DISAPPOINTMENTS AT ST. LOUIS. 143 
fifty francs a month^ as overseer of the negro workmen at 
one of our settlements on the river. 
This favour vexed me exceedingly, by postponing the 
possibility of undertaking my journey. I felt that I pos- 
sessed energy enough for something better than a negro 
driver and in my despair, instead of going to Richard 
Tol*, according to my instructions, I set off for N'pal, a vil- 
lage near St. Louis, without any other design than that of 
catching and stuffing birds for my livehhood. One of the 
grandees of the colony, from whom I had sent to beg the 
necessary instruments, replied to my messenger : By all 
means; and then he will be of some use." This reply, which 
was repeated to me, put me in a rage, and in the utmost in- 
dignation I left N'pal to go to Richard Tol. 
On my arrival at this settlement, I was consoled by the 
kindness of M. Lelievre, the gardener, who had the kind- 
ness to add some other provisions to the regular soldier's 
allowance, which was all I could claim as overseer. 
Whilst I was discharging this office, with all the mor- 
tification of a man who feels that his business is beneath him 
I learnt the arrival of Baron Roger. At this intelligence I 
was transported with joy ; 1 ran about in all directions in 
search of a vessel to take me to St. Louis, and if I could 1 
would have swum thither. On landing, I hastened to present 
myself to our former governor ; I delivered into his hands, the 
same day, the notes which I had taken during my stay with 
the Braknas ; I accompanied them with a fresh application 
for assistance, or for an appointment, to enable me to per- 
form my great journey — it was not granted ! 
To any other person this would have been a thunder- 
clap ; but my resolution struck deeper and deeper root every 
day, and I had the courage to return to the charge. Then 
indeed, I was kindly promised a sum of money on my re- 
* This establishment is so called from Richard, the gardener, who 
founded it, and Tol, which signifies a garden in the Wolof language. 
