360 REMARKS ON TR^VELS 
Scarcely had he quitted the banks of the Rio-Nunez 
and entered upon this new career of difficulty and danger, 
when he at once displayed a consummate prudence, and far 
above his years : as skilful in appreciating obstacles as he 
was firm in encountering them, his embarrassments in- 
creased at every step ; but his sagacity constantly suggest- 
ed the means of extricating himself from every new per- 
plexity. Had he not possessed this just estimate of his 
difficulties and resources, united with a fortitude not to 
be shaken, he could not have concluded, perhaps not 
have commenced, his enterprize. How ingenious was the 
fiction he invented to obtain the confidence of these nu- 
merous tribes ! This thread, slender as it was, served 
every where for his guidance and protection. He rightly 
supposed that the fame of the French expedition to Egypt 
had spread over Northern Africa : it was natural that a 
child carried off from its parents at the age of three years, 
and transported into the heart of France, should be but ill 
versed in his mother-tongue ; equally so that good Musul- 
mans should congratulate him on his return to his country 
by the most direct line, although he was supposed to be 
destitute of resources. Now this line must inevitably con- 
duct him beyond the great river : afterwards manifesting a 
desire of repairing to Alexandria by sea, it was necessary 
to return to the river and embark on it, and thus his arrival 
atTimbuctoo was accomplished with certainty; having at- 
tained this object, he must naturally seek the readiest and 
surest means of reaching some place occupied by Euro- 
