ES--DESERTION OF THE WORKING NEGROES--RETURN OF M.
SCHMALTZ TO SENEGAL--HOPE DESTROYED--GOVERNOR SCHMALTZ REFUSES
ALL KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO THE PICARD FAMILY--TIGERS DEVOUR THE
HOUSEHOLD DOG--TERROR OF MISS PICARD--BAD HARVEST--CRUEL PROSPECT
OF THE FAMILY--INCREASE OF MISFORTUNES--SOME GENEROUS PERSONS
OFFER ASSISTANCE TO M. PICARD.

Whilst we were thus enjoying in peace our little good fortune, my father
received a letter, desiring him to return to Senegal in all possible
speed. He went, and left me at the head of our establishment, but a
great misfortune happened, which we could not prevent;--six of our
labouring negroes, whom he had hired, deserted during the night, and
took our small boat with them. I was extremely distressed, and instantly
made Etienne swim the river, and go and beg of the President at Babaguey
to take him to my father, who was still at Senegal, to tell him the
melancholy news. That good negro was soon on the other side of the
water, and went to M. Lerouge (the name of the president), who gave him
his canoe. At night, we saw him returning without my father, who went
into the country to search for the fugitive negroes. He spent three
whole days in the countries of Gandiolle and Touby, which lie in the
neighbourhood of our island, but all his labour was in vain. The
deserting negroes had already gained the forests of the interior; and my
father, exhausted with fatigue, returned to Safal. I confess, though I
was deeply distressed at the desertion of these slaves, who were so
necessary to us for realizing our agricultural projects, my heart could
not blame these unfortunate creatures, who only sought to recover that
freedom from which they had been torn.

At this date, that is about the 1st of March 1819, we learned that M.
Schmaltz had returned from France, and was in the Bay of St Louis; and
that the Minister of Marine had approved of all the projects relative to
the agricultural establishment at Senegal. This news revived my father's
hopes. As this establishment had been originally proposed by him, he
flattered himself they would do him justice in the end. In this
expectation, he went to meet with governor Schmaltz, who had to pass our
house on the morrow; but he would not speak with him. On the following
day, my father wrote to him from the hotel at St Louis; four days after
which, we were assured that the governor was very far from wishing us
well, and still farther from doing justice to my fa