even seemed to deplore our
disastrous fate.

The governor placed the most sickly of our companions in an hospital;
various inhabitants of the colony received others into their houses; M.
Artigue obligingly took charge of our family. Arriving at his house we
there found his wife, two ladies and an English lady, who begged to be
allowed to assist us. Taking my sister Caroline and myself, she
conducted us to her house, and presented us to her husband, who received
us in the most affable manner; after which she led us to her
dressing-room, where we were combed, cleansed, and dressed by the
domestic negresses, and were most obligingly furnished with linen from
her own wardrobe, the whiteness of which was strongly contrasted with
our sable countenances. In the midst of my misfortunes my soul had
preserved all its strength; but this sudden change of situation affected
me so much, that I thought my intellectual faculties were forsaking me.
When I had a little recovered from my faintness, our generous hostess
conducted us to the saloon, where we found her husband and several
English officers sitting at table. These gentlemen invited us to partake
of their repast; but we took nothing but tea and some pastry. Among
these English was a young Frenchman, who, speaking sufficiently well
their language, served to interpret between us. Inviting us to recite to
them the story of our shipwreck and all our misfortunes, which we did in
few words, they were astonished how females and children had been able
to endure so much fatigue and misery. We were so confused by our
agitation, that we scarcely heard the questions which were put to us,
having constantly before our eyes the foaming waves, and the immense
tract of sand over which we had passed. As they saw we had need of
repose, they all retired, and our worthy Englishwoman put us to bed,
where we were not long before we fell into a profound sleep.

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.

At nine o'clock next morning, after our arrival, we felt quite free from
all our fatigues. We arose, and, as soon as we were d