ARRIV^AL AT GOREE. 
345 
lot of the Pag-ans who should appear in the countries subject 
to Islamism. 
A few days after our departure from Bissao, we fell in 
Avith a vessel at sea, the crew of which had perished in a gale 
of wind. Having ourselves escaped this tempest, we made 
Goree on the 8th of January. I landed the same day, and 
returned thanks to Providence for having preserved me amidst 
the fatigues and dangers to which I had been exposed. I can- 
not describe the pleasure I felt on finding myself once more in 
the society of my countrymen : those who knew me, were 
surprised at seeing me again : they had given me up for lost. 
Notwithstanding their wish not to fatigue me with questions, 
and my own weakness, which demanded repose, I could not 
help gratifying their curiosity, and giving them an account 
of some of my adventures during my travels. I was so 
impatient to return to France, that I engaged a horse and 
an ox of burden at Dakar, and set out in the night of the 
9th of January. 
For a few days, therefore, I resumed the mode of life to 
which I had been habituated for several months, and proceed- 
ing along the coast from Dakar, we pursued the route which 
led into the interior of the country, along the swamps situated 
behind the sand-hills which hid the ocean from our view. The 
greater part of these inundated lands is covered with cassada 
and yams; rice also would probably thrive there. On reach- 
ing Babagué, on the 15th of January, 1819.1 sent Boukari 
Y Y 
