Chapter I: Preface

The expeditions in which it is attempted to explore unknown and distant oceans, are usually those which are most pregnant with adventure and disaster. But land has its perils as well as sea; and the wanderer, thrown into the unknown interior of the Continents of Africa and America, through regions of burning sand and trackless forest, occupied only by rude and merciless barbarians, encounters no less dreadful forms of danger and suffering. Several such examples are presented in the present volume, which exhibit peril, captivity, and 'hair-breadth escape,' in some of their striking and tragical results.

The catastrophe of the Medusa is already known to the public, as one of the most awful and appalling that ever befel any class of human beings. The Shipwreck, and the dreadful scenes on the Raft, have been recorded in the Narrative of Messrs Savigny and Correard. But the adventures of the party who were cast ashore, and forced to find their way through the African Desert, could be reported only imperfectly by those gentlemen who were not eye-witnesses. This want is supplied in the first part of the present volume, which contains the Narrative by Mad. Dard, then Mademoiselle Picard, one of the suffering party, and for the translation of which, the Editor is much indebted to Mr Maxwell.

There is in it so much feeling and good sense, mixed with an amiable and girlish simplicity, as to render it particularly engaging. There is also something peculiarly gratifying to an Englishman in the reflection, that such disaster could not have befallen almost any British crew. It was evidently nothing but the utter and thorough selfishness which actuated the leaders and most of those on board both of the ship and the raft, which rendered the affair at all very serious. A wise plan formed and acted upon, with a view to the general good, would have enabled them, without difficulty, to save the crew, the cargo, and perhaps the vessel. The narrative of the shipwreck and journey is also combined with the adventures of an interesting Family, related in such a manner as to give them a strong hold in our sympathy.

The Second Part of the Volume has an affinity to that which has now been mentioned. The western coast of Africa, lying along a great maritime and commercial route, and being heavily encumbered by rocks and shoals, has been the theatre of frequent shipwrecks; and Europeans, when cast ashore, have always experienced the most dreadful fate from the inhuman and bigotted natives. Several relations of this nature have been lately published, but under somewhat of a romantic and dubious aspect. That of Brisson, here inserted, appears the most authentic, and at the same time to present the most interesting and varied train of vicissitudes; and although it is already not unknown to the English reader, its republication, we presume, will not be altogether unacceptable.

The Third Relation carries them into quite a different quarter of the world--to the shores of the mighty River of the Amazons in South America, and to the boundless forests and deserts by which it is bordered. We shall not anticipate the narrative of what befel Madame Godin in her voyage down this river; but it will not probably be denied to present as extraordinary a series of perils, adventures, and escapes, as are anywhere to be found on record. It is drawn from the account of the Mission of M. de la Condamine, sent, in 1743, by the French Government, along with M. Bouguer and other Academicians, to measure an arc of the meridian, under the latitude of Quito, and thus ascertain the figure of the earth. This forms a well known and respectable source; but the Mission being directed almost exclusively to scientific objects, the narrative may not perhaps have often met the eye of the general reader.

_Edinburgh, August 1827._

CONTENTS.

PAGE

I. THE SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA xiii

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE xvii

AUTHOR'S PREFACE xix

CHAPTER I.

M. Picard makes his first Voyage to Africa, leaving at Paris his Wife and two young Daughters--Death of Madame Picard--The Children taken home to the House of their Grandfather--Return of M. Picard after Nine years Absence--He marries again, and Departs a short while after, with all his Family, for Senegal--Description of the Journey between Paris and Rochefort 19

CHAPTER II.

Departure from Rochefort--The Picard Family Embark in the Medusa Frigate--Account of the Voyage till they reach the Arguin Bank 28

CHAPTER III.

The Medusa Frigate runs aground on the Arguin Bank--Description of the Shipwreck--A Raft is constructed--They swear not to abandon those who wish to go upon it 35

CHAPTER IV.

The Helm of the Medusa is broken by the Waves--It is determined to abandon the Wreck of the Frigate--The Military are put upon the Raft--The greater part of the Officers go into the Boats--The Picard Family are abandoned upon the Medusa--Proceedings of M. Picard to get his Family into a Boat 42

CHAPTER V.

Departure of the Boats--They seem desirous of towing the Raft--Generous Conduct of a Naval Officer--The Abandonment of the Raft--Despair of the Wretches who are left to the fury of the Waves--Reproaches of M. Picard to the Authors of the Abandoning the Raft--Description of the Small Fleet which the Boats formed--Frightful Fate, and Deplorable End of the greater part of the Individuals on the Raft 48

CHAPTER VI.

The Chiefs of the Expedition order the Boats to take the Route for Senegal--Objections of some Generous Officers--The Shores of the Desert of Sahara are discovered--The Sailors of the Pinnace are desirous of Landing--The Boat in which the Picard Family is leaks much--Unheard-of Sufferings--Terrible Situation of the Family--Frightful Tempest--Despair of the Passengers 58

CHAPTER VII.

After the Frightful Tempest, the Boat, in which are the Picard Family, is still desirous of taking the Route to Senegal--Cruel Alternative to which the Passengers are Driven--It is at last decided to Gain the Coast--Description of the Landing--The Transports of the shipwrecked 65

CHAPTER VIII.

The shipwrecked Party form themselves into a Caravan to go by Land to Senegal--They find Water in the Desert--Some People of the Caravan propose to Abandon the Picard Family--Generous Conduct of an Old Officer of Infantry--Discovery of an Oasis of Wild Purslain--First Repast of the Caravan in the Desert--They Fall in with a Small Camp of Arabs--M. Picard purchases Two Kids--The Moors offer their Services to them--Arrival at last at the Great Camp of the Moors--M. Picard is recognised by an Arab--Generous Proceeding of that Arab--Sudden Departure of the Caravan--They hire Asses 71

CHAPTER IX.

The Caravan regains the Shore--A Sail is discovered--It brings Assistance to the Caravan--Great Generosity of an Englishman--Continuation of their Journey--Extraordinary Heat--They Kill a Bullock--Repast of the Caravan--At last they discover the River Senegal--Joy of the Unfortunate--M. Picard receives Assistance from some Old Friends at Senegal--Hospitality of the Inhabitants of the Island of St Louis towards every Person of the Caravan 83

CHAPTER X.

The English refuse to cede the Colony of Senegal to the French--The whole of the French Expedition are obliged to go and encamp on the Peninsula of Cape Verd--The Picard Family obtain leave of the English Governor to remain at Senegal--Poverty of that Family--Assistance which they receive--Enterprise of M. Picard--Restoration of the Colony to the French--Description of Senegal and its Environs 98

CHAPTER XI.

The Sickness and Death of Madame Picard break in upon the Happiness of the Family--M. Picard turns his Views to Commerce--Bad Success of his Enterprise--The Distracted Affairs of the Colony disgust Him--The Cultivation of the Island of Safal--Several Merchants protest against M. Picard applying himself to Commerce--Departure of the Expedition to the Island of Galam--M. Picard is deprived of his Employment as Attorney--His eldest Daughter goes to live in the Island of Safal with two of her Brothers 112

CHAPTER XII.

Miss Picard lives in the Island of Safal--Her Manner of living--Sufferings she endured--She gathers Flowers which contain a deleterious Poison--Her two Brothers fall Sick--They are conveyed to Senegal--Miss Picard, overcome with Melancholy, also falls Sick--State in which she is found--A Negro boils for her an old Vulture--Return of Miss Picard to Senegal--Her Convalescence--Her Return to the Island of Safal--M. Picard goes there to Live with all his Family--Description of the Furniture of the African Cottage--Country Life--Comfort of their Fireside--Walks of the Family--Little Pleasures which they enjoy 120

CHAPTER XIII.

Fresh Misfortunes--Desertion of the Working Negroes--Return of M. Schmaltz to Senegal--Hope Destroyed--Governor Schmaltz refuses all kind of Assistance to the Picard Family--Tigers Devour the Household Dog--Terror of Miss Picard--Bad Harvest--Cruel Prospect of the Family--Increase of Misfortunes--Some generous Persons offer Assistance to M. Picard 131

CHAPTER XIV.

The Picard Family, tormented by the Musquitoes, the Serpents, and Tigers, determine to remove their Cottage to the Banks of the River--The Poultry is discovered by the wild Beasts--Miserable Existence of that Family--Humiliations which it suffered--Their Cottage is overturned by a Tempest--The labouring Negroes form a Scheme to desert 140

CHAPTER XV.

The Colony of Senegal at War with the Moors--The Picard Family obliged to abandon the Island of Safal--They go to find a Home at St Louis--M. Picard hires an Apartment for his Family and returns to Safal with the eldest of his Sons--The whole unfortunate Family fall sick--Return of M. Picard to Senegal--Death of young Laura--He wishes to return to his Island--The Children oppose it--He falls dangerously ill--The worthy People of the Colony are indignant at the Governor for the State of Misery in which he has left the Picard Family 150

CHAPTER XVI.

M. Dard, whom contrary Winds had detained ten Days in the Port of St. Louis, comes on Shore to see M. Picard--Agony of M. Picard--His last Words--His Death--Despair of his Children--M. Thomas kindly takes charge of Picard's Family--The eldest of the Ladies goes and mourns over the Grave of her Father--Her Resignation--M. Dard disembarks, and adopts the Wrecks of the Picard Family--M. Dard marries Miss Picard, and at last returns to France 159