I still hoped, however, that the governor, when he had read my journal, would do me justice and appreciate my zeal. When I delivered it to him, I apprized him of my plans for the future; it was not long before I discovered how much I had lost by the departure of my true patron; not that his successor was deficient in talents, or in the love of science, but he did not enter into his views; in short, it was not he who had sent me amongst the Braknas. The substance of my plan was as follows:
I asked of government the moderate sum of six thousand francs, (£250) with which I intended to buy a flock and two slaves, and take them with me to the Braknas. Here I proposed to establish myself for some time, and to continue my studies; and I reckoned upon dispelling, by these means, the suspicions which had been excited about me, and which were no doubt known to my marabout. Returning to them in this way, with means of subsistence analogous to their own, I could easily have obtained leave to accompany them on their commercial expeditions. I intended to visit Adrar this year, to penetrate as far as possible towards the northern part of the desert, and, when I had a favourable opportunity, to direct my course to the east, under pretence of a pilgrimage to Mecca, passing through the towns of Wâlet and Timbuctoo. I hoped to traverse this immense tract of desert, in more senses than one, to collect all the information I could of a commercial or geographical nature, and to return to Europe through Egypt.
I know not whether this project appeared too vast, or whether the governor suspected me of imposition, but the scheme which I had adopted of pretending to be converted to Islamism insured the success of a journey which would have been impracticable to a christian. Whatever might be the reason, I obtained neither money nor the countenance of government; but M. Hugon apologised speciously enough for his refusal.
“My strength,” he told me, “was inadequate to such an undertaking;” besides, government had not authorised him to dispose of so large a sum for such a purpose; moreover, M. Beaufort had already received twenty thousand francs to enable him to carry into execution a similar project. “Would it not be unfair,” he added, “to commission another person to undertake the same journey as that officer, and to furnish him with the means of outstripping him? M. Beaufort is at Bakel; he has almost attained the goal; let him follow his fate, and if he should unfortunately fail, we will then see what government can do to facilitate your design.”
This reply, prudent and proper as it might be, cast me down to the ground. My situation became critical: I had come to St. Louis with several Moors, particularly a marabout who was to have accompanied me to Mecca; I was now compelled to dismiss him, and, more than that, I was forced to hide myself for many days, because the Braknas, who had brought me to St. Louis, having heard of my secret intentions, and enraged at being imposed upon by my feigned zeal for their religion, determined to do me a mischief.
I should have deemed myself fortunate if the vengeance of the Moors had been all I had to fear; but every thing concurred to overwhelm me. The coldness of my patrons, the ridicule of all kinds to which I was exposed: nay, some went so far as to assert that I had undergone the initiatory operation of Islamism.
One of my friends, seeing me reduced to the allowance of a common soldier, which had been granted to me out of compassion, warmly exhorted me to give up my plan, to relinquish my costume, and to return to business; but he was not aware of my persevering disposition, and doubted my courage. The taunts of Europeans only rendered my African costume more dear to me; I was proud of wearing it; I braved raillery and despised calumny, and, slighting the advantages which trade would have afforded me, I persisted in my projects. Besides, I knew that Baron Roger was to return, and I calculated upon the support of that excellent governor; with his aid I had no doubt that I should at last reach Timbuctoo.
In the mean time, however, it was needful that I should be kept alive. In spite of my repugnance, I so far conquered my pride, as to apply to the governor ad interim, requesting him to pay for my board at the inn. My petition was granted more speedily than I expected, and I was offered a salary of fifty francs a month, as overseer of the negro workmen at one of our settlements on the river.
This favour vexed me exceedingly, by postponing the possibility of undertaking my journey. I felt that I possessed energy enough for something better than a negro driver and in my despair, instead of going to Richard Tol[38], according to my instructions, I set off for N’pâl, a village near St. Louis, without any other design than that of catching and stuffing birds for my livelihood. One of the grandees of the colony, from whom I had sent to beg the necessary instruments, replied to my messenger: “By all means; and then he will be of some use.” This reply, which was repeated to me, put me in a rage, and in the utmost indignation I left N’pâl to go to Richard Tol.
On my arrival at this settlement, I was consoled by the kindness of M. Lelièvre, the gardener, who had the kindness to add some other provisions to the regular soldier’s allowance, which was all I could claim as overseer.