20 
INTRODUCTION. 
I need not observe that, at the bottom of my heart, I 
still cherished my design of visiting the interior of Africa : 
and it seemed as if no obstacle could any longer impede me, 
when I saw at the head of the colony Baron Roger, whose 
philanthropy and enlightened understanding promised me a 
patron of all great and useful enterprizes. 
I solicited therefore his authority for travelling in the 
interior, with the support and under the auspices of the 
king's government : but M. Roger strove in the kindest 
manner to damp my zeal. He represented to me that the 
business in which I had embarked offered chances of fortune 
which it was imprudent to sacrifice ; and that my youth and 
inexperience might moreover ruin my future prospects, and 
perhaps endanger my life. These representations entitled 
him to my gratitude, but did not shake my resolution. 
I was bent on going, and I declared that if the govern- 
ment would not accept my offers, I would carry my plan 
into execution with my own unaided means. This deter- 
mination made an impression upon the mind of the governor, 
who granted me some goods, that 1 might go and live among 
the Braknas and leain the Arabic language and the religious 
ceremonies of the Moors, in order that I might subsequently 
be able to lull their jealous mistrust, and thus penetrate the 
more easily to the interior of Africa. 
