A voyage to Senegal; or, historical, philosophical, and political memoirs, relative to the discoveries, establishments and commerce of Europeans in the Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Blanco to the River of Sierra Leone. To which is added an account of a journey from Isle St. Louis to Galam / By J.P. [!] L. Durand ... Translated from the French, & embellished with numerous engravings.

Jean Baptiste Léonard Durand

Date:: 1806

Credit: A voyage to Senegal; or, historical, philosophical, and political memoirs, relative to the discoveries, establishments and commerce of Europeans in the Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Blanco to the River of Sierra Leone. To which is added an account of a journey from Isle St. Louis to Galam / By J.P. [!] L. Durand ... Translated from the French, & embellished with numerous engravings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$terrific effect on the mind. If by chance a breath of air arose, the traveller immediately experienced an extreme lassitude; his lips became chapped, his skin parched, and his whole body co- vered with painful carbuncles. The Moors, who had retired to live in these countries in order to avoid certain tributes which they did not wish to pay, were afflicted by the atmosphere as much as their slaves; for so inhospitable is the region; that the most ferocious animals dare not penetrate it. On leaving this plain they entered another, where the wind had raised from space to space the sand into hillocks, and the inter- vals of which produced a few odoriferous plants, which the al- most famished camels devoured with avidity. They afterwards came to a valley surrounded by mountains, the soil of which was white and saponaceous; and here, for the first time, they found some pools of water: it was very brackish, covered with green moss, and had a pestilential smell; but such was their thirst, that they drank it with indescribable pleasure. Towards evening they had the good fortune to meet with an hospitable horde by whom they were well received, and who pointed out to them the road which led to some other villages where they could obtain provi- sions to last them for the remainder of their journey. ‘This in- formation was very seasonable, as their guide had lost his way. The brother-in-law of the master of M.de Brisson was one of the chiefs of the burgh, and took particular care of all the slaves: he sent them a meal of ostrich-flesh and camel’s milk. He ap- peared affected at the fate of M.-de Brisson, and said to him, with much tenderness, “ Unfortunate Christian! my brother has long been my debtor; if you will attach yourself to me, I will make arrangements with him to obtain you.” This proposition, though it affected M. de Brisson, nevertheless made him tremble, as it indicated a long captivity, while he flattered himself that his present state would soon*be changed; he therefore sought for his master, and intreated him not to consent to such an arrange- ment. ‘ Be easy,” said the Moor; “ you shall not leave me _ except to go to Senegal or Morocco, and that shall soon take place.” This assurance gave indescribable joy to the captive. They rested three days amongst the Moors of the tribe called Laroussye, and then continued their journey to the spot at which resided the families of their conductors. It was not till they had travelled sixteen days, and suffered the most dreadful fatigue and misery, that they arrived at the place of their: desti- mation, reduced to skeletons. … . , At break of day they discovered a village which apparently oc- eupied a fertile spot. Several tents were pitched under large shady trees, and innumerable herds were grazing on the hillocks, DURAND.] Gin | {$

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