478 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING 
received from M. Delaporte, Vice-Consul of France^ 
administering the general Consulate at Tangier. A 
Frenchman has accomplished the journey to Timbuctoo, 
He has been fortunate enough to traverse almost the whole 
of Africa, north of the Equator, from the Rio-Nuuez, in 
about 100 15/ north latitude, to the Straits of Gibraltar, 
and is arrived in health and safety at the Consulate at 
Tangier, after having crossed the Atlas between Tafilet 
and Fez, and travelled during sixteen consecutive months. 
As he is the first European who has succeeded in the 
journey to Timbuctoo, and returned from that place, 
1 doubt not, whatever the results may prove for which the 
sciences may be indebted to him, that the Academy will 
learn the news with a lively interest. 
On the 19th of April, 1827, M. Caillie set out from 
Kakondy on the Rio-Nunez, whence he travelled easterly 
nearly three hundred leagues, to Time, beyond the great 
river Dhioliba. He embarked upon it near Jenne, and 
after a month's navigation reached Timbuctoo, in April last. 
After a residence there of several weeks he pursued his 
route to the north and N. N. W. Seventy-five days were 
occupied by his journey from this capital to the Tafilet, 
across the Sahara, or Great Desert, amidst the severest 
fatigues and most painful privations. 
The first part of his journey coincides with that of 
some English travellers*. He subsequently crossed the 
different stages of the chain of mountains of the Fouta- 
* It is the line which Watt and Winterbottom took in J 794. 
