries and even of the mayors)............................ 2 + +Two Hospital Directors...................................... 2 + +Two Apothecaries............................................ 2 + +Five Surgeons............................................... 5 + +Two Port Captains........................................... 2 + +Three Pilots................................................ 3 + +A Gardener.................................................. 1 + +Eighteen Women.............................................. 18 + +Eight Children.............................................. 8 + +Four Bakers................................................. 4 + +Farther for an intended expedition into the country of +Galam. + +An Engineer of mines........................................ 1 + +A Geographical Engineer..................................... 1 + +A Naturalist (cultivateur naturaliste)...................... 1 + +Farther for an expedition which was to seek upon Cape Verd, +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 productions................... 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, &c. &c. + + +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_[1] frigate +of 44 guns, Captain Chaumareys; the _Echo_[2] corvette, Captain Cornet de +Venancourt; the flute _La Loire_, commanded by Lieutenant Giquel +Destouches; and the _Argus_[3] brig, commanded by Lieutenant Parnajon. The +wind was northerly, blowing a fresh breeze; we carried all our sails; but +had hardly cleared the port when the wind scanted a little, and we tacked +to double the Tower of Chassiron, which is placed at the extremity of the +Isle of Oleron.[4] After having plied to windward the whole day, in the +evening about five o'clock, the _Loire_ being unable to stem the currents +which were at that time contrary, and hindered her from entering the +_passes_, desired leave to cast anchor; M. de Chaumareys 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 weather was fine: the wind N.W. and consequently 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 under way had been given them +a few minutes before. At night we found ourselves between the lights of +Chassiron and La Baleine.[5] A few moments 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 announced 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 perceived that we were running directly upon a danger, +called _Les Roches Bonnes_.[6] 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; 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.[7] + +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, on the larboard side; a great many persons were at +the time, on the poop and the breast work, looking at the gambols of the +porpoises.[8] 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.[9] The sails 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 deg. 45', Latitude, and the most _Southerly_ in latitude, +34 deg. 30', 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 rock is distant about forty leagues to the _North_, 5 deg. 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 observation 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.[10] This error in the +arrival, was at least thirty leagues in the East. It was attributed to the +currents 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.[A1] + +The next morning at day break we saw very distinctly the islands of Madeira +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 considerable 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.[A2] + +Madeira appears like an amphitheatre; the country houses which cover it +seem to be in a very good taste, and give it a charming appearance. All +these delightful 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 agreeable +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. Funchal, the capital town of the +islands is situated in long. 19 deg.. 20'. 30." in lat. 32 deg. 37'. 40". This town +is far from handsome, the streets are narrow 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 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 at sun-rise we saw the islands called Salvages, and +in the evening we descried the Pico of Teneriffe, on the island of that +name. This lofty mountain, behind which the sun had just set, presented a +sight truly magnificent; its summit seemed to be crowned with fire: its +elevation above the level of the sea, is 3711 metres; it is situated in +lat. 28 deg. 17' and in long. 19 deg.. 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 mortar, 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 +Francais_. One of our companions 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 English navy, failed before a handful of French, +who covered themselves with glory and saved Teneriffe; the Admiral was +obliged to take flight, after having lost an arm in the contest, which was +long and obstinate. + +Having doubled a point which extends into the sea, we entered the bay, at +the bottom of which is the town of St. Croix. The appearance of Teneriffe +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 some 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 +certain elevation excavations filled with sulphur are observed; and in its +neighbourhood 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 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 unfortunate persons; his entreaties could 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 persecution 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 +compare their agricultural productions, on account of the great difference +of their soils: but in a commercial view, Teneriffe has the advantage of +Madeira. Its geographical position in the middle of the Canaries, enables +it to carry on an extensive trade, while Madeira is confined to the sale +and 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 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.[A3] + +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 time, the fire +was extinguished. 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 deg. 12' +30", and in longitude 16 deg. 47'. We then saw the skirts of the immense desert +of Zaara, and we thought we perceived the mouth of the river St. John [A4], +which is very little known. We passed the tropic at ten o'clock in the +morning; the usual ceremony was there performed with a certain 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 ceremony +at the tropic we doubled Cape Barbas, situated in lat. 22 deg. 6', and long. +19 deg. 8': two officers suddenly had the course changed, without informing the +captain; this led to a pretty warm dispute, which however had no serious +consequences. 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, 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.[11] If it had fallen calm, 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 descried Cape Blanco[A5], 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 constantly kept company since we +left Madeira, burnt several charges of powder and hung a lanthorn at the +mizen-mast; 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 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_[A6]. 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 larboard 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 to the larboard, or she to the +starboard, since at day-break the corvette was no longer in sight. + +At sea a vessel may easily be perceived at the distance of six leagues. +From midnight till six in the morning, she must have gained above six +leagues 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 necessarily 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 morning 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.[12] 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 recommend 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.[13] 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 Correard, we cannot pass over in silence, a scene +which took place in the morning. The Captain was deceived in the most +singular 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 in misfortune, who sees clearly, and who knows how to +distinguish between a rock and a cloud, because he has seen enough of them +in the Alps, where he was born, told those gentlemen that it was only a +cape of vapour; he was answered that the instructions which the minister +had given to the captain 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 desired 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. + +After this pretended reconnaissance of the 2d July, if we were persuaded +that we had seen that Cape, we should have steered west, to double the bank +of Arguin; 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 immediately 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 on board, whom this mark +of deference could not but offend. M. de Chaumareys, while we were doubling +Cape Barbas, presided at the farce performed in passing the Tropic, while +he who had gained his confidence, was walking up and down the deck of the +frigate, 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 observed to ascertain our position, we +saw, on the quarter deck, Mr. Maudet, ensign 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 communicated 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.[14] + +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 gave orders to +haul the wind as close as possible, but unhappily it was too late.[A7][B1] + +The frigate luffing, almost immediately gave a heel; it proceeded a moment +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 +unfavorable 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 centimetres 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 others not so deep; which made +us suppose that the reef is very uneven and covered with little elevations. +All the different manoeuvres which had been performed since the moment when +we found ourselves in eighteen fathoms, to that in which we struck, +succeeded each other with extraordinary rapidity: not above ten minutes +passed. Several persons have assured us that, if the ship had come entirely +to the wind, when we were in eighteen 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 deg. 36' +north latitude, and 19 deg. 45' west longitude. This event spread the most +profound consternation; 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. 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 thunderstruck 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, immediately +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 insensible, and +as if unconcerned in these events. + +As soon as the frigate stranded, the sails were hastily lowered, the top +gallant 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 operation was fruitless; for the anchor, which was too weak, could not +make sufficient resistance and gave way: a bower anchor 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 together because the boat was not +able to carry so considerable a weight.[15] 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 put 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 +resistance, and would have been dragged on board again if they had +continued to work at the capstern.[16] 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. + +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.[17] It was necessary to have recourse to an expedient 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 +deposited 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 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 pretty 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 hollow, 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 currents, added to the difficulties. If the weather +had not been so extremely unfavorable 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 nothing but a calm could favor. The weather was bad +during the whole night; about four or five o'clock, at the morning 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 prosecuted: during the day of the +4. several 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 overboard. + +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 stern ports, tended to prevent it +from running a-head, by supporting its quarters 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, and 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 +factories. 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 preserved from injury: this method was indeed +attempted, but it was given up, because the means employed were +insufficient. 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.[B2] + +If the frigate had been lightened as soon as we struck, perhaps she might +have been saved.[18] 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 +probabilities, 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. + +At night the sky became cloudy, the winds came from the sea, and blew +violently. 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.[B3] 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 produced 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 captain'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 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 distressing 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 necessary to abandon her, was, that the water had +already penetrated between decks. A quantity of biscuit was hastily taken +from the store-room; wine and fresh water were also got out; these +provisions 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 ignorant 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 themselves 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; but no +attention was paid to this wise arrangement; 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 reason to repent it. Mr. Savigny was unfortunately of this +number; he might have stopped on board a boat, but an invincible attachment +to his duty made him forget the danger of the part which was allotted 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.[19] 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 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 captain's barge took +twenty-eight; the long boat, though in a very bad condition, destitute of +oars, took in, however, eighty-eight; an eight-oared boat which was to be +left at Senegal, for the service of the port, took twenty-five sailors; 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 and +ninety-seven persons;[20] there were on board the frigate, near four +hundred sailors and soldiers: thus it appears that several 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 abandoned, was +seventeen; which proves to us, that there were more than one hundred 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, because they did not think it capable of carrying so many, and +that he, with two 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 multitude of wretches, who all wanted to +escape death, and all sought to save themselves, either in the boats or +upon the rafts! The frigate's ladder was insufficient for so many: some +threw themselves 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 surprising 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 entirely destroyed: the vessel itself was cast on the +larboard quarter. + +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 of destruction. 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 bowsprit 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 fears, 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 to move upon the +raft, because we were so crowded together he thought it the easiest to call +to Mr. ---- who immediately 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 disappeared, and went on board one of the boats. + +How is it possible that a French sea officer should 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 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 imminent 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 loosened 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 manner in which he +abandoned his people. We regretted that the arm of the officer had been +withheld when he wished to prevent the captain's design; but, our regret +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 remained on board the frigate.[B4] Some +persons belonging to this boat have informed us, that they were told there +were, at the most, about twenty who could not embark; 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 soldiers +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 faculties 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, refused; 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.[B5] The fears of the former, (and +they are probably those who, according to the deposition of Dales, returned +on board the frigate) were founded on the bad condition of the long-boat, +which let in the water on every side. After promising the men who persisted +in remaining, that assistance should be sent them, as soon as the others +arrived at Senegal, the long-boat stood off to join the little division. +Before he left the frigate, Mr. Espiau had the grand national flag +hoisted.[A8] + +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 take the +towrope, 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 Roi!_" +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 +circumstances obliged them to renounce the generous plan which they had +formed to save us, or to perish with us. These circumstances deserve to be +scrupulously examined; but our pen, guided by truth, must not fear to +record facts which truth itself dictates. It is true they are of so strange +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 +themselves 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 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 +on this first foundation, 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 sufficient height; +but it was not done, probably 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 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 the 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 dimensions. When we were no more than fifteen in it, we had +not space enough to lie down, and yet we were extremely close together. 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 hundred 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; but they did it with such precipitation, that, some persons who were +at their post, were in danger of being 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 seventy +centimetres 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, because several persons united to preserve them, and had much +difficulty to hinder them from being thrown into the sea like the flour +barrels. The raft, lightened by throwing away these barrels, was able to +receive more men; we were at length a hundred and fifty. The machine 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 got it up with difficulty; it was converted into a paste, +but we preserved it in that condition. Several considerate persons 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 +situation 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 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 approaching to +its cure, when we stranded and wholly incapacitated him from moving. One of +his comrades, moved by his situation, offered to take his place, but Mr. +Coudin, though wounded, preferred repairing 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 whether the order was given, but it is certain that +Mr. Coudin was obliged to remain 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 lieutenant 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 leaving 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 +remedied by covering the hole with a large 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 craft, by separating himself 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. Maudet 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 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 favorable as could be desired. This last tow-rope did not +break, as the governor has tried to persuade the minister of the marine, +and several persons who escaped from the raft. Walking on the terrace of a +French merchant at Senegal, in the presence of Messrs. Savigny and Coudin, +the governor explained the affair as follows: "Some men were on the front +of the raft, at the place where the tow-rope was fixed; which they pulled +so as to draw the boat nearer to them; they had already pulled several +fathoms of it to them, but a wave coming, gave a violent shock; these men +were obliged to let go; the boats then proceeded more rapidly, till the +rope was stretched; at the moment when the boats effected this tension the +effort was such, that the rope broke." This manner of explaining this last +desertion is very adroit, 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 companions 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, "_shall I let go?_" Mr. Clanet +opposed it, answering with firmness, "_No no_!" Some persons joined him, +but could obtain nothing, the tow-rope was let go: we considered it as +certain, that the commander of the other boats, on seeing the chief of the +expedition courageously devote himself, would have come and resumed their +posts: but it may be said that each individual boat was abandoned by all +the others: there was wanting, on this occasion, a man of great coolness: +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 +victims of the consequences of this desertion, but as men free from all +personal resentment, and who listen only to the voice of truth. + +The raft, drawn by all the boats united, 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 inspire some apprehensions: +but, in a few hours, the currents would change and favor us; we ought to +have waited for this moment, which would have infallibly demonstrated 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 that a short time would have sufficed +to tow us within sight of land, for, the evening 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 daybreak, we could no longer see the Medusa.[A9] + +At the first moment we did not really believe that we had been so cruelly +abandoned. We imagined that the boats had let loose, because they had +perceived a vessel, and hastened towards it to ask assistance. The +long-boat was pretty near us to leeward on the starboard. She lowered her +foresail half way down: her manoeuvre made us think that she was going to +take the first tow-rope: she remained so a moment, lowered her foresail +entirely, setup 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.[B6] As soon as this boat was gone, we had no doubt but that we +were abandoned; 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 premeditated. 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 obstinate combat would have taken place between, +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 example, +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 engineers, it was his duty not to +separate from the majority of those who had been confided 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 equipment 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 had been charged to +superintend the proceedings of 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, perhaps, 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 abandoned us, but, that their +will and their actions were paralized by the passive obedience 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 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 inevitable in the midst of perils so imminent. 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 companions would not, perhaps, have experienced a better +fate than the seventeen who were finally left on board the Medusa. + +After the disappearance of the boats, the consternation was extreme: all +the terrors of thirst and famine arose before our imaginations, and we had +besides to contend with a perfidious element, which already covered the +half of our bodies: when recovered 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 participated, 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 degrees, 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 misfortunes, and what +is worthy of remark, to bear great fatigues, moral energy is much more +necessary than corporeal strength, nay, than the habit of privations and +hard labour. On this narrow theatre where so many sufferings are united, +where the most cruel extremes of hunger and thirst are experienced, strong +and indefatigable men who have been brought up to the most laborious +professions, sink in succession under the 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 superiority +and their deliverance," When tranquillity was a little restored, we began +to look upon the raft for the charts, the compass 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 cries of rage and vengeance. Mr. Correard then recollected, +that he had seen one in the hands of one of the chief workmen under his +command, and enquired 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 little wine, and we distributed it thus prepared: 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[21] 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 ourselves 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 misfortunes and dangers. The officer who commanded, the raft +being unable to move, Mr. Savigny took on himself the care 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 retained, may be attributed to the too +great length of the pieces of wood which projected on each side. + +In the evening, our hearts and our prayers, with the impulse natural to the +unfortunate, were directed towards heaven; we invoked it with fervour, and +we derived from our prayers the advantage of hoping in our safety: one must +have experienced cruel situations, to imagine what a soothing charm, in the +midst of misfortune, is afforded by the sublime idea of a God, the +protector of the unfortunate. One consoling idea still pleased our +imaginations; 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 assistance: 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 dreadful night! Nothing but the idea of seeing the boats the next day, +gave some consolation to our people; who being most of them unused to the +motion of a vessel,[22] 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, fastened 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 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 horrors of a very +dark night; for some moments 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 frigate: 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 +eyesight, 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 precipitated 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 protection 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 +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 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 perceived, however, that this +almost inanimate body still had breath; we lavished on him all the +assistance in our power; he recovered by degrees, and was restored 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 afflicting sight of a melancholy +contrast. Two young lads, and a baker, did not fear to seek death, by +throwing themselves 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 appear. Despondency began again to seize all our people, +and a mutinous spirit manifested itself by cries of fury; the voice of the +officers was wholly disregarded. When the night came, the sky was covered +with thick clouds; the wind, which during the day had been rather high, now +became furious, and agitated the sea, which, in an instant, grew very +rough. + +If the preceding night had been terrible, this was still more horrible. +Mountains 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 violence 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 our raft a position almost +perpendicular, so that, in order to counterbalance it, we were obliged to +run to that side which was raised up by the sea.[A10] + +The soldiers and sailors, terrified by the presence of an almost inevitable +danger, gave themselves up for lost. Firmly 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 +presence 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 companions in misfortune; they openly expressed their intention to +rid themselves of the officers, who they said, wished to oppose their +design, and then to destroy the raft by cutting 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 regiment: a colossal stature, short curled hair, an +extremely large nose, an enormous mouth, a sallow complexion, gave him a +hideous air. He had placed himself, at first, in the middle of the raft, +and at every blow of his fist he overthrew those who stood in his way; he +inspired 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 themselves: of this number were some +subaltern 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 bristling with sabres and bayonets, +they retired 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 soldier attempted to defend him--threatened an officer +with his knife, and in attempting 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 cried lower the sail; a crowd of madmen 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 perceived 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 moment of delusion. Several passengers +displayed 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 imprecations 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 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 repugnance +they felt to combat their unhappy countrymen, they were however obliged to +use their arms without reserve; because many of the mutineers attacked them +with fury, it was necessary to repulse 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 received in the various combats they had +to maintain. At last their united efforts 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 comrades, 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. Dominique had received, in a charge, +several sabre wounds, one of which had laid open his head. Notwithstanding +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 revived this wretch; but as soon as he recovered +his strength, the ungrateful Dominique, again forgetting his duty and the +signal service that he had just received from us, went to rejoin the +mutineers. So much baseness and fury did 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 honor and to gratitude, he had remained among us. + +Just when we had almost finished applying 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 dead bodies, with +their backs leaning against a barrel. In a few minutes they had recovered +their senses. The first thought of the woman 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. Correard, 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 unfortunate 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 narrow space, in which were united so many heart-rending afflictions, +so many cruel distresses, a fury so insensate, a courage so heroic, the +most pleasing and generous sentiments of nature and humanity. + +The man and his wife, who just before 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 fervently, 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 +attack, when we were forced to be constantly 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," recollected that there was, in fact, in the Department of the Upper +Alps, a place of devotion so called,[23] 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, "preserve 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," 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 happiness. 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 place 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 worthy 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 defence and the protection of the +colony. 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 heroes 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-established in our present code, is +compatible with the true object of all good legislation, that of correcting +while punishing, of striking only as far as is necessary to prevent and +preserve; in short, of producing 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 protection of society, +to the hands of those whom society has itself rejected from its bosom; that +it implies a contradiction to require courage, generosity, and that +devotedness which commands a noble heart to sacrifice itself for its +country and fellow creatures, from wretches branded, degraded 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 sentiment in the hearts of +beings of this description. + +Thinking that order was restored, we had returned to our post at the center +of the raft, only we took the precaution to retain our arms. It was nearly +midnight: after an hours apparent tranquillity, 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 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; several 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 soon rescued the workman from the danger which threatened +him. A few moments after, the mutineers, in another charge, seized on the +sub-lieutenant Lozach, whom they took, in their delirium, for Lieutenant +Danglas, 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 garrison 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, informed us that it was still possible to save him. +Immediately Messrs. Clairet, Savigny, l'Heureux, Lavillette, Coudin, +Correard, and some workmen, having formed themselves into little parties, +fell upon the insurgents with so much impetuosity that they overthrew 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 frigate, 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 unceasingly demanded his head, and +it was only by force of arms, that we succeeded in repressing their rage, +and in silencing their frightful cries. + +On this occasion we had also reason to be alarmed for the safety of Mr. +Coudin. Wounded 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 arms a sailor boy, of twelve years +of age, to whom he had attached himself. The mutineers 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 extreme 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 unimpaired 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 determination 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 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 plantations, 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 resolution to struggle against them, +their death was certain. Some became furious; others threw themselves into +the sea, taking leave 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, +"_between 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 saw ships, and called them to +their assistance, or a harbour, in the back ground of which there was a +magnificent city. + +Mr. 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 we 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 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 companions if, during their sleep, they had seen combats and +heard cries of despair. Some of them replied that they had been continually +disturbed by the same visions, and that they were exhausted with fatigue: +all thought themselves deceived by the illusions of a frightful dream. + +When we recal to our minds those terrible scenes, they present themselves +to our imagination like those frightful dreams which sometimes make a +profound impression 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 accompanied by a delirium: a thousand objects appear before +the imagination of the patient: when restored to health, he sometimes +recollects the visions that have tormented him during the fever which +consumed him, and exalted his imagination. We were really seized with a +fever on the brain, the consequence of a mental exaltation carried to the +extreme. As soon as daylight beamed upon us, we were much more calm: +darkness brought with it a renewal of the disorder in our weakened +intellects. 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 number had, in +their delirium, thrown themselves into the sea: we found that between sixty +and sixty-five men had perished during the night; we calculated that, at +least, a fourth part had drowned themselves in despair. We had lost only +two on our side, neither of whom was an officer. The deepest despondency +was painted on every face; every one, now that he was come to himself, was +sensible of his situation; some of us, 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.[24] 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 continually 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 remained some hours at that dangerous post. After much +trouble they had succeeded in saving these two casks; which being every +moment violently driven against their legs had bruised them severely. Being +unable to hold out any longer, they made some representations 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 towards the coast. Whether it +were an illusion or reality we thought we saw it, and that we distinguished +the burning air of the Zaara Desert. It is, in fact, very probable that we +were not very distant from it, for we had had winds from the sea which had +blown violently. In the sequel we 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 +unhappy 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, we beseech you, do not +feel indignation towards 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 +described, 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 firmness 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 excrements, 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 see the boats or some 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 +approaching dissolution. The evening passed over, and no assistance came. +The darkness 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 +dreams added to the horrors of our situation. 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 standing, 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 companions +extended lifeless on the rail. 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 who, the day before, had clasped +his trembling hands, vowing him an eternal friendship. This day was fine; +our minds, longing for more agreeable sensations, were harmonized 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 number 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;[25] 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, +during the day, which was very fine; a steel, 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 which we +wetted, and on this kind of scaffolding we made our fire: we placed it on a +barrel that the seawater 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 rendered less disgusting; it was this which the officers touched, +for the first time. From this day we continued to use it; but we could not +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, and Negroes, who had remained neuter in the first +mutiny, and some of whom had even ranged themselves on our side,[26] 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 promised, that when they were once on shore, they would enable +them to traverse Africa without danger. The desire of saving themselves, or +perhaps the wish to seize on the money and valuables, which had been put +into a bag, hung to the mast,[27] had inflamed the imagination of these +unfortunate wretches. We were obliged to take our arms again; but 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 +Spaniard, 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 +Italian 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 himself into the sea. The mutineers rushed forward 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 tumult cries, with which we were familiar, were +renewed, and we heard the imprecations 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 exposed; 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 success 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. + +In this horrible night, Lavillette gave further proofs of the rarest +intrepidity. It was to him, and to some of those who have escaped the +consequences of our misfortunes, that we are indebted for our safety. At +length, after unheard-of efforts, the mutineers were again repulsed, and +tranquillity restored. After we had escaped this new danger, we endeavoured +to take some moment'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 contusions 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 exhausted; 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; 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 employ +such means should be punished with death. This law was instantly put in +execution, and the two trespassers were thrown into the sea.[28] + +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, and the services he 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 people in general, bestowed upon +him all the care which they thought calculated to prolong 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. Coudin, 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 misfortune, who, in their turn, uttered cries of anguish, +which were every moment repeated. But their complaints were very seldom +accompanied by menaces; they pardoned every thing in the poor youth, who +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 retained some use of reason. + +We were now only twenty-seven remaining; 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 deliberated +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 +decision was made, who would dare to execute it? The habit of seeing death +ready to pounce upon us as his prey, the certainly of our infallible +destruction, without this fatal expedient, every thing in a word, had +hardened our hearts, and rendered them 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 moments 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 glorious 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 +shudder at the cry of outraged humanity, recollect at least, that it was +other men, fellow 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 considered 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, which +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. + +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 happily diverted our attention from the horrors +of our situation. All at once a white butterfly, of the species so common +in France, appeared fluttering over our heads, and settled on our sail. The +first idea which, as it were, inspired each of us made us consider 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 entrails; already some of the soldiers and sailors +devoured, with haggard eyes, this wretched prey, and seemed ready to +dispute 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 +towards the land, which 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 (_goeland_) 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, when 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 illusions 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 reposed: 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 resolved 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 +campaigns, and the distresses we endured upon our raft. The following is +what Lavillette the serjeant of artillery told us: "I have experienced, in +my various naval campaigns, 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 1813 and 1814, in Germany and France, I +shared all the fatigues which were alternately caused us by victory and +retreat, I was at the glorious days of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Leipzig, +Hanau, Montmirail, Champaubert, Montereau," &c. "Yes," continued he, "all +that I suffered in so many forced marches, and in the midst of the +privations which were 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 dreadful, I have to combat +Frenchmen and comrades. I have to contend, besides, with hunger and thirst, +with a tempestuous sea, full of dangerous monsters, and with the ardour of +a burning sun, which is not the least of our enemies. Covered with ancient +scars and fresh wounds, which I have no means of dressing, it is physically +impossible for me to save myself 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, who 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 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. Several 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 groan under the shameful yoke which +oppresses 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 disagreeable sensation, and made us utter plaintive +cries, so that each of us employed means to 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 sum 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 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 drinking +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; already emotions of rage were +rising in every heart, and if he had not partly yielded to those who +surrounded him, they would certainly 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 disputes were generally accompanied with violent +threats, and if they had been protracted we should, perhaps, have come to +the last extremities. + +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 believe was an essence of guiacum, +cinnamon, cloves, and other aromatic substances, produced 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, recurring to it at intervals; +we also moistened our hair with it, and held our hands plunged in the +water.[29] Misfortune rendered us ingenious, and every one thought of a +thousand means to alleviate his sufferings; extenuated by the most cruel +privations, the smallest agreeable sensation was to us a supreme happiness; +thus we eagerly sought a little empty phial, which one of us possessed, and +which had formerly contained essence of roses: as soon as we could get hold +of it we inhaled, with delight, the perfume which issued from it, and which +communicated to our senses the most soothing 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 distribution of wine, Messrs. +Clairet, Coudin, Charlot, and one or two of our sailors, conceived the +strange idea of destroying themselves, first intoxicating themselves with +what remained in our barrel. In vain Captain Dupont, seconded by Messrs. +Lavillette, 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 turning our attention to the new danger +which threatened us, at the moment when cruel discord 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 goodness 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 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 anguish; we despised life to such a +degree that many of us did not 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 little, +their burning thirst. A kind of polypus (mollusques),[30] known by seamen +under the name of _galere_, 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 Argus_," alluding +to the name of the vessel, which we presumed would be sent after us. This +consolatory idea did not quit us an instant, and we spoke of it frequently. + +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,[31] 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 upsetting; a +little mast and sail were fixed in the front; we intended to provide +ourselves with oars made of barrel staves, cut out with the only sabre we +had remaining: 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 assigned to us, and our departure fixed for the next +day, the 17th. 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 of +his body made it upset, and this accident proved to us the temerity of our +enterprise. It was then resolved that we should all await death in our +present situation; the cable winch 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 feel an +invincible disgust at the flesh which had till then, scarcely supported us; +and we may say that the sight of it inspired us with a sentiment of terror, +which was doubtless produced by the idea of approaching 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 distinguish 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 suspended between hope and fear; some +thought 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 ourselves, 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 resignation. At last, to calm our despair, we wished to seek +some consolation in the arms of sleep; the day before we had been consumed +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 the upper part of the mast, in the hope that it would reach +the government and our families. + +After we had passed two hours, absorbed in the most cruel reflections, the +master gunner of the frigate wishing to go to 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 scarcely 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. We 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 handkerchiefs, or pieces of linen to make +signals to the brig, which was approaching rapidly. Others prostrating +themselves, fervently thanked Providence for our miraculous preservation. +Our joy redoubled when we perceived a great white flag at the foremast +head, and we exclaimed "It is then to Frenchmen that we shall owe our +deliverance." We almost immediately recognised the brig to be the Argus: it +was then within two musket 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 manner, and took himself, those that +were the weakest, to convey them into the boat. After all the others were +placed in it, Mr. Lemaigre came and took in his arms Mr. Correard, 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 unfortunate men, almost naked; their bodies +and faces disfigured by the scorching beams of the sun; ten of the fifteen +were hardly able to 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 appearance 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 perceived us, they added +some excellent wine to it; thus they restored our almost exhausted +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; +however, some of us had a great deal to suffer; for they were placed +between decks, very near the kitchen, which augmented the almost +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 reduced the vessel to ashes; but +timely assistance was 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 himself 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 were eager to serve us, and kindly +anticipated our wants. They had just snatched us 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 resources of his art, with a +degree of attention and gentleness which merit our eternal gratitude. + +It was, in truth, time that our sufferings 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 unhappy adventures. + +Through how many terrible trials have we past! Where are the men who can +say that they have been more unfortunate than we have? + +The manner in which we were 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 provisions to the +people from the boats who were crossing the great desert of Zaara; the +captain, thinking that it would be useless to look for our raft any longer, +steered his course towards the harbour from which he had been dispatched, +in order to announce that his search had been fruitless; it was when he was +running towards Senegal that we perceived him. In the morning 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, announced a vessel: when +the brig was nearer to us, 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, however, the captain had not received any positive orders on the +subject; and that we were indebted to chance alone, for the good fortune of +having been met with. We repeat with pleasure the expression of Mr. +Parnajon, addressed to one of us. "If they were to give me the rank of +captain of a frigate, I should feel a less lively pleasure, than that which +I experienced when I met your raft." Some persons said to us without +reserve, "We thought you were all 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 they may +want; after having assured himself of the fate of these unfortunate +persons, he will endeavour to continue his course to the Medusa, to see +whether the currents have carried the raft towards her." This is all that +was said of our wretched machine. It is very certain, that, at the Island +of St. Louis, we were given up; our friends believed we had perished: this +is so true, that some, who were going to send letters to Europe, wrote that +one hundred and fifty unfortunate people had been placed on a raft, and +that it was impossible they should have escaped. It will not, perhaps, be +out of place, to mention here a conversation which took place respecting +us. In a pretty large company, some persons said: "It is a pity that the +raft was abandoned; for there were many brave fellows on board; but their +sufferings are over; they are happier than we, for who knows how all this +will end." In short, as we were now found, the frigate steered again for +Senegal, and the next day we saw the land, for which we had been longing +for thirteen days: we cast anchor in the evening off the coast, and in the +morning, the winds being favorable, we directed our course to the road of +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 hundred 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 unparalelled sufferings, to which we +were a prey for thirteen days, we beg leave to name those who shared them +with us: + +_Alive when we were saved._ _Notice of their subsequent fate_. +Messrs. +Dupont, Captain of Foot; In Senegal. +L'Heureux, Lieutenant; In Senegal. +Lozach, Sub-Lieutenant; Dead. +Clairet, Sub-Lieutenant; Dead. +Griffon du Bellay, Ex-Clerk of the Navy; Out of employment. +Coudin, _eleve de marine_; Midshipman. +Charlot, Serjeant Major (of Toulon); In Senegal. +Courtade, Master Gunner; Dead. +Lavillette. In France. +Coste, Sailor; In France. +Thomas, Pilot; In France. +Francois, Hospital Keeper; In the Indies. +Jean Charles, black Soldier; Dead. +Correard, Engineer Geographer; Without employment. +Savigny, Surgeon. Resigned. + +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 brilliant manner; the governor, several +officers, both English and French, came to meet us, and one of the officers +in this numerous train, 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 miraculously +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 reduced; all seemed truly affected by our distress, and by +the intrepidity which we had shewn on the raft. Yet we could not contain +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 +attention, and rendered every assistance in their power. Messrs. Valentin +and Lasalle stimulated 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 assistance to the shipwrecked people belonging to the raft. + +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 Medusa, 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, necessarily, 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 +in these critical moments, in the barge. Mr. Barbotin, _eleve_ of the +marine: and in the captain's barge, Mr. Rang,[32] also an _eleve_ of the +marine, as deserving of praise for his knowledge, as for the courage he +displayed 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 courage, 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 Argus brig was appointed for this mission. The commander of this +vessel, burning with eagerness to fly to the assistance 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 principal, 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 shallows, 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, and 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, following the sea-coast. This landing +was effected to the North of Cape Meric, eighty or ninety leagues from the +Isle of St. Louis.[B7] 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 motions 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 distrusted the +other: the long-boat did its utmost to rally them; but they employed all +the means they could to avoid the meeting; even the officers assisted in +working them, because some persons had asserted that the crew of the +long-boat had mutinied, and had even threatened to fire on the other +boats.[33] The long-boat, on the other hand, which had just landed a part +of its people, advanced to inform the other boats that it was able to +relieve them, in case 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 +contained. At two o'clock in the afternoon, of the 8th,[B8] 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 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 8th: the first, +at five in the afternoon; the second, at eleven in the morning.[B9] The +officers joined their crews, ranged them in order, and proceeded towards +Senegal; but they were in distress, destitute of resources 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 +excessive 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 infinite 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. + +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 beverage and domestic purposes; the +water of the Senegal, may, however, be used at St. Louis at the time of the +rise or inundation. + +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 +enchantment, 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 are not always ranged parallel to each +other, but frequently 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 myriads 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 incessantly 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 11th, the Argus brig, which was cruising to +assist those who had landed; as soon as the brig perceived them, it +approached very near to the coast, lay-to, and sent a boat on shore with +biscuit and wine. + +On the 11th, in the evening, they met with more of the natives, and an +Irish captain 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 privations, 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 frightful deserts, which on all sides presented to their eyes only +the most profound solitude, and the prospect of inevitable destruction. + +During their progress, they had to struggle with the most dreadful extremes +of hunger 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 after the most urgent supplications that they granted +a little water to their wretched companions, who were consumed by a raging +thirst. When they met with any Moors, they obtained some assistance from +them; but these barbarians carried their inhumanity so far as to refuse to +shew them the springs which are scattered along the shore: sordid avarice +made them act in this manner to these unhappy people; for when the latter +had passed a well, the Moors drew water from it, which they sold to them at +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 natives 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 assistance 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 +numbers united, which, inspiring them with fear, 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 +stipulated that a large reward shall be given to the Moors, who meet in the +desert with persons that have been shipwrecked, and bring them to the +European factory: these barbarians were therefore induced by their +interest, and if they brought back those who went astray, it was only in +hope of obtaining a reward. + +The women and young children inspired 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 +induced 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 numerous 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 solitary place to take some +moments rest. She fell asleep upon the beach; to guard herself from the +mosquitoes, 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 appearance, and not content with this, lifting 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 comrades +what he had just seen. Several Frenchmen 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, prevented +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 when 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 prepared 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 +absolutely impossible for them to shelter themselves 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 the first victims: happily they did +not proceed 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 comrades 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.[B10] + +The sixty-three who embarked near the Moles of Angel, had a longer series +of fatigue 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 for want: among this number was an +unhappy 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 conceived 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, Kummer, and Mr. Rogery, having separated from the +troops, were forced to wander from one horde to another, and were at last +conducted to Senegal. Their story, which we are now going to give, will +complete the narrative of the adventures of our shipwrecked companions who +traversed the desert. + +After the stranding of the long-boat, Mr. Kummer 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. Kummer. This latter walked +the whole day without meeting with any body; towards the evening 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 +assurance, pronouncing as well as he could, a few words in Arabic, in which +language he had taken some lessons while in France, and which he +accompanied with profound salutations: "Receive," said he, "in your tents, +the son of an unfortunate Mahometan woman, whom I am going to join in Upper +Egypt; 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 effects, which they supposed the persons +shipwrecked 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 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. Kummer 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 punctually 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 border 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 remarkably beautiful. While traversing, with +the chief, the various quarters of the camp, Mr. Kummer beheld with +surprise, their manner of cleaning their beasts. 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, particularly 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 afterwards 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 +penetrated to these people; and they put questions 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 +perfidy 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 +handkerchief, great-coat, shoes, waistcoat, and some other things which he +carried in his pockets: he had nothing left but a bad pair of pantaloons +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 conducting 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_, then to the _South West_. +After walking a considerable time longer, they arrived at the shore, where +they found but few things. What particularly 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 the _East_, and 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. Kummer was tormented by the women and +children, who came every moment to touch and feel the fineness of his skin, +and to take away some fragments of his shirt, and the few 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, +and his pretended quality of the son of a Christian and of a Mahometan +woman, which caused him to be upon very good terms with Prince Muhammed, +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 motions of which, much astonished the Moors; our traveller +was on his side equally surprised, 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 towards +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 resume their course to the _North_, +and that in the end they would take him to Morocco; then he endeavoured to +impart his uneasiness to Prince Muhammed, who at last comprehended 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 _Andar_, +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 European 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 language. + +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 (marigots). They are +bunches of little red berries, and very refreshing: the Moors are very fond +of them, and make great use of them.[34] + +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 was +dead; at this sight, a mortal chillness pervaded all the limbs of the +unfortunate 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 perceived that his friend still breathed; he took hold of +him, and embraced him eagerly. These two unfortunate men were transported +with mutual joy, at meeting in the midst of their distress, with a fellow +countryman. 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, continually pinched him, and hindered him from taking a +moment's sleep. His character 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 returned, 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 himself, had +gone to the sea-shore to have assistance given to such of the persons +shipwrecked, 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 bargain with the two whites: to conduct them +to the Isle of St. Louis; the Prince demanded for his trouble, including +the expences of provisions and travelling, 800 gourdes for each, and +obliged them before they set out, to sign an agreement in the Arabic +language: Mr. Kummer 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 agreement 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 circumstances which particularly struck +them. They observed, that the children 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 extreme; a refusal, or a delay, in the executions of their orders +irritates them, and their anger is so violent that in the first transport, +the unhappy slave who may have excited 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 submission. 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 distinct races, which have +nothing in common, except, the extremely brown, or tanned colour of their +skin, and the shining black of 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 number) whose cranium and profile form a +singular 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 always 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 condescended to +draw their portrait. Juvenal somewhere speaks of the withered hands of the +Moors: _manus ossea Mauri_. But, besides, 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 instructing 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 appeared to them very +numerous: they constitute 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 people, as we have +said, call themselves _Trasas_, and profess the Mahometan religion; 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;[A11] they make this leather into pocketbooks, +to which they give different forms, but in general, that of a _sabretache_. +They also dress goats skins, and join several together to give them more +breadth; they are known under the name of _peaux de maures_, are excellent, +and afford a complete defence against the rain: in form, they nearly +resemble 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 +extensive, is in salt, which they carry to Tombuctoo, 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 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, into +little etuis, perfumed bags, and pocketbooks, 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 projected +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 zagayes 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, ordered that they should be well-treated, and that Mr. Rogery +should not be molested, he being continually tormented by the children. 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 greatly 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 ordered 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 chief 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 1815, 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-Emperor, sometimes Buonaparte, and sometimes 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 Napoleon and +Buonaparte were two different persons. Mr. Kummer was also asked if his +father belonged to the army of Egypt; he said no, but that he was a +peaceable merchant, who had never borne arms. Mr. Kummer continued his +narrative, and astonished 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 Frenchmen, the King wished to shew them his +respect for the laws which govern his dominions; 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 +convincing 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 me to be arbitrator +between them; but the proposals which I made, though I thought them +reasonable, were not approved by them; so that after my proposals, 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 immediately. 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 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 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 continued, they +incessantly tormented him; and did not give him a fourth part of what was +necessary for his support, so that the unfortunate 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 +their way. + +The respectable Mr. Rogery, a man of rare probity, was disturbed by the +recollection of the agreement which he had made with Muhammed, in a moment +of difficulty, knowing very well that he could never fulfil 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 +zealous partisans of liberty, and of the abolition of the slave trade. + +On the 19th, in the morning, they arrived 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 mouth 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 cultivated; the fields are covered with plantations of cotton-trees, +with maize[35] and millet; 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). 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 +negress 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 defended me with courage; they then +carried desolation into our village, which a moment before enjoyed +tranquillity and happiness; on this sad day we saw whole families carried +off, and we were all conducted to that horrible market at St. Louis, where +the whites carry on the execrable trade of dealers in men; chance favored +me, and saved me from being sent to find death in America, amidst the +tempests which cover the ocean that separates it from Africa. I had the +good fortune to fall into the hands of the respectable General +Blanchot,[37] whose name and memory 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 my relations, and that, in +short, I could not habituate myself to your customs, he gave me my liberty, +and from that moment I have vowed eternal friendship to everything 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 continued 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 Mr. Kummer his watch. The French governor 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 suppose that they were +not acquainted with the value of the gourde, when they demanded 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 horrors 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 immediately take possession of our +establishments. But the English governor, Mr. Beurthonne, having learned +our shipwreck, either of his own authority, or having received orders to +that effect, from his government, refused to give up the colony. This +difficulty obliged the commander of the French expedition to take measures, +to wait for fresh orders from France. He was enjoined 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 settlements 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 inclined 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 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 Goree, to the French squadron, which should come +to take possession of them; but we think also, that he was desired to +evacuate them as late as possible, in case the English merchants or +government 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. + +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 were 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 extremely +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; because, 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 conjectures, we will conclude with one +remark: namely, them on this occasion the English 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 +colonies at the peace of 1802 and that of 1814; and it will be seen that +the British Government, without giving itself much trouble to assign +reasons, has adopted and faithfully followed the principle, of not +willingly giving up what it possessed.[38] + +The shipwreck of the Medusa favoured the designs of the governor; for, what +sensation could be produced by the arrival of an expedition, of which the +principal vessel no longer existed, and the three others appeared 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 reception for some days, should +have required their troops to be sent away from the colony: and what were +these troops? wretches almost 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 assembled at St. Louis, as we have +already said, the governor, two days before his departure for Cape Verd, +thought of sending a vessel on board the Medusa, to look for a sum of +100,000 francs,[39] which was intended 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 +unfortunate 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 left!" "Pooh," answered somebody, "seventeen! +there are not three left." "And if there 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 consternation, 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 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 pardonable. 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 belonging 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 persons inspired her with a degree of horror, +which she could not suppress. "It was really impossible for me," said she, +"to endure the presence of these men, without feeling a sentiment of +indignation." + +What then was our crime in the eyes of Miss Schmalz? Doubtless that of +knowing too well the persons really guilty of our misfortunes. Yes, on this +account, whenever Miss Schmalz saw us, which was extremely seldom, our +presence must have been a thunder-bolt to her. She could say to herself, +"these men have in their hands the fate of my father. If they speak, if +they utter complaints which they suppress here, if they are listened to, +(and how should they not be listened to in a country, where a charter, the +noble present of our august Monarch, causes justice 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 degradation, and the oblivion which generally +await the unhappy family of a great criminal." + +It is certain that, if we had listened to 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 oppressed! 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 we have inflicted_." + +The little vessel chosen to go to the frigate, was a schooner, commanded by +a lieutenant of the navy; the crew was composed of some black-drivers, and +some passengers. 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 entirely destroyed, and she +was obliged to return to port after having been a fortnight at sea, without +having been able to accomplish her purpose. She was then furnished with new +sails, which cost about ten days labour. As soon as she was ready, they +sailed for the third time, and reached the Medusa, fifty-two days, after +she had been abandoned. + +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, however, were +ready to place at his disposal, every thing in their power. Mr. Durecur was +the merchant favored. This house carries 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 house, Mr. Schmalz, his family and a numerous +suite. The general opinion was that, Mr. Durecur had got by his acts of +generosity, a decent profit of a hundred per cent; he was, besides, +recompenced, on the application of the governor, by that decoration, which +it seems, ought to be conferred for some brilliant action,[40] 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 +certainly, 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 unhappy fate. + +As soon as the boats and the raft had left the frigate, these 17 men +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 provision 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, they have been the victims of their rashness. That such was the +result of their fatal attempt, was proved by the remains of their raft, +which were found on the coast of the desert of Zaara, by some Moors, +subjects of King Zaide, who came to Andar to give the information. These +unhappy men were doubtless the prey of the sea-monsters 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 imagination 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 forcibly him who has had already to +struggle with adversity! 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 himself 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 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 knifes. 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.[41] + +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 succours to the three men of whom we have +just spoken, they proceeded to get out of the frigate, every thing that +could be removed; they cut a large hole in her, (_on la saborda_,) and were +thus able to save wine, flour, and many other things. Mr. Correa had the +simplicity to think that the shipwrecked people were going to recover a +part, at least, of their effects, since a vessel, belonging to the king, +had reached the frigate. 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_, but that they were a +_good prize_; we could not understand this answer, but it was repeated to +us, and we learnt for the first time that we were at war with Frenchmen, +because 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 +themselves 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 +respectable sign, which represents a nation, cannot belong to that nation. +Well! this sign was employed in domestic uses.[42] Vases which belonged to +the captain of the frigate himself, were also saved, and were transferred +from his side-board to the table of the Governor, where Mr. de Chaumareys +recognized 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 +pantaloons, some in large grey great coats; others had shirts, waistcoats, +_police-bonnets_, &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 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 St. 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 +appears 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 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 +secretary and the paymaster. Yet neither of them was called in to be +present at these operations, though they lasted some days. However, 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 +soldiers, 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 Frenchman in the hospital at St. +Louis, till he should be entirely recovered. We are entirely ignorant of +the reasons which induced this Governor to employ such severe measures +towards about twenty unhappy persons, among whom three officers had been +part of the crew of the fatal raft. He however, 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 raft, and Mr. Savigny, were received at +Senegal by Mr. Lasalle, a French Merchant, who, on all occasions, bestowed +on them the most generous care, which spared them the new sufferings, to +which their companions in misfortune 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 evening of their arrival, the Governor, +accompanied by the captain of the frigate, and by a numerous suite, came to +pay them a visit: the air of compassion, with which he addressed 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 strangers, 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 were left behind, that he had given orders +that they should want for nothing during his absence. All 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 complaints. In vain +they represented to the English physician that the ordinary ration of a +common soldier, which had been hitherto given them, was wholly unfit for +them, first, because their health required, if it was indeed wished to +recover them, better nourishment 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 answered 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 Governor, 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 garrison 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 excess 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, 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.[43] Forty days had passed, since the compassionate English had +come to the relief of these four companions in misfortune, 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 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 melancholy situation which we have just described, 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 uneasy +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 speaking, when Major Peddy hastily went away, returned to +his apartment, and immediately got ready linen, clothes and money, and +while he was thus employed, this genuine philanthropist shed tears at the +fate of the unhappy man, whom he did not know, cursing those who had +cruelly abandoned 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 departing for the interior of Africa, +you have carried with you the regret and the gratitude of a heart, on which +your noble beneficence is indelibly engraven. + +While this unexpected relief was preparing 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 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: 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 curiosity: 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 pension which +enabled him to subsist.[44] If I were in France," he continued, "my +relations, my countrymen, would mitigate my sufferings; but here, under a +burning climate, where every thing is strange to me, surrounded by these +Africans, who are hardened by the habitual sight of the horrors produced by +the slave trade, nothing relieves me; on the contrary, the length of the +nights, the continuance of my sufferings, the sight of those of my +companions in misfortune, the disgusting filth by which I am surrounded, +the inattention of a soldier who acts as nurse, and is always drunk or +negligent, the insupportable hardness of a wretched bed, scarcely sheltered +from the inclemency of the air, all announce to me an inevitable death. I +must resign myself to it, and await it with courage! I was less to be +pitied on the raft; then my imagination was exalted, and I scarcely enjoyed +my 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 into the grave.[45]" + +While he was wholly absorbed in this distressing soliloquy, he saw two +young officers enter the room, followed by three or four slaves, carrying +various effects. These two officers approached, with an air of kindness, +the mournful and motionless Correard, "Accept," said they, "these trifling +presents, 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 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 pestilential camp at +Deccard, where a mortal distemper 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 fulfilling, with so much politeness and +kindness, 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 unfortunate man, who was not less affected, and, shed +them in abundance, penetrated with 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 assistance 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.[46] Offers so nobly +made, could not but be accepted by Mr. Correard, who expressed to his +benefactor, 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 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 received 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 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 remains 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," 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 infallibly awaited me, as because this funeral signal +announced to me the moment of eternal separation from the companion of my +sufferings: from the friend, whom our common misfortunes had given me, when +I passed with him the most dreadful moments of my life. At this sound I +wrapped myself in my sheet, and crawled to the balcony of my window, to bid +him 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 produced, but when I now +reflect upon it 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 emotion, the sacrifice which I supposed I +had made of my life, permitted me to contemplate and to follow in detail +the sad spectacle on which my almost extinguished eyes eagerly dwelt. I +distinguished a crowd of slaves who had obtained permission from their +masters to be present at the ceremony. A body of English soldiers 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 two English, were placed at the +angles, 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 music was 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 conducted to his last repose, this other victim of the +fatal raft, snatched in the flower of his age, from his friends and his +country, by the most fatal death, and whose fine qualities and courage +rendered him worthy 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 be had performed at +Talavera de la Reina, Sierra Morena, Saragossa, Montmiraill, Champaubert, +and Montereau; he was present, 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 dreadful maladies, which are so frequently accompanied +by death. Let us now turn to the unhappy persons assembled in the camp at +Daccard, not far from the village of that name, situated on the Peninsula +of Cape Verd. + +The French Governor, as we have already observed, being unable to enter +into the possession 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-roasted vessel belonging to Messrs. +Potin and Durecur, took on board the remains of the crew of the Medusa, +that is, the men who had landed near Portendick, and some persons from the +raft: those whose 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, consisting of a company of colonial soldiers. The command of the +camp was confided to Mr. de Fonsain, 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.[47] + +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 account of the difficulties that had +been raised by the English Governor. The _Echo_ corvette was chosen for +this purpose, which sailed on the 29th of July, in the evening. She had on +board fifty-five of those who 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. + +A camp was formed there to receive them near a village inhabited by +negroes, and called Daccard, as has been stated above. The natives of the +country appeared to be pleased at seeing the French found an establishment +on their coast. A few days after, the soldiers and sailors having had some +misunderstanding, the latter were removed, and distributed between the +Loire and the Argus. + +The men who formed this camp were soon attacked with the diseases of the +country. 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 contributed 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 some mismanagement, the hospitals were nearly +destitute.[A12] It was in these distressing circumstances that Mr. de +Chaumareys 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 +November, the French Governor, was authorized, by Mr. Macarty, Governor +General of the English settlements, to inhabit, on the former coast of the +French possessions, the place which should suit him the best. Mr. Schmalz +chose St. Louis.[48] + +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 acquainted, 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 respects to the governor, when he came, in consequence of the +permission of Mr. Macarty 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 +misfortunes are terminated, and henceforward you will want for nothing. I +will send 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 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 bottles; 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, be +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 and Captain Campbell, who were about to depart on their great +expedition to the interior 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 have +reason to congratulate yourself on it. I know mankind, and without +pretending exactly to guess how your Minister of the Marine will act +towards you, I, nevertheless, think myself justified 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 to him, that might remind him of his want of +ability;[49] therefore, believe me, my friend; instead of taking the road +to Paris, take that to London; there you will find a number of +philanthropits, who will assist you, and I can assure you that +henceforward, you will want for nothing. Your misfortunes have been so very +great that there is no Englishman who will not feel a pleasure in assisting +you. Here, 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 I 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 +generosity of the excellent man to whom he already 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 go to London, which the Major had just given +him, had in it something that distressed him; he had not heard it without +recollecting that he was a Frenchman, and some secret suggestions of +self-love and national pride, told him that a Frenchman 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, for the noble and delicate manner in which he had sought +him out, and relieved him in his misfortune. + +"As for the pecuniary assistance which you still offer me," continued he, +"I accept it with great pleasure, because benefits conferred by you, can +only do honour to him who receives them, and because I hope, one day, to +repay this debt with interest, to your countrymen, if I can meet with any +who have need of my assistance. As for your other proposal, Major, allow me +not to be of your opinion, and to have a little more confidence in the +generosity of my government, as well as in that of my countrymen. If I +acted 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 lost my claims to your esteem? Believe me, Major, France +can also boast of a great number of men, whose patriotism and humanity may +rival those which are so frequently found in Great Britain. Like you we are +formed to the sentiments, to the duties which compose the true love of our +country and of liberty. In returning to France, I firmly believe that I +return into the bosom of a great family. But if, contrary to my +expectation, 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, Major, should I be obliged to seek, elsewhere, a +happier fate and a new country: there is no doubt but that I should chuse +that of my generous benefactors in preference 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, +bidding him farewell for ever; it seemed that this worthy man forsesaw his +approaching end. + +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, who was the second in command, 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 interpreter; 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 hundred animals. +All the equipages were embarked 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 climate; he was attacked by a cruel disease, which terminated his +existence a few days after his departure from the island of St. Louis. Such +men ought to be imperishable[50]. + +The English physicians finding that the health of Mr. Correard far from +improving, 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 departure; 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 morning, 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 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 dispatched a large boat to fetch the passengers 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, "_There'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 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 presence of the sailors, he reproached in the bitterest +manner, those who had abandoned him, and even said offensive things to +them. These sallies, the consequence of his exasperation, caused him to be +looked upon as out of his mind, and nobody troubled 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 of their art, shewed him the +greatest regard and mitigated his misfortunes by kind consolations. Mr. +Savigny saw every day his companion in misfortune, and he often repeated, +"I am 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, +respecting 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 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 +adventures; his intention was to deliver his narrative to the Minister of +the Marine. When he arrived in France, in the month of September, some +persons advised him to go to Paris, where, said they, "_Your misfortunes +will procure you the favor of the Ministry_," and it was considered as an +absolute certainty, that some recompense would make him forget the +considerable 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, carrying 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 was his astonishment to +see the day after, the _Journal des Debats_ of the 13th of September, an +extract from his narrative, copied almost literally: he then endeavoured to +discover whence the editors could have obtained 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 content 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, and by him sent to Paris. Mr. +Savigny had acted in this manner, because his intention, at that time, was +to go to his family, without passing through the capital. 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. If he had had the +smallest idea of all the disagreeable consequences arising from the +publicity 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 innocent of the publication of our +misfortunes, which affected all France, and excited a lively interest in +the fate of the victims. But for Mr. 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 +he, who had given his narrative to the editor of the _Journal des Debats_: +this was to obtain 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. Savigny, that I have the details of the +shipwreck of the Medusa inserted in the journal of the 13th of September, +1816." + +(Signed)--The Editor of the _Journal des Debats_. + +This certificate was put into the hands of M. ---- and by him presented to +his excellency, 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 +follows. + +"I certify, that it is not from Mr. Savigny, 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 contained in the Journal of the 13th of +September, 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. Correard to be signed, who, after perusing it, +refused, because he found it contrary to the 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 earnestly 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, exhausted by a long +sickness, and whose recovery 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 +persons, that it had been _made loose_. Besides 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 particular 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.[51] Mr. Correard's perseverance in withholding his +signature, triumphed over injustice, and his return to Europe was no longer +retarded. But the same manoeuvres had more success in another quarter, and +Messrs. Dupont, Lheureux, Charlot, Jean Charles, and Touche-Lavilette could +not escape the snare which was laid for them. They were labouring under +that terrible fever 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 excellency; 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 induced 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 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.[53] + +Thus supported by authorities, the value of which any body can now +appreciate, this tardy and inexact report was 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 (54) (55) (56). + +Provided with these three certificates, Mr. Savigny solicited permission to +go to Paris, in order to be able to let his excellency see, that they were +seeking to deceive him. Two months passed without information. Mean time, +Mr. Correard departed for the capital, taking a letter from his comrade, +for a person in the office, to whom it was delivered, and who did not give +a decisive answer to what was asked of him. At length, Mr. Savigny received +a letter from Paris, in which he was informed, "That not only he would not +receive the permission 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 +disgusted by all that he had just experienced, gave in his resignation, +after having served 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 honored by the regret of the superiors +under whom he has been employed, as may be judged by the copy of the [57] +certificate, which they gave him when he resigned his situation. 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 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 increased, and +on the third, the fever seized him. He was then three leagues from +Poitiers, 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 unfortunate 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 his illustrious name, and +the unfeeling manner in which he had answered to his requests. Exhausted as +he was, 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, calculated to excite interest; for a few minutes before he +entered the town-hall, he fainted, but the most charitable assistance was +bestowed on him by a respectable lady, and he soon recovered from this +swoon. One of the clerks soon gave him 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 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 unhappy 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 directed 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.[58] + +After he had thus discharged the duty which was imposed on him by their +beneficence, he made all the necessary applications to the office of the +Marine to obtain an employment in the capital. He was answered that it was +impossible, advising him to make an application for a situation in the +colonies, particularly Cayenne. Three months passed in useless +solicitations to obtain this employment, as well as the decoration of the +legion of honour, which he had been led to hope for. + +During this time he neglected nothing 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. Excited 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 influence 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 +natural 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 him among this less favored number, or whether it be the effect of +some other unknown 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 to recompence 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 Goffin, 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_,[59] 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 +petition; but he has not been able to discover where, or how it has been +lost on the way without reaching its destination. In the inquiries which he +made at the office of the Prince's Secretary, he met with a young man +eighteen or 20 twenty years of age, who already wore the same mark of merit +which Mr. Correard desired, and who only expressed an astonishment which +was more than disobliging, 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 observed to this very young man, that he who appeared so +difficult about the claims of 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 d'Angouleme, from +whom, as High-Admiral of France, these friends thought that Mr. Correard +might expect an intervention more likely to promote the success 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 Royal +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 misfortunes. It seems that amidst these disasters you have +behaved well." After having run over the memorial, the Prince was pleased +to add: "Thus it is that the King should be served; I will recommend 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 Highness transmitted it to +the navy-office, but there is every reason to suppose that it will remain +buried there amidst the mass of papers; 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 unhappy are lost; in fact, a man of great experience, to +whom Mr. Correard communicated this mischance, told him, that, in such an +affair, he would rather have the protection 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 was made to understand that +all his applications 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 affirmative, +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 opportunity 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 answered that the minister 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, 18l6, by which His Excellency made +to the explorers, numerous concessions (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 under the +orders of that governor, and that they should undertake nothing without his +approbation. + +The impartial public will judge if, after 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 counsellor of State, Baron de Portal, +had the intention to obtain for him, the decoration of the Legion of Honor, +and that, for this purpose, he had had a memorial drawn up in his favour: +but the minister had written in the margin, _"I cannot lay this request +before the King."_ 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 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 inutility of making fresh applications, gave +up for the present all farther solicitation for what he had so well +deserved by his courage 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 opportunity to serve him[60]. + +A minister, when he is really so disposed, easily finds means to employ an +unfortunate man who asks but little. + +Such are the vexations which we have experienced since our return to +France: now returned to the class of citizens, though reduced to +inactivity, after having exhausted our resources in the service, disgusted, +forgotten, 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. + +These details will be a happy digression from the sad accounts of our +misfortunes, 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 service, 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 Maringouins; 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 leagues, 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 +sterility 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 unobserved: this +part of the sea, known by the name of the Gulph of Arguin, is especially +remarkable for the immense quantity of fish which visit it, at different +seasons, or which continually frequent these shores. This gulph, 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 breaking 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 Canaries, 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 seldom employ more than a month. The +fishermen of Marseilles and Bayonne might attempt this fishery. In short, +whatever advantage may be sought to be derived from this gulph, so rich in +fish, it may be considered as the African Bank of Newfoundland, which may +one day contribute to supply the settlements of Senegambia, if the +Europeans 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 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 resemblance to the famous Syrtes in their own neighbourhood, +which mariners took so much care to avoid. + + _Exercitas aut petit Syrtes Noto._ + +Some division of territory, or of pasturage 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, surrounded 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 +quarrelling with the other Moors, who frequent Cape Blanco. This Cape +Merick seems preferrable for commerce, 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 at present the smallest appearance of +vegetation. + +The Estuary of the river, St. John, at the back of this Cape, is now +entirely destitute 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 nature, invites +European cultivation, and offers the fairest prospect of success for the +colonial productions. + +The soil is in general good, and all colonists 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. + +These countries are very thickly peopled, and are in general mild and +hospitable. Their villages are so numerous, 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 Goree; 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 settlements +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 assured) that in consequence of the abolition 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.[A14] + +The town of St. Louis, the seat of the general government, is situated in +longitude 18 deg. 48' 15" and in latitude 16 deg. 4' 10". It is built on a little +island formed by the river 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 +impregnable; but in its present state, it can hardly be considered as any +thing more than an open town, which four hundred resolute 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 surrender at the first +summons. However, many have hitherto considered it as impregnable, +believing that it was impossible to make a landing on the coast of Barbary. +but as we are convinced of the contrary, because the English already +executed this manoeuvre at the last capture of this place, we venture to +call the attention of the government to the situation of St. Louis, which +would certainly become impregnable if some new works were erected on +different points. + +This town has, in other respects, nothing very interesting in it, only the +streets are strait, and pretty broad, the houses tolerably well built and +airy. The soil is a burning sand, which produces but few vegetables: there +are only eight or ten little gardens, containing 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 +suppose, 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 +extraordinary manner. Five or six _palatuviers_, and 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 mortars; 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 inhabitants of the island are both +Catholics 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 Mahometanism, 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 Catholic religion, if it tolerated +polygamy, a habit 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; and its 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 170 +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 quantities 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 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 necessary 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 intrepid mariners. + +The western arm of the river is separated from the sea by a point called +the _Point of Barbary_. 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 covers 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 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 surrounded by a great number of huts of +the blacks, which form a pretty extensive village: these buts tend to hold +the sand together, and to prevent its sinking. The inhabitants of this +village are very superstitious, as the following anecdote will prove. + +In the course of the month of September, Messrs. Kummer 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 proceeded 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_)[61] which are found along the sea-coast. Mr. Correard +stopped a moment, and remarked that, when he had wounded one of these +animals with his cane, the others devoured it instantly. While he was +looking at these crabs feeding on the turtle, Mr. Kummer went on towards +the south, and visited 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 +prohibit all approach to them in the strictest manner. Mr. Kummer, whom his +companion 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 immediately to pass the river, by throwing themselves into a boat; +they had soon reason to congratulate themselves on having done so, for they +perceived several men who had collected at the cries of the black, and, if +they had not taken flight, it is probable that their innocent curiosity +would have cost them their lives. + +The left bank of the river, which is called Grande Terre, is covered with +perpetual 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 extensive 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 indigo grow there naturally, the ground is in some parts +low and damp, which gives reason 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, mangoes, +_palatuviers_, a great quantity of gum trees, or mimosas, and magnificent +Baobabs[62]. + +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 for a dwelling, +the construction of which costs no further trouble than cutting an opening +in the side to serve as a door, 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 organisation, but having the form of an enormous 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 rollers +with a sky-blue plumage, _senegallis_, of a crimson colour, soui-mangas +shining with gold and azure; if, advancing under the vault we find flowers +of dazzling whiteness 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 Baobab. 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 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 of 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 capsules, 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 substance. + +After the Isle of Sor, towards the South is that of Babague, separated from +the former 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 inhuman traffic in slaves, to become +peaceable planters. Many have already made plantations of cotton, which +they call lougans. Mr. Artique, a merchant, has hitherto been the most +successful. His little plantation brought him in 2400 fr. in 1814, which +has excited in many inhabitants of St. Louis a desire to cultivate pieces +of land there. After 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 precisely 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. Picard, offers the same advantages. Its +soil is fertile as that of the islands of which we have just spoken. No +drinkable water is 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 +habitations 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 adventure, +which happened to Mr. Correard, will shew to what a degree they love the +French. + +In the course of the month of September, 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. Dupin, supercargo of a vessel from +Bordeaux, who was then at Senegal, and Mr. Yonne brother of Mr. Valentin, +were of the party. Their intention was to prolong the pleasures of the +chace, for several days; in consequence, 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 village 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.[63] 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 birds. Curiosity induced him to measure the +prodigious tree, on which they were perched, and he found that its +circumference 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 obtaining from him some powder, ball, +or tobacco. While he was loading his piece, he fixed his eyes upon an old +man, whose respectable look announced a good disposition; his beard and +hair were white, and his stature colossal; he called himself Sambadurand. +When he saw Mr. Correard looking at him attentively, he advanced towards +him, and asked him if he was an Englishman? 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?"--Yes.--It is true that you Frenchmen are not +like the white men of other nations 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 Durand in vivacity and stature; you must be as +good as he was; are you his relation?--No, good old man, I am not his +relation; but I have often 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 good, +particularly the French whom we love very much.--"Well," answered Mr. +Correard, "I 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 conceived +plans which, if they had been executed, would, perhaps, have been the glory +of my country, and the happiness of yours; but here, take my powder and +ball, if that can do you pleasure."--Ah! good Frenchman, I would willingly +take them, for I know that you have as much as you please in your own +country;[64] but at this moment it would deprive you of the pleasure of the +chace.--No, take it all.--Take my advice Toubabe: let us divide it, that +will be better. In fact, they divided. The black invited Mr. Correard to +enter his hut to refresh 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 continue 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 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 centimetres in length. These gentlemen were astonished to see this +child holding such a terrible 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 answered 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 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.[65] + +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.[A15] + +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 position renders it of the greatest importance: it is +situated in longitude 19 deg. 5', and in latitude 14 deg. 40' 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 activity 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 circumference is not above 2000 metres. It is only a very +high rock, the access to the coasts, of which is very difficult. The +numerous rocks, which surround it on all sides, 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'Estrees, 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 condition; 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 facilities 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 reflection of the sun's rays, which fall perpendicularly on +the Basalt rocks which surround it. If we add to this the stagnation of the +air, the circulation of which is interrupted by the houses, being very +closely built, a considerable population, which continually fills the +streets, and is beyond all proportion with the extent of the town, it will +be readily conceived that all these reasons, 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 judgment 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 interesting, and would serve as a _depot_, to accustom to the +climate, such Europeans, as might wish to settle either in the projected +colonies, or on those which might be founded, 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 or eight square leagues; its population is very numerous, and by no +means in proportion 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 admirable; all seems to +concur to render it impregnable, 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 advantages offered by the environs of +Rufisque, which are so well known, that we may dispense 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 Gambia; 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 excellent works of Messrs. Durand and +Geoffroy de Villeneuve, who have examined them like enlightened observers, +and perfectly 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 +enforce 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 Western Colonies, nobody will be +able longer to dissemble the inutility 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 incontestable data, the +consequences of which must be one day admitted. And first, 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, reasonably persons now acknowledge, that even were the final +success of such an enterprise possible, its real result would be, to have +expended, 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 +Guadaloupe 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 +agricultural 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 +hitherto concurred to prolong its infancy. There are not sufficient hands: +and how 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 +consequences, which should induce every enlightened government speedily to +change its whole colonial system. It would 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 interest 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 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 hesitate 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 colonies 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 to offer +some views, on the prudent and temperate 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 +advantages which the colonist must naturally have in view. + +Though the abolition of the slave trade has been proclaimed, yet the +present slaves must be led 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 negroes should be prepared for their new condition as well by +instruction as by the successive 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 labour, 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 advantageous 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 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 encouraged 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 their passions. 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 permission 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 physical 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 +incontrovertibly be applicable to the new establishments. It would +certainly be presumable, that on account 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 citizenship, ought +to participate, without any distinction of colour. It would especially be +highly important, that the regulations for the government of the slaves, +should be founded on mildness and humanity, that prudent and enlightened +persons should superintend 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 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 society presents only disorder and anarchy, then people +renounce obscure virtue, and laborious acquisition to follow the easy ways +of corruption; then enlightened men, for whom public esteem is a sterile +recommendation, the true servants of the king, the faithful friends of +their country, are forced to disappear, to withdraw from employments, 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 beforehand, and rather sooner +than later, in order to repair in Africa the past losses and disasters, +which irremediable events have caused in the Western Colonies, and to +substitute for their riches their prosperity, the progressive decline of +which is henceforward inevitable, new elements of wealth and prosperity: +the means will be to carry into these countries, so long desolated by our +relentless avarice, knowledge, cultivation, and industry. 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 interest for the sacrifices she may +have made in the new world. But to effect this, let there be no more secret +enterprises; no more connivance at fraudulent traffic, no more unhappy +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, dragged to the altars of the shameful, and insatiable 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 positively +asserting that France maintains in her African possessions, the system of +the slave trade in the same manner as she did before she consented to its +abolition. + +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 happiness, 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 +enterprise; 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_ + + +[Transcriber's Note: These notes are put in the text with the +numbering Axx or Bxx] + +The following Notes were communicated to the Authors, when the second +edition was already so far advanced, as to render it impracticable to +incorporate them with the body of the work, and they are therefore placed +at the end. Some of them are extracted from 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, referring to the pages to which they belong. Those of Mr. +Bredif, are signed (B) the others (A). + + + + +NOTES. + + +[A1] I.--_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 still, to pass between the 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 authorise vessels, bound to the Cape of Good +Hope, or to the south of America, to touch at the Canaries, or at the Cape +Verd Islands. Notwithstanding the depth of the channels between the first +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) + +[A2] II.--_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 expressed 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 +approached 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) + +[A3] III.--_On the Islands of Madeira and Teneriffe_. + +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 vineyards 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 environs of the town of Saint Croix, +scarcely any thing is seen, on the greater part of these dry and burnt +lands, but low 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, appears 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) + +[A4] IV.--_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 on the north side of Cape Meric. The inlet, which +was perceived during 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) + +[A5] V.--_On the reconnaissance of Cape Blanco_. + +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 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 deference or +persuasion it was 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) + +[A6] VI.--_On the Refusal to answer the Signals of the Echo_. + +It would probably have been of no use to inform Mr. de Chaumarey's of the +signals of the Echo. The commander of the Medusa, the chief of the +division, had declared already in the roads of the island of Aix, his +intention to abandon his vessels, and to proceed alone in all haste to the +Senegal. Though he spoke of strictly following 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 sailing 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 the bank. The two other vessels which had remained long +behind and were much more at liberty, passed more than thirty leagues to +the west of it, and thus proved that it was the safest and shortest rout. +(A) + +[A7] VII.--_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, all 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 _Panios_ or +millets. (A) + +[B1] VIII.--_Moment of the Stranding of the Frigate_. + +The officers wanted to tack about, as the water became shallower every +moment: but Mr. Richefort,(who enjoyed 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 afterwards a shock informed us that we 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 confess that I was not satisfied with myself, at this +first moment, I could not help trembling, but afterwards, my courage did +not any more forsake me. (B) + +[B2] IX.--_Confusion on Board the Frigate_. + +The frigate having stranded, the same thing happened, which usually does +happen in critical circumstances, no decisive measures were taken: to +increase our misfortunes the obedience of the crew to the officers was +diminished 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 boats and the raft, in order that +they might hold themselves ready to embark when it should be time. I was +set down for the long boat. 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 confusion prevailed, the sailors already +attempted to plunder the trunks. (B) + +[B3] X.--_The Frigate lost_. + +On the fourth the weather being fine, and the wind favourable 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 morning the +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) + +[B4] XI.--_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. + +The people embarked in disorder, every body was in a hurry, I 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 difficulty that I 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, I had contented 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 fortunate for me +in the sequel. This comrade had embarked on board one of the boats, (B) + +[A8] XII.--_On Mr. Espiau_. + +The name of this officer cannot be mentioned, in this memoir, without +acknowledging the services which he performed on this occasion. To him we +owe the lives of several 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 conduct.(A) + +[B5] XIII.--_Embarkation of the Men who remained on Board the Frigate_. + +I 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 convinced 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 gally 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 +persons; we were obliged to throw into the sea our little parcels, the only +things we had left. We did not dare 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 perishing with thirst in the +sequel.(B) + +[A9] XIV.--_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 the +Zaara, 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 +resolved 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 Meric, which appears like the continuation of a high hill coming from +the interior, but suddenly rising at its approach 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) + +[B6] XV.--_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 movements, +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 displayed 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 on the raft would fall upon +us, and cause us all to perish. "I know it, my friends," said he, "but I +will not approach so near as to incur any danger; if the other vessels do +not follow me, I will think only on your preservation, I cannot do +impossibilities." In fact, seeing that he was not seconded, he resumed 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_ _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) + +[A10] XVI.--_On the sudden Gale experienced 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 +morning, 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 _galeres_ or +_physalides_, (physalis pelasgica) which arranged, for the most part, in +straight lines, and in two or three files, cut 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 symetrical 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, agitated 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 their march; their disposition, in respect to the force +which impelled them, and which they strove to resist; the apparent +stiffness of the sail seemed equally admirable and surprising. 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 almost 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 +perceived some large pelicans, gently rocking themselves on the bosom of +the waves. (A) + +[B7] XVII.--_Landing of the Sixty-three Men of the Long-Boat_. + +The sea was within two fingers breadth of the gunnale of the boat: the +slightest 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 I preferred drowning to being made a +slave, and conducted to Morocco 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. + +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 immediately. 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 Portendic. I took care not to imitate them. I +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) + +[B8] XVIII.--_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 perceived behind us four of +our boats. Mr. Espiau, notwithstanding 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 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 a +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 +condition 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, I 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, without +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 I took off my pantaloons I felt my +purse, which contained the four hundred francs; a moment after I had lost +it; this was the completion of all my misfortunes. What a happy thought was +it to have divided my eight hundred francs with Mr. de Chasteluz 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 remembrance 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; I 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 +crust of salt, instead of a little of that water which I had seen in my +dream. The moment was dreadful, and my 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, increased 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) + +[B9] 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; every one came and drank what was +given him. I held my list under the tin cap, to catch the drops which fell, +and moisten my lips with them. Some persons attempted to drink sea water; I +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 strand more +speedily upon the coast, every body reached the shore, the boat filled with +water and was abandoned. + +This example, fatal to us, gave our sailors an inclination to do the same. +Mr. Espiau 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 Chasteluz could not swim: he fastened a rope round +his middle, of which I 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 soon 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. I 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; I fell into a violent +passion, and expressed 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 I +found my coat and pantaloons again, a little further off upon the sand. (B) + +[B10] XX.--_March in the Desert and Arrival 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 collected round this water, which everyone +devoured with his eyes. Fire 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 our 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 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 five 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. Unhappily 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 consequently had a spite against me and threatened me more than once. + +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_!" I 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, I thought that we should trust entirely to men who +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 considerable number of Moors. Many persons in our caravan cried +out, that they were going 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 destruction, 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 fatigue 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. Nothing gave me +more pain than to hear at the expiration of a quarter of an hour "_up, +march_." + +I was once so overcome that I heard nothing, I remained 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 I should doubtless have slept several +hours. If I 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 I could not have borne. To avoid this misfortune I begged +one of my friends to watch over me, and to waken me at every stage, which +be did. + +On the 10th of July towards six o'clock in the morning, 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 ourselves 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 halfway 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 least distrust. + +Their women brought us milk which they sold horribly dear; the rapacity of +these Moors is astonishing, they insisted on having a share of the milk, +which they had sold us. + +Mean time we saw a sail advancing towards us: we made all kinds of signals +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 himself into the sea, carrying a note which +painted our distress. The boat took the Moor on board and returned with 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 coast 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 I +had seen expose themselves with so much composure 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. I should have been sorry to die without +having learned that they were preserved. + +When the three barrels were thrown into the sea we 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 last we saw, clearly, that they +approached 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 day, 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 Maringouins_; +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 +midnight. + +We had scarcely reached this spot, when we saw an Englishman coming towards +us with three or four Marabous, or priests; they had camels with them; they +were doubtless 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 companions 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 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 11th 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 perpendicularly 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 I put my +head in the shade; the rest of my body was roasted. The wind overturned, +twenty times, my slight scaffolding. + +Meantime, this 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 march, 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 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 mosquitoes, 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 walk over 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 preferred returning to the beach, and walking on +the sand, which the sea-water rendered firm. This last effort was almost +beyond my strength, I 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 coming 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 morning. We had no shelter during the whole day, except some +trees, which were of a kind unknown to me, 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 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 +all, in the name of the English Governor, that two other boats loaded with +provisions, were coming. Having to wait till they arrived, I could not +remain with Mr. Picard's family. I know not what emotion arose in my soul +when I saw the fine white bread cut, and the wine poured out, which would +have given me so much pleasure. At four o'clock we also were able 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. I shall always remember the +kind hospitality 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 me linen, light clothes, in short, whatever I wanted. I had +nothing left. Honour to 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 shipwrecked people to +take care of. Some of us had feather beds, others good mattrasses laid upon +mats, which they found very comfortable. I slept ill notwithstanding, I was +too much fatigued, too much agitated: I always fancied, myself either +bandied about by the waves, or treading on the burning sands.(B) + +[A11] XXI.--_On the Manufactures of the Moors_. + +The Moors tan skins with the dried pods of the Gummiferous Accia: thus +prepared, they are impenetrable to the rain, and it may be affirmed that, +for their suppleness, as well as for the brilliancy and finesss of their +grain, they might become a valuable fur in Europe, either 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, +ingeniously 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 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 +necklaces 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 employs. + +The Moors, like the Mahometan negroes, are for the most part, provided with +a larger or smaller number of _gris-gris_, a kind of talisman consisting in +words, or verses copied from the Coran, 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, twisted in the some manner about their arms, +resembling, except the cross, those of the Moors, and by the great number +of Amulets, (_gris-gris_ of another kind) which 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 ignorance, and derive +their authority from superstition. + +[A12] XXII.--_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 environs +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 cholic, 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 did not end in +death, the fever was often succeeded by dysentery, 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, endeavouring to calm the symptoms, +to strengthen the patient by bitters, and at the last, he administered the +bark.[A13] + +The Negroes who, like all other people, have a materia medica, and +pharmacopeia of their own, and who at this season, are subject to the same +disorders as the Europeans, have recourse at the very beginning, to a more +heroic remedy, and such of our soldiers 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 terminated 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 purgative. 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 +palma christi, and of cassia, (_casse puante_.) 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. + +[A13] It is to be observed that the author, in these two passages, uses the +word _Kina_ or Peruvian bark--T. + +[A14] XXIII.--_On the Isle of St. Louis_. + +St. Louis is a bank of scorching sand, without drinkable 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 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 governor, 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 contented +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, indeed, 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, 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. + +[A15] XXIV.--_On the Islands of Goree 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 terminates, towards the south, in a low beach which it +commands, 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 can. +At the extremity of this beach is a battery of two or three guns; on the +beach of the landing-place, is an epaulement, with embrasures which +commands it. The town stands on this sand bank, and a little fort, built on +the ridge of the rock, commands and defends it. In its present state, Goree +could not resist a ship of the line. Its road, which is only an anchoring +place in the 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 sea, to the neighbouring +continent, where they would 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 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 humanity will applaud. + +The point which seems most proper for an agricultural 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 Baobabs, 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 Guia-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 waterfowl, among which, are distinguished by their large size, +die 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. + +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 junction, 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, and towards the north-east, there are two +hills of unequal height, which serve as a guide to mariners; and which, +from the substances collected 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 opposite 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 have 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 +appearance of walls of Trapp, but already, in a great degree, changed into +tuf, is arid and covered with briars. The 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 manuring the +land, with the dung of their cattle, that the Negroes raise pretty good +crops of sorgho. The population of this peninsula may be estimated at ten +thousand souls. It is entirely of the Yoloffe race, and shews much +attachment to all the ceremonies of Islamism. The Marabous 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 republic governed by a +senate, which is composed of the chiefs of most of the villages. They have +taken from 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. +Mouim Bott. +Bayemour Kaye. +Modiann Ketdym. +Mamcthiar Symbodioun. +Ghameu Wockam. +Diogheul, chief of the village of Gorr. +Baindonlz Yoff. +Mofall Ben. +Schenegall Bambara. + +This tribe was formerly subject to a Negro King in the 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, sobriety, 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 people, and particularly those who have +travelled much, blindness and opthalamia; and among the adult, affections +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 conversation. 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. +"_Africa dances all the night_," is an expression which has become +proverbial 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 numbers. 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 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, instead of cork, with pieces of the +light wood of the _Asclepias_.--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 Rubannee_, the Scarlet Hoemanthus, +the Gloriosa 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. + +[1] The _Medusa_ was armed en flute, having only 14 guns on board; +it was equipped at Rochefort with the _Loire_. + +[2] Equipped at Brent. + +[3] Came from L'Orient. + +[4] The town of Chassiron is on the point of Oleron, opposite a +bank of rocks called _Les Antiochats_. + +[5] The light house of La Baleine is placed at the other end of +the Pertuis d'Antioche, on the coast of the Isle of Rhe. + +[6] _Les Roches Bonnes _are 8 or 9 leagues from the Isle of Rhe, +their position is not exactly determined on the charts. + +[7] Three knots make a marine league of 5556 meters. + +[8] 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. + +[9] The life buoy, is made of cask staves hooped together, 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 heaving the, vessel to, is +performed. + +[10] We do not know why the government makes its vessels take this +route; when one can proceed directly 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 that it is +impossible not to recognise them, with facility. They have also the +advantage of being placed in the course of the monsoons; though however, +west winds sometimes blow for several days together. 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 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 lost; by night all these reefs +are very dangerous, by day they are recognised by the breakers on them. + +[11] This route was not recommended by the instructions, but there +was on board an old sea officer, who announced himself as a pilot in these +seas; his advice was unfortunately attended to. + +[12] A description of the reef of Arguin may be found in the +_Little Sea Torch_. + +[13] 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. + +[14] 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 Medusa would be still in +existence. + +[15] 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. + +[16] The bottom was besides soft; being sand mixed with grey mud, +and shells, 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. + +[17] This plan was shewn to several persons; we ourselves saw it +in the hands of the governor, who sketched it, leaning on the great +capstern. + +[18] 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. + +[19] Why was it opposed? + +[20] The numbers above mentioned make only three hundred and +eighty-three, so that there is an error somewhere. T. + +[21] _Trois quarts_: it is not said of what measure; probably a +pint.--T. + +[22] The original is _n'ayant pas le pie marin_, not having a +sailors foot. + +[23] 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. + +[24] 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; we, however, kept the little cask as well as one of the +wine barrels, which was empty. These two casks were afterwards of use to +us. + +[25] These fish are very small; the largest is not equal to a +small herring. + +[26] 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. + +[27] 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 commander of +the raft and a captain of infantry divided it. + +[28] One of these soldiers was the same Piedmontese serjeant of +whom we have spoken above; he put his comrades forward, and kept himself +concealed in case their plot should fail. + +[29] 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; this measure was not employed on the fatal +raft. + +[30] Perhaps a kind of sea-nettle is here meant. + +[31] What is called a fish, is a long piece of wood concave on one +side, serving to be applied to the side of a mast, to strengthen it when in +danger of breaking, it is fastened by strong ropes; hence, to fish a mast. + +[32] The conduct of this young man merits some recompense. At the +end of 1816, there was a promotion of 80 midshipmen, who were to be taken +from the _eleves_ 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_) applied to the +ministry, and were preferred. + +[33] 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;"_ 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. + +[34] 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, besides 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 _prasium_, 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. + +[35] 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 dourha 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 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 mahogony, (_mahogon_) 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. Domingo, it is considered as a species +of _acajou_,[36] and they give it that name. The yellow _mahogoni_, of +India, furnishes the satin wood. There is also the _mahogoni febrifuge_, +the bark of which supplies the place of the Peruvian bark. Lamarque has +observed that the _mahogon_ of Senegal has only eight stamina; the other +kinds have ten. + +[36] Acajou is, we believe, generally used for mahogany.--T. + +[37] 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 expences 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 Blanchot,"_ &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 communication 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 +inhabitants, without distinction of colour, or of rank, should have only a +quarter of a ration of bread, and two ounces of rice 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 his aides-de-camp, +said: "go and tell the store-keeper, that I put him provisionally under +arrest, for having exceeded my orders; and you, gentlemen, know that I am +incapable of infringing on the means of subsistance 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 +example prevented every body from murmuring, and the colony was saved. +While they were suffering the severest 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 supplies. 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? + +[38] Every body knows the popular proverb, which very well +expresses our idea: "_That which is worth taking, is worth keeping_." + +[39] 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 +supposition? 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 certain 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 none who, at the same time, sell their lives; and +those whom people would accuse of something more than extreme incapacity, +have sufficiently proved in dangers which threatened themselves, that they +well knew how to provide for their own safety. + +[40] Probably the cross of the legion of honor--T. + +[41] 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 abandoned, 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 distresses, and were saved +in 1776 by Mr. de Trommelin, commanding the Dauphine corvette. + +The Favorite, commanded by Captain Moreau, fell in 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 presence of danger may +derange the senses, and that then people may desert their companions on +board a vessel; but not to go to their assistance, when the danger is +surmounted, not to hasten to fly to their relief, this is inconceivable. + +[42] Persons whom we could name, divided the great flag, and cut +it up into table-cloths, napkins, &c. we mention with the distinction which +they deserve, Sophia, a negress belonging to the governor, and Margaret, a +white servant. + +[43] They dined almost every day with the English officers; 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. + +[44] The affair of the coal-mine of Beaujon, as a journalist 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 accident, 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 nature, to which we are subject, in +every situation, had not to defend his soul against all the odious and +terrible impressions 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 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! Goffin was honored and, with justice; the men shipwrecked on the +raft, once proscribed, seem to be forever forsaken. Whence is 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? + +[45] Three men saved from the raft, died in a very short time; +those who crossed the desert, being too weak to go to Daccard, were in +considerable numbers in this same hospital, and perished there +successively. + +[46] 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 disasters, had inspired him with the greatest +veneration for our countrymen, who had, on more than one occasion, shewn +themselves generous towards him. + +[47] 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 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 and which, doubtless, +indicates the head of a statesman, in which superior interests, and the +thought of the public 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 unhappy 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 his great +application to business, 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; we 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 +apothecary 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. + +[48] 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 settlements on the coast of Africa. + +[49] 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 embarrassment 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 Chaumareys, 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 Vienne, 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 Cheffontaine 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 of deputies: when a member, +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 +pretentions of vain pride, while experienced officers were overlooked, or +disdainfully repulsed, condemned to figure on the lists of the half-pay, of +the _reforms_, and even before the time, which would have called them to a +necessary, or at least legal repose. How burdensome to the State, are these +_retraites_ 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 take 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 commands, have not been able to shew anything but their 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. + +[50] 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 to discharge the sacred debt of gratitude! + +Among the losses which this expedition has experienced, it is feared that +we must reckon that of our excellent companion, the Naturalist Kummer; +nevertheless, as no positive information of his death has yet been received +of his fate, his numerous friends, in the midst of their fears, still +cherish some hopes: May they not be disappointed. + +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 details. We learn from geographers, 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. 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 undergone the most horrible probations. The +association exercises 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. + +[51] This remark on the conduct of one of our companions whom we +had known, under more favourable circumstances, had cost us some pain in +the first edition: therefore, 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 weakness, 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 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; I confess, that, though my reclamations 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 companion +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.[52] Such are the reasons which I alledged to you at Rochefort, and +you must then have perceived, that I spoke to you with frankness, since I +concealed nothing from you. I am not at present without repentance, for not +having waited 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. + +[52] The same means were employed with Mr. Correard. + +[53] 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 excellency the minister of the marine and the colonies, to +examine 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 +occasioned temporary fits of delirium; that consequently, this weakening of +my moral faculties, and even the state of mental derangement, in which I +was caused to sign this piece without reading it: it appears, that it +tended, in part, to blame the conduct of Mr. Savigny on the raft, and for +which I 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; I declare, that my signature at the bottom of this +memorial, having been surreptitiously obtained, is null and void; in +testimony 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. + +[54] I, the undersigned, appointed to command the raft of the +Medusa frigate, certify, that Mr. Savigny, the surgeon, who embarked in the +said raft, has given on all occasions, 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) COUDIN. + +[55] I, 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. + +[56] I, 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 conduct 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 pat my +name to it. + +(Signed) CORREARD + +[57] The Board of Health certifies, that Mr. Jean Baptiste Henry +Savigny, has been employed in the character of surgeon, from the 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. + +[58] _To His Excellency the British Ambassador, at the Court of +France._ + +My Lord, + +A Frenchman who, after a shipwreck without parallel, 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 +individuals 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 +continue 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 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, Lieutenant Hommera, Adjutant-Major +Grey, Ensigns Beurthonne and Adams. + +May Your Excellency receive with kindness, the sincere expression of +gratitude to the English nation, of a French private citizen who has been +ruined by this dreadful 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 persons, has so well chosen, to finish an immense +enterprise, co-operators, whose distinguished talents and social virtues, +must ensure success, which promises such great advantages to the universe. + +Relying on Your Excellency's generosity, Mr. Correard begs you to be +pleased to transmit to him some information 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. + +[59] The flute _La Caravane_, commanded by Mr. Le Normand 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 Midshipman, and +Paulin Boatswain, have received the cross of the Legion of Honor for their +conduct on this occasion.--Vide the _Moniteur_ of January 22. + +[60] 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. I have examined the Memorials, as well as the letters which +you have written on the same subject to my predecessors. If an +opportunity should occur, in which I can serve you, I will readily embrace +it. + +Receive, Sir, the assurance of my perfect consideration. + +The Minister Secretary of State of the Marine and Colonies. + +COUNT MOLE. + +[61] 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. + +[62] The Baobab or Adansoia of botanists, is placed in the class +Monadelphia polyandria, in the family of malvaceous plants, and has but one +species. The first of these trees seen by Adanson, were twenty-seven feet +in diameter, 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 diameter, must have taken 3750 years to acquire these +dimensions, 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 Adanson, 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! + +[63] 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. + +[64] The blacks think that all the whites are very rich in their +own country. + +[65] 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 _Mamelles_ 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. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in +1816, by J. B. Henry Savigny and Alexander Correard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOYAGE TO SENEGAL IN 1816 *** + +***** This file should be named 11772.txt or 11772.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/7/7/11772/ + +Produced by Robert Connal, Piotr Przemyslaw Karwasz and PG Distributed +Proofreaders. 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