1256 DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
a fort here, and make it the centre of their trade 
with the interior. The slowness and indecision 
incident to corporate bodies, caused such con- 
tinued delays, as made him at last give up all 
hope, when, in I7OO, a vessel arrived from France 
with instructions, and the requisite means, for 
forming the establishment. The fort was accor- 
dingly built ; but, unfortunately, the agent em- 
ployed disregarding the position chosen by Brue, 
erected it on another, which was much too low, 
so that the first inundation of the Senegal swept 
it entirely away. The active measures of the Di- 
rector soon caused it to be erected anew ; but 
immediately after, in I702, he was recalled to 
France. This ill-judged step was soon followed 
by a dissolution of that good understanding which 
had so long subsisted between the French and the 
natives. The people of Gallam, whom only the 
address and prudence of Brue could have recon- 
ciled to the idea of a French fort being erected 
in their territory, soon rose in arms to overturn 
it. Though destitute of all means of making an 
impression upon European fortifications, yet, by 
their numbers, perseverance, and by cutting off 
all supplies, they at length exhausted the garrison, 
induced them to evacuate the fort, and immedi- 
ately destroyed it. From this time the affairs of 
the French on the Upper Senegal fell into a state 
of rapid decline. It was not till 1713> that the 
