IN CENTRAL AFRICA. -^^^ 
peans, and the caravan of Tafilet offered an opportunity 
that he could not hesitate to seize. 
1 shall not advert to all his misfortunes at Time, and 
during the journey, nor to his perils at Tangier, when 
already within sight of his haven ; but with what intelli- 
gence and courage must he have been endowed to resist and 
triumph over so many enemies. It was necessary to avoid 
the most trifling error ; a single one would have infalli- 
bly proved his destruction. 
Few are acquainted with the history of the unfortunate 
Antonio Piloti, a Spaniard, who took refuge in Morocco in 
consequence of the political events of 1811. After having 
assumed the Moorish dress, and habituated himself to the 
language, he succeeded in enrolling himself amongst the 
Emperor of Morocco's guards. Incessantly occupied with 
the project of going by this means to Timbuctoo, he secret- 
ly offered his services to the French consul, M. Sourdeau; 
he solicited the protection of the French government: 
the consul had ascertained that he combined all the quali- 
fications essential to success, yet his offers were rejected. 
Neverthless Piloti daily prosecuted his preparations for the 
journey : nothing it should seem could have prevented his 
success, since he would have set out under the disguise of 
a Moor, and returned with a caravan of Moors. In the 
absence of direct assistance from France, he was furnish- 
ed with instructions by M. Delaporte, our vice-consul, and 
from a member of the Geographical Society, who was on 
