306 SHIPWRECK OF fHE MtBtT^A. 
ced upon it the day before. In this manner did this furious 
officer get about one hundred and fifty heaped upon that float- 
ing tomb ; but he did not think of adding one more to the 
number by descending himself, as he ought to have done, but 
went peaceably away, and placed himself in one of the best 
boats. There should have been sixty sailors upon the raft, 
and there were but about ten, A list had been made out on 
the 4th, assigning each his proper place ; but this wise pre-* 
caution being disregarded, every one pursued the plan he 
deemed best for his own preservation. The precipitation with 
which they forced one hundred and fifty unfortunate beings 
upon the raft was such that they forgot to give them one 
morsel of biscuit. However, they threw toward them twenty- 
five pounds in a sack, whilst they were not far from the fri- 
gate ; but it fell into the sea, and was with difficulty reco- 
vered. 
During this disaster, the governor of Senegal, who was 
busied in the care of his ov/n dear self, effeminately descended 
in an arm-chair into the barge, where were already various 
large chests, all kinds of provisions, his dearest friends, his 
daughter, and his wife. Afterward the captain's boat received 
twenty-seven persons, amongst whom were twentj^-five sailors, 
good rowers. The shallop, commanded by M. Espiau, took 
forty-five passengers and put ofl^. The boat called the Senegal 
took twenty-five, the pinnace thirty-three, and the yav/l, the 
smallest of all the boats, took only ten. 
Almost all the ofncers, the passengers, the mariners, and 
supernumeraries, vrere already embarked — all but our weep- 
ing family, who still remained on the boards of the frigate 
till some charitable souls would kindly receive us into a boat. 
Surprised at this abandonment, I instantly felt myself roused, 
and called with all my might to the officers of the boat, be- 
sought them to take our unbappy family along with them. 
Soon after, the barge, in which were the governor of Sene- 
gal and all his family, approached the Medusa, as if still to 
take some passengers, for there were but few in it. I made 
a motion to descend, hoping that the Misses Schmaltz, who 
had, till that day, taken a great interest in our family, would 
allow us a place in their boat ; but I was mistaken : those la- 
dies, who had embarked in a mysterious incognito, had al- 
ready forgotten us ; and M. Lachaumareys, who was still on 
the frigate, positively told me they would not embark along 
with us. Nevertheless I ought to tell, what we learned after- 
ward, that the officer who commanded the pinnace had receiv- 
