CHAPTER XII.
Report of Mr. Dochard’s Arrival in Kaarta — My Departure for St. Joseph, and Meeting with Mr. D. — Return to Baquelle — Messenger sent to Sego — Arrival of Fleet from St. Louis — Mr. D.’s Return to the Coast, and my final Determination — Visit to St. Joseph — Conduct of Almamy Bondoo — Return from St. Joseph — State of Affairs at Baquelle — Departure from thence — Delay at St. Joseph — Assembly of Chiefs, &c. &c.
On the 30th of June I was informed by a Serrawolli merchant, who came direct from Dhyage, the capital of Kaarta, that Mr. Dochard had arrived at that place from Sego: but as I had found those people so little worthy of credit on most occasions, I doubted the correctness of his statement, particularly as he said he had seen Mr. Dochard, but brought no letter from him, although he was aware he should see me sooner than Mr. Dochard could himself. An opportunity offering, however, for my going to Fort St. Joseph, by a boat, on board which one of the French officers was proceeding to that place, I took advantage of it, in order to ascertain beyond a doubt whether Mr. Dochard had arrived, and if so to request Samba Congole to despatch a messenger without delay, to render him any assistance he might require.
I left Baquelle on the evening of the 6th of June, and arrived at Fort St. Joseph at seven the following evening, when I was agreeably surprised on finding that Mr. Dochard had reached there on the 4th, but in so bad a state of health from a violent and protracted attack of dysentery, that he could scarcely rise from the mat on which he was lying to give me his hand, and which I apprehended he could not long live to do. Although there was no occurrence, next to that of being able to prosecute my journey, which I sighed for more ardently or impatiently than the return of my friend and companion, I was but half gratified by finding him so ill. He was dreadfully emaciated, but in good spirits, and expressed a conviction that a little rest, and the satisfaction he felt at meeting us all in comparatively good health, would soon restore him.
My impatience to become acquainted with the result of his embassy was so great that he observed it, and immediately imparted to me the unpleasant intelligence that the only answer he could obtain was, “that until the war terminated Dha could not allow us to pass.” So that after waiting nearly two years for what this king’s messenger informed us would be granted the moment we arrived in the country, we were now told if we wished to await the issue of a war (and in which the Bambarras were by no means successful), we should obtain it. It now then remained for us to decide what steps we should take, under all the circumstances of our case, as most likely to afford prospects of success: but before coming to any determination, it was necessary to wait the arrival of the vessels from Senegal to obtain the supplies we so much wanted.
The first object, however, was to remove Mr. Dochard to Baquelle, for which purpose Lieutenant Dusault (although not ready to return himself) politely lent his boat.
On our arrival on board His Most Christian Majesty’s brig, the officer commanding (Lieutenant Dupont, to whom, as well as to his companion, I shall ever feel indebted for their attention to myself on all occasions) added another link to the chain of obligations by which I was already bound to them, in offering Mr. Dochard accommodation on board his brig, where Lieutenant Dupont politely said, no exertions of his to alleviate Mr. Dochard’s present sufferings, and, if possible, erase the remembrance of the past, should be wanting. This offer, like all others from those gallant officers, was made with such really cordial warmth of heart, and such an evident wish on the part of Lieutenant Dupont to minister personally to my friend’s wants, that, although it was taking from myself the pleasure I had anticipated, I complied; and having supplied him as well as my poor wardrobe would allow with clean linen, left him to take that repose of which he was so much in need.
As Mr. Dochard had left Bambarra without Dha’s permission, and had left behind him three of his men who had been at Sego for some time previous to his leaving Bamakoo, I feared that Dha might suppose I had abandoned the hope of prosecuting my journey, and although he had not as yet sanctioned our passing, I was in hopes that the cause assigned for not doing so (namely, the war with the Massina Foolahs) might soon be removed by its termination, and afford us the long wished-for opportunity of following up the object we had in view. In order therefore to assure Dha that, although Mr. Dochard had left his country without his knowledge, we had not relinquished our proceedings there, I despatched one of my own men, a native of N’Yamina, with a letter to him and his ministers, accompanied with small presents, requesting them to take especial care of the men left at Sego by Mr. Dochard, and to send me, with as little delay as possible, a decisive answer: my man accompanied a native merchant, named Usufe (a cousin of Isaaco), who was going on a trading voyage to Sego, and to whom I promised five pieces of baft, in case he should render my messenger such assistance as he might require. They left Baquelle on the 3rd of August.
Mr. Dochard continued extremely low, and what with the effects of the complaint he had been so long labouring under, and frequent attacks of fever since his return, he was reduced to that state from which I much doubted the possibility of a recovery. He did not, however, entertain the same apprehensions, and this alone enabled him to support his complicated sufferings, much aggravated by the state of the season, which was very wet and sultry.
On the 28th of August, a steam-boat arrived from St. Louis, having a few days before parted from the fleet, which experienced much difficulty and opposition in passing the Foota-Toro country, where the inhabitants (who were armed with muskets, and had formed intrenchments on the river side for the purpose,) attacked the vessels, on board which several men were killed and wounded, and one of the Galam Company’s sloops sunk in consequence of the confusion. It was not, however, until the 21st of September that the fleet made its appearance, when having fruitlessly endeavoured to procure the supplies wanted, I saw the utter impossibility of proceeding with the whole expedition, and therefore came to the determination of sending to the coast Mr. Dochard, Mr. Partarrieau, and all the men, except fifteen, with whom I decided on making another attempt to proceed. Mr. Dochard wished much (notwithstanding his enfeebled state of health) to accompany me, but I could not in justice to him, to my own feelings, or indeed to the service in which I was so warmly engaged, comply with his request. I was thus reduced to the very last effort; and however reluctantly I parted with those officers and men who had been my companions in privations, difficulties, and anxiety since 1818, I felt a satisfaction in saying to them that the circumstances I was then placed in could alone induce me to dispense with the services which on all occasions, and in the most trying cases, they had rendered with so much cheerfulness and patience. When selecting from the party such men as I conceived best adapted to the peculiarity of the service we were about to enter on, nearly every man volunteered to accompany me to the very last moment; but my means were then reduced to so limited a compass, and the necessity of proceeding with a small party in such circumstances so decidedly imperious, that I could not accept of their further services, and therefore chose fifteen, among whom was my sergeant-major (Lee), a man, who to the strictest sentiments of honor added those of cool determined bravery and a strong impulse to render every possible assistance in bringing our service to a favourable termination. All the others were men of colour, either soldiers of the African corps or inhabitants of Senegal; of the latter was Charles Joe, a mulatto of respectable connexions, and a man who had in many instances evinced much devotion to the interests of the expedition, and firm attachment to my person. Many of his friends then at Baquelle used all their influence and persuasion to induce him to leave me. He told them, however, that he had given his word never to desert the cause, and he would not break it.