M. Caillié presented himself to me under the costume of a mendicant Dervish, a character which I assure you he did not belie: during his journey he feigned himself a follower of Mahomet. If the Moors had suspected him of being with me, or at the consulate, he would have been a lost man; I entreat then, from your humanity, your love and admiration of great enterprises, assistance in saving this intrepid traveller, whose name will soon become celebrated, by sending to me, if at present disposable, one of the vessels under your command, or if you think it preferable, by coming hither yourself. You would land here. M. Caillié would adopt the accoutrements of a sailor, or personate an officer; he would mix with the attendants on the equipage, or with the staff; he would reach your ship, and be saved. It would be grateful to you and to myself to have co-operated in the protection of this remarkable traveller.
The English would not hesitate an instant to receive on board one of their sovereign’s ships of the line a countryman of such merit. It was lately published at Gibraltar, that Major Laing had arrived there in the costume of an Arab; a king’s cutter was immediately placed at his disposal, to transport him to London; instead of Major Laing, it proved to be M. Linc; the similarity of name caused the mistake, but the cutter had been dispatched to its destination.
Will you oblige me by an answer, and by informing me whether it will be in your power to render to France, if I may so express myself, and to the Geographical Society of France, the service which I request of you in their name, on behalf of M. Caillié; that if necessary I may seek other means of restoring him to his country.
I am, &c.
Signed Delaporte.
Extract of a Letter from M. Delaporte Vice Consul of France to M. Jomard Member of the Institute.
Tangier, 27th September, 1828.
M. Caillié whose name I have read in one of the numbers of the Bulletins of the Geographical Society, has traversed Africa, from Rio-Nuñez to Tangier, passing, on his route, through Timbuctoo. He will embark to-day on board a king’s schooner for Toulon, where he will arrive without resources. I hope the Geographical Society will take charge of this traveller, who, I believe will do it honour. He has crossed Africa as a mendicant; as such he appeared at my door: but I received him, I paid him every possible attention, and think myself happy in being the first Frenchman who has embraced him.
He will present himself to you, and will communicate to you the materials of which he is the bearer: he proposes to intrust you with the task of editing them[171].
He deplores the want of means which deprived him of the advantages of a brilliant and distinguished education; but he consoles himself under this misfortune, in the happiness of being the only European who has conquered the great difficulty, and of having enriched the reign of his Majesty Charles X with an enterprise which has baffled so many travellers and scientific men.