VOYAGE 
TO 
SENEGAL. 
CHAP. I. 
CAPE BLANCO AND ITS ENVIRONS. — DANGERS OP THAT 
PASSAGE. — BARBAROUS AN© CRUEL CHARACTER OF 
THE MOORS WHO INHABIT THE COAST.— SHIPWRECK 
OF M. DE BRISSON.- — CAPTURE OF HIM AND HIS COM- 
PANIONS. CHARACTER OF A MOORISH CHIEF. HARD- 
SHIPS OF CAPTIVITY IN THE DESERTS. LIBERATION 
OF M. DE BRISSON AND ONE OF HIS COMPANIONS. 
On reacliing the western coast of Africa, navigators meet first 
with Cape Blanco, which is situated in 20° oom. 30 sec. lat. and 
1§° 30m. long. It is a spot almost circular, insomuch that, on 
account of its far projections, it is more difficult to discover than 
any other point on the coast: it is surrounded with dangerous 
banks, which are with difficulty avoided ; and it derives its name 
from the white colour of its burning and arid soil. The next 
point is Cape St. Anne, which is to the eastward on the same 
parallel ; the distance from one cape to the other, is computed 
at eight leagues. They form between them a large and deep 
bay, about twelve leagues north and south, which contains va- 
rious mouths of torrents or rivers, in which the sea ascends so 
high as to spoil the fresh water, and thus deprives vessels of the 
only resource which this part of the coast would otherwise afford 
them. 
From Cape St. Anne to Salt Cape, the coast runs S. E. for 
about six leag^ies. This cape received its name from a variety 
of natural and abundant salt-pits which it contained, and from 
which, before the rainy season, a quantity of salt used to be col- 
lected. The Europeans, however, have abandoned them; but 
it is probable that the Moors turn them to advantage. About 
six leagues farther, at the point called Hof, is another bay as 
large and deep as the former : it contains three isles, the largest 
of which is to the eastward, and is called Arguin. It is necessary 
to pass all these capes^ in order to arrive at the .French pos-ses* 
DURAND] 
