VIII 
PREFACEE. 
merchants, who assumed the title of the Gum Com- 
pany. By a decree of the council on the 10th of 
November, 1786, the king subjected the company 
to pay the colonial expences, which were fixed at 
U60,749 livres; and granted them in return, the ex- 
clusive right of the slave trade, with an extension 
of the commerce in gum for three years longer. It 
then took the name of the Senegal Company; but 
being badly organised, it met with little success, and 
was abolished by a decree of the Constituent Assem- 
biy in 1791. 
Previous to this time, I belonged to the naval 
department, when the marshal de Castrées appointed 
me principal director of the company at Isle St. 
Louis. I therefore left Havre on the 1 3th of IMarch, 
1785, and arrived at my new destination on the 10th 
i)f April follov/ing ; at which time, M. de Repentigny 
:^vas governor-general, and to m horn I was particularly 
recommended by M. Vergennes, the minister for 
foreign affairs. This wise and modest officer re- 
ceived me v.ith the greatest kindness; and we lived 
together in the most perfect harmony, till he was 
succeeded by M. de Eoufflers, whose talents and ce- 
lebrity were of the greatest advantage to the country. 
My memoirs were begun at Senegal, and ter- 
minated at Paris. I have shewn them to several 
persons; and the two great authors, Lalande and 
La Harpe, have published reflections on my jour- 
ney to Galam ; in consequence of which, and at 
the urgent desire of many friends, I have submitted 
my manuscript to the press. I shall only observe, 
that all the people of Africa are so much alike, that 
I have found it impossible to give a just and pre- 
cise idea of them, without making what may be 
deemed repetitions ; and as to the style of my work, 
I declare that I have no literary pretensions : I have 
only occupied myself in describing facts with ac- 
curacy and truth ; while my object is to promote 
the pov/er and riches of my country, with the 
hope that the inhabitants of Africa may thereby 
become more happy. 
