Besides the frequent and agreeable visits of the Vice-Consul, I received also those of a Jew domestic to whom the secret of my seclusion was confided: this man, though a Frenchman, was thoroughly imbued with the principles of his race and had no ideas but for the advancement of his interests. He undoubtedly believed that my views were the same, and advised me to carry the fruits of my travels to England; representing to me that this nation had offered a reward of twenty-five thousand pounds sterling for the accomplishment of the journey to Timbuctoo. Instead of listening to so contemptible a proposition, I replied, that I was a Frenchman, and added: “The recompence to be derived from the French government would undoubtedly be less considerable; but I should not hesitate a single moment to offer to my native country and my king the homage of my modest labours.”
The excellent M. Delaporte wrote very pressingly to the commander of the French station off Cadiz, describing in lively colours the dangers to which I was exposed by a longer residence in this place. The commander, determined by his solicitations, sent one of the king’s sloops to Tangier to convey me to Toulon.
On the 27th of September 1828, a little before sunset, a sailor’s dress was sent me as a more convenient disguise. A Moor inquired who I was, saying that he had not seen me disembark with the others; the Jew, who attended me, answered that I was a Frenchman from Tetuan, returning to France, and the Moor made no farther remark. I embarked on board the sloop La Légère, suffering much from fever, and the Commander Jolivet supplied me with every thing necessary in my situation.
On the 28th, at six in the morning, we set sail with a fair wind, and to my great satisfaction soon lost sight of Tangier. M. Jolivet’s cares had a beneficial effect upon my health; the fever left me, and the fine sea-breezes soon completed my recovery. We arrived at Toulon after a very favourable voyage of ten days.
Those who have been long absent from their native land, and have good cause to fear that they may never return, can alone form an idea of my sensations on my restoration to my beloved country. While in quarantine I wrote to M. Jomard, President of the central commission of the Geographical Society, to announce my travels to him. I soon after received, as the first proof of the benevolent interest of this learned association, the sum of five hundred francs, to defray the expenses of my journey to Paris: nor was it long before I enjoyed the glorious reward of its merited approbation. The society applauded my zeal, and awarded to me the recompense promised to the first traveller who should penetrate to the mysterious town of Timbuctoo, and bring from thence his authentic observations. The government graciously received the Society’s report upon my travels, and soon bestowed upon me distinguished marks of its munificence and honourable protection.
But this flattering success raised adversaries against me: some alleged that I had never reached Timbuctoo; others, that I had been shipwrecked on the coast of Barbary, and, having obtained possession of some vague intelligence respecting the interior of the country, had imposed it upon the public for the results of my personal observations. I have been even accused of changing my religion at every station. To this malevolent imputation, I answer: that I externally adopted the forms of the Mahometan worship as the only means of penetrating into the countries through which I have travelled—an achievement which, without this acquiescence, would have been impracticable, except by encountering at every step the hazard of death, and inevitably suffering it at last. I must confess that these unjust attacks have affected me more sensibly than all the hardships, fatigues, and privations, which I have encountered in the interior of Africa.
GEOGRAPHICAL
REMARKS AND INQUIRIES
CONCERNING
THE TRAVELS OF M. CAILLIÉ,