EDINBURGH:
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The expeditions in which it is attempted to explore unknown and distant oceans, are usually those which are
most pregnant with adventure and disaster. But land has its perils as well as sea; and the wanderer, thrown
into the unknown interior of the Continents of Africa and America, through regions of burning sand and
trackless forest, occupied only by rude and merciless barbarians, encounters no less dreadful forms of danger
and suffering. Several such examples are presented in the present volume, which exhibit peril, captivity, and
'hair-breadth escape,' in some of their striking and tragical results.

The catastrophe of the Medusa is already known to the public, as one of the most awful and appalling that
ever befel any class of human beings. [Pg iv]The Shipwreck, and the dreadful scenes on the Raft, have been
recorded in the Narrative of Messrs Savigny and Corr\u00e9ard. But the adventures of the party who were cast
ashore, and forced to find their way through the African Desert, could be reported only imperfectly by those
gentlemen who were not eye-witnesses. This want is supplied in the first part of the present volume, which
contains the Narrative by Mad. Dard, then Mademoiselle Picard, one of the suffering party, and for the
translation of which, the Editor is much indebted to Mr Maxwell.

There is in it so much feeling and good sense, mixed with an amiable and girlish simplicity, as to render it particularly engaging. There is also something peculiarly gratifying to an Englishman in the reflection, that such disaster could not have befallen almost any British crew. It was evidently nothing but the utter and

thorough selfishness which actuated the leaders and most of those on board both of the ship and the raft, which rendered the affair at all very serious. A wise plan formed and [Pg v]acted upon, with a view to the general good, would have enabled them, without difficulty, to save the crew, the cargo, and perhaps the vessel. The narrative of the shipwreck and journey is also combined with the adventures of an interesting Family, related in such a manner as to give them a strong hold in our sympathy.

The Second Part of the Volume has an affinity to that which has now been mentioned. The western coast of
Africa, lying along a great maritime and commercial route, and being heavily encumbered by rocks and
shoals, has been the theatre of frequent shipwrecks; and Europeans, when cast ashore, have always
experienced the most dreadful fate from the inhuman and bigotted natives. Several relations of this nature
have been lately published, but under somewhat of a romantic and dubious aspect. That of Brisson, here
inserted, appears the most authentic, and at the same time to present the most interesting and varied train of
vicissitudes; and although it is already not unknown to the English reader, its [Pg vi]republication, we
presume, will not be altogether unacceptable.

The Third Relation carries them into quite a different quarter of the world\u2014to the shores of the mighty River
of the Amazons in South America, and to the boundless forests and deserts by which it is bordered. We shall
not anticipate the narrative of what befel Madame Godin in her voyage down this river; but it will not
probably be denied to present as extraordinary a series of perils, adventures, and escapes, as are anywhere to
be found on record. It is drawn from the account of the Mission of M. de la Condamine, sent, in 1743, by the
French Government, along with M. Bouguer and other Academicians, to measure an arc of the meridian,
under the latitude of Quito, and thus ascertain the figure of the earth. This forms a well known and respectable
source; but the Mission being directed almost exclusively to scientific objects, the narrative may not perhaps
have often met the eye of the general reader.

xix
CHAPTER I.
M. Picard makes his first Voyage to Africa, leaving at Paris his Wife and two young Daughters\ue000Death of
Madame Picard\ue001The Children taken home to the House of their Grandfather\ue002Return of M. Picard after
Nine years Absence\ue003He marries again, and Departs a short while after, with all his Family, for
Senegal\ue004Description of the Journey between Paris and Rochefort

CHAPTER II.
Departure from Rochefort\ue005The Picard Family Embark in the Medusa Frigate\ue006Account of the Voyage
till they reach the Arguin Bank

CHAPTER III.
The Medusa Frigate runs aground on the Arguin Bank\ue007Description of the Shipwreck\ue008A Raft is
constructed\ue009They swear not to abandon those who wish to go upon it

CHAPTER IV.
The Helm of the Medusa is broken by the Waves\ue00aIt is determined to abandon the Wreck of the
Frigate\ue00bThe Military are put upon the Raft\ue00cThe greater part of the Officers go into the Boats\ue00dThe
Picard Family are abandoned upon the Medusa\ue00eProceedings of M. Picard to get his Family into a Boat

Departure of the Boats\ue00fThey seem desirous of towing the Raft\ue010Generous Conduct of a Naval
Officer\ue011The Abandonment of the Raft\ue012Despair of the Wretches who are left to the fury of the
Waves\ue013Reproaches of M. Picard to the Authors of the Abandoning the Raft\ue014Description of the Small
Fleet which the Boats formed\ue015Frightful Fate, and Deplorable End of the greater part of the Individuals
on the Raft

CHAPTER VI.
The Chiefs of the Expedition order the Boats to take the Route for Senegal\ue016Objections of some
Generous Officers\ue017The Shores of the Desert of Sahara are discovered\ue018The Sailors of the Pinnace are
desirous of Landing\ue019The Boat in which the Picard Family is leaks much\ue01aUnheard-of
Sufferings\ue01bTerrible Situation of the Family\ue01cFrightful Tempest\ue01dDespair of the Passengers

CHAPTER VII.
After the Frightful Tempest, the Boat, in which are the Picard Family, is still desirous of taking the Route
to Senegal\ue01eCruel Alternative to which the Passengers are Driven—It is at last decided to Gain the
Coast—Description of the Landing—The Transports of the shipwrecked

CHAPTER VIII.
The shipwrecked Party form themselves into a Caravan to go by Land to Senegal—They find
Water in the Desert—Some People of the Caravan propose to Abandon the Picard
Family—Generous Conduct of an Old Officer of Infantry—Discovery of an Oasis of Wild
Purslain—First Repast of the Caravan in the Desert—They Fall in with a Small Camp of
Arabs—M. Picard purchases Two Kids—The Moors offer their Services to
them—Arrival at last at the Great Camp of the Moors—M. Picard is recognised by an
Arab—Generous Proceeding of that Arab—Sudden Departure of the Caravan—They
hire Asses

CHAPTER IX.
The Caravan regains the Shore—A Sail is discovered—It brings Assistance to the
Caravan—Great Generosity of an Englishman—Continuation of their
Journey—Extraordinary Heat—They Kill a Bullock—Repast of the
Caravan—At last they discover the River Senegal—Joy of the Unfortunate—M.
Picard receives Assistance from some Old Friends at Senegal—Hospitality of the Inhabitants of the
Island of St Louis towards every Person of the Caravan

CHAPTER X.
The English refuse to cede the Colony of Senegal to the French—The whole of the French
Expedition are obliged to go and encamp on the Peninsula of Cape Verd—The Picard Family
obtain leave of the English Governor to remain at Senegal—Poverty of that
Family—Assistance which they receive—Enterprise of M. Picard—Restoration of the
Colony to the French—Description of Senegal and its Environs

CHAPTER XI.
The Sickness and Death of Madame Picard break in upon the Happiness of the Family—M. Picard
turns his Views to Commerce—Bad Success of his Enterprise—The Distracted Affairs of
the Colony disgust Him—The Cultivation of the Island of Safal—Several Merchants protest
against M. Picard applying himself to Commerce—Departure of the Expedition to the Island of
Galam—M. Picard is deprived of his Employment as Attorney—His eldest Daughter goes to
live in the Island of Safal with two of her Brothers

CHAPTER XII.
Miss Picard lives in the Island of Safal—Her Manner of living—Sufferings she
endured—She gathers Flowers which contain a deleterious Poison—Her two Brothers fall
Sick—They are conveyed to Senegal—Miss Picard, overcome with Melancholy, also falls
Sick—State in which she is found—A Negro boils for her an old Vulture—Return of
Miss Picard to Senegal—Her Convalescence—Her Return to the Island of Safal—M.
Picard goes there to Live with all his Family—Description of the Furniture of the African
Cottage—Country Life—Comfort of their Fireside—Walks of the