24 
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR. 
obstacles alone prevented me from conforming to them 
entirely. 
" The object of the mission which you are to fulfil, is 
to discover the sources of the Senegal, and of the rivers 
Gambia and Niger : to ascertain if there really exists a 
communication between the first two, or at any rate the 
distance which separates them ; afterwards to determine the 
distance between the Senegal and the sources of the Niger 
and the means of traversing it. On reaching the Niger, you 
will collect every information on the possibility of going down 
it. to its mouth. But provided you find obstacles to prevent 
the execution of this project, you will ascend it, and you 
will in that alone have made an important discovery. To attain 
vour destination, it appears to me prudent to avoid the Foota 
country, which you will do by crossing that of the Jolofts, and 
proceeding southward towards the Mandingo country, where 
you may safely remain during the rainy season. The cha- 
racter of a merchant which you assume, and the confidence 
excited by the Marabout whom you have for a guide, give 
nie hopes that you will find in your journey chances of success 
which a numerous retinue would scarcely afford you, by 
exciting the avidity or fears of the people you will meet with. 
If circumstances permit you to penetrate to the kingdom of 
Bambouck, you will endeavour to visit the gold mines, and to 
ascertain their richness and extent. You will take care to observe 
the direction of the mountains you meet with, what is their 
