CHAPTER IIL 
DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
French African Companies.-— Jannequin. — First Voyage of 
Brue ; the Siratik. — Second voyage of Brue ; Gallant ; Ac- 
counts of Bamharra and Tombuctoo* — Third voyage of Brue ; 
the Gum trade. — Compagnon ; Bambouk ; its Gold mines, — 
Adanson. — Saugnier. — Savigny. 
France was not among the nations which dis- 
tinguished themselves early in the career of mari- 
time discovery. The intestine broils by which 
she was long distracted, and her deep involve- 
ment in the politics of continental Europe, en- 
grossed almost entirely the attention of her rulers. 
While the fleets of Portugal, of Holland, and of 
England, had explored and colonized the shores 
of the most distant oceans, France could scarcely 
boast a possession beyond the limits of Europe. 
Louis XIV. however, ambitious of greatness of 
every description, made incredible efforts to raise 
France to the rank of a maritime power. Under 
his reign, establishments were formed both in the 
East and West Indies, the splendour of which soon 
rivalled those of any other European nation. 
Amid the various objects which attracted his at- 
tention, the shores of Africa were not overlooked. 
