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.
| 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 youngDaughters—Death of Madame Picard—The Childrentaken home to the House of theirGrandfather—Return of M. Picard after Nine yearsAbsence—He marries again, and Departs a shortwhile after, with all his Family, forSenegal—Description of the Journey between Parisand Rochefort | [19] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Departure from Rochefort—The Picard Family Embarkin the Medusa Frigate—Account of the Voyage tillthey reach the Arguin Bank | [28] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| The Medusa Frigate runs aground on the ArguinBank—Description of the Shipwreck—A Raft isconstructed—They swear not to abandon those whowish to go upon it | [35] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| The Helm of the Medusa is broken by the Waves—Itis determined to abandon the Wreck of theFrigate—The Military are put upon the Raft—Thegreater part of the Officers go into theBoats—The Picard Family are abandoned upon theMedusa—Proceedings of M. Picard to get his Familyinto a Boat | [42] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Departure of the Boats—They seem desirous oftowing the Raft—Generous Conduct of a NavalOfficer—The Abandonment of the Raft—Despair ofthe Wretches who are left to the fury of theWaves—Reproaches of M. Picard to the Authors ofthe Abandoning the Raft—Description of the SmallFleet which the Boats formed—Frightful Fate, andDeplorable End of the greater part of theIndividuals on the Raft | [48] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| The Chiefs of the Expedition order the Boats totake the Route for Senegal—Objections of someGenerous Officers—The Shores of the Desert ofSahara are discovered—The Sailors of the Pinnaceare desirous of Landing—The Boat in which thePicard Family is leaks much—Unheard-ofSufferings—Terrible Situation of theFamily—Frightful Tempest—Despair of thePassengers | [58] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| After the Frightful Tempest, the Boat, in whichare the Picard Family, is still desirous of takingthe Route to Senegal—Cruel Alternative to whichthe Passengers are Driven—It is at last decidedto Gain the Coast—Description of the Landing—TheTransports of the shipwrecked | [65] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| The shipwrecked Party form themselves into aCaravan to go by Land to Senegal—They find Waterin the Desert—Some People of the Caravan proposeto Abandon the Picard Family—Generous Conduct ofan Old Officer of Infantry—Discovery of an Oasisof Wild Purslain—First Repast of the Caravan inthe Desert—They Fall in with a Small Camp ofArabs—M. Picard purchases Two Kids—The Moorsoffer their Services to them—Arrival at last atthe Great Camp of the Moors—M. Picard isrecognised by an Arab—Generous Proceeding of thatArab—Sudden Departure of the Caravan—They hireAsses | [71] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| The Caravan regains the Shore—A Sail isdiscovered—It brings Assistance to theCaravan—Great Generosity of anEnglishman—Continuation of theirJourney—Extraordinary Heat—They Kill aBullock—Repast of the Caravan—At last theydiscover the River Senegal—Joy of theUnfortunate—M. Picard receives Assistance fromsome Old Friends at Senegal—Hospitality of theInhabitants of the Island of St Louis towardsevery Person of the Caravan | [83] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| The English refuse to cede the Colony of Senegalto the French—The whole of the French Expeditionare obliged to go and encamp on the Peninsula ofCape Verd—The Picard Family obtain leave of theEnglish Governor to remain at Senegal—Poverty ofthat Family—Assistance which theyreceive—Enterprise of M. Picard—Restoration ofthe Colony to the French—Description of Senegaland its Environs | [98] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| The Sickness and Death of Madame Picard break inupon the Happiness of the Family—M. Picard turnshis Views to Commerce—Bad Success of hisEnterprise—The Distracted Affairs of the Colonydisgust Him—The Cultivation of the Island ofSafal—Several Merchants protest against M. Picardapplying himself to Commerce—Departure of theExpedition to the Island of Galam—M. Picard isdeprived of his Employment as Attorney—His eldestDaughter goes to live in the Island of Safal withtwo of her Brothers | [112] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| Miss Picard lives in the Island of Safal—HerManner of living—Sufferings she endured—Shegathers Flowers which contain a deleteriousPoison—Her two Brothers fall Sick—They areconveyed to Senegal—Miss Picard, overcome withMelancholy, also falls Sick—State in which she isfound—A Negro boils for her an oldVulture—Return of Miss Picard to Senegal—HerConvalescence—Her Return to the Island ofSafal—M. Picard goes there to Live with all hisFamily—Description of the Furniture of theAfrican Cottage—Country Life—Comfort of theirFireside—Walks of the Family—Little Pleasureswhich they enjoy | [120] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| Fresh Misfortunes—Desertion of the WorkingNegroes—Return of M. Schmaltz to Senegal—HopeDestroyed—Governor Schmaltz refuses all kind ofAssistance to the Picard Family—Tigers Devour theHousehold Dog—Terror of Miss Picard—BadHarvest—Cruel Prospect of the Family—Increase ofMisfortunes—Some generous Persons offerAssistance to M. Picard | [131] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| The Picard Family, tormented by the Musquitoes,the Serpents, and Tigers, determine to removetheir Cottage to the Banks of the River—ThePoultry is discovered by the wildBeasts—Miserable Existence of thatFamily—Humiliations which it suffered—TheirCottage is overturned by a Tempest—The labouringNegroes form a Scheme to desert | [140] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| The Colony of Senegal at War with the Moors—ThePicard Family obliged to abandon the Island ofSafal—They go to find a Home at St Louis—M.Picard hires an Apartment for his Family andreturns to Safal with the eldest of his Sons—Thewhole unfortunate Family fall sick—Return of M.Picard to Senegal—Death of young Laura—He wishesto return to his Island—The Children opposeit—He falls dangerously ill—The worthy People ofthe Colony are indignant at the Governor for theState of Misery in which he has left the PicardFamily | [150] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| M. Dard, whom contrary Winds had detained ten Daysin the Port of St. Louis, comes on Shore to see M.Picard—Agony of M. Picard—His last Words—HisDeath—Despair of his Children—M. Thomas kindlytakes charge of Picard's Family—The eldest of theLadies goes and mourns over the Grave of herFather—Her Resignation—M. Dard disembarks, andadopts the Wrecks of the Picard Family—M. Dardmarries Miss Picard, and at last returns to France | [159] |
| APPENDIX. | |
| Substance abridged from MM. Corréard and Savigny,of what took place on the Raft during thirteendays before the Sufferers were taken up by theArgus Brig | [169] |
| Notes | [193] |
| ——— | |
II. NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY OFM. DE BRISSON IN THE DESERTS OF AFRICA | [199] |
| ——— | |
III. VOYAGE OF MAD. GODIN ALONGTHE RIVER OF THE AMAZONS | [307] |