turned out pleasantly. The
steersman of the Medusa was sleeping upon the sand, when a Moor found
means to steal his sabre. The Frenchman awoke, and as soon as he saw the
thief escaping with his booty, rose and pursued him with horrid oaths.
The Arab, seeing himself followed by a furious European, returned, fell
upon his knees, and laid at the feet of the steersman the sabre which he
had stolen; who, in his turn, touched with this mark of confidence or
repentance, voluntarily gave it to him to keep. During this scene we
frequently stopped to see how it would terminate, whilst the caravan
continued its route. Suddenly we left the shore. Our companions
appearing quite transported with joy, some of us ran forward, and having
gained a slight rising ground, discovered the Senegal at no great
distance from them. We hastened our march, and for the first time since
our shipwreck, a smiling picture presented itself to our view. The trees
always green, with which that noble river is shaded, the humming birds,
the red-birds, the paroquets, the promerops, &c. who flitted among their
long yielding branches, caused in us emotions difficult to express. We
could not satiate our eyes with gazing on the beauties of this place,
verdure being so enchanting to the sight, especially after having
travelled through the Desert. Before reaching the river, we had to
descend a little hill covered with thorny bushes. My ass stumbling threw
me into the midst of one, and I tore myself in several places, but was
easily consoled when I at length found myself on the banks of a river of
fresh water. Every one having quenched his thirst, we stretched
ourselves under the shade of a small grove, whilst the beneficent Mr
Carnet and two of our officers set forward to Senegal to announce our
arrival, and to get us boats. In the meanwhile some took a little
repose, and others were engaged in dressing the wounds with which they
were covered.

At two in the afternoon, we saw a small boat beating against the current
of the stream with oars. It soon reached the spot where we were. Two
Europeans landed, saluted our caravans, and inquired for my father. One
of them said he came on the part of MM. Artigue and Laboure, inhabitants
of Senegal, to offer assistance to our family; the other added, that he
had not waited for the boats which were getting ready for us at the
island of St Louis, knowing too well what would be our need. We were
desirous of thanking them, but th