DISAPPOINTMENTS AT ST. LOUIS. 
141 
Here I proposed to establish myself for some time^ and to 
continue my studies; and I reckoned upon dispelling, by 
these means, the suspicions which had been excited about 
me, and which were no doubt known to my marabout. Re- 
turning to them in this way, with means of subsistence 
analogous to their own, 1 could easily have obtained leave to 
accompany them on their commercial expeditions. I in- 
tended to visit Adrar this year, to penetrate as far as possible 
towards the northern part of the desert, and, when I had a 
favourable opportunity, to direct my course to the east, under 
pretence of a pilgrimage to Mecca, passing through the 
towns of Walet and Timbuctoo, I hoped to traverse this 
immense tract of desert, in more senses than one, to collect 
all the information I could of a commercial or geographical 
nature, and to return to Europe through Egypt. 
I know not whether this project appeared too vast, or 
whether the governor suspected me of imposition, but the 
scheme which I had adopted of pretending to be converted to 
Islamism insured the success of a journey which would have 
been impracticable to a christian. Whatever might be the 
reason, I obtained neither money nor the countenance of 
government; but M. Hugon apologised speciously enough 
for his refusal. 
" My strength," he told me, was inadequate to such 
an undertaking; besides, government had not authorised him 
to dispose of so large a sum for such a purpose ; moreover, 
M. Beaufort had already received twenty thousand francs to 
enable him to carry into execution a similar project. Would 
it not be unfair," he added, ^Ho commission another person 
to undertake the same journey as that officer, and to furnish 
him with the means of outstripping him ? M . Beaufort is at 
Bakel; he has almost attained the goal; let him follow his 
fate, and if he should unfortunately fail, we will then see 
what government can do to facilitate your design." 
