338 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. 
provisions and money, to the amount of 50,000 francs ; and 
it was the general opinion, found means to charge cent, per 
cent, on those advances, as a small perquisite to himself; 
moreover, he received, at the request of the governor, the de- 
coration of the Legion of Honor. But I return to that which 
concerns myself. My father being unable to obtain any thing 
either from the governor or M. D , was obliged to bor- 
row money to enable us to subsist. We were reduced to feed 
on negro's food, for our means would not allow us to purchase 
bread at 15 sous the pound, and wine at 3 francs the bottle. 
However, we were content, and perfectly resigned to our 
fate; when an English officer, Major Peddie, came and visit- 
ed us precisely at the moment we were at dinner. That gen- 
tleman, astonished at seeing an officer of the French adminis- 
tration dining upon a dish of Kouskou, said to my father : 
" How, Mr. Picard ! you being in the employment of your 
government, and living so meanly?" Mortified that a stran- 
ger should have seen his misery, my father felt his tears flow- 
ing : but, instantly collecting himself, said in a calm yet firm 
tone, " Know, sir, that I blush not for my poverty, and that 
you have Avronged me by upbraiding me. It is true I have 
not food like the other Europeans in the colony ; but I do not 
consider myself the more unfortunate. I have requested the 
man who represents my sovereign in this country, to give me 
the rations to which I have a right ; but he has had the inhu- 
manity to refuse. But v/hat of that? I know how to submit, 
and my family also." Major Peddie, at these words, touched 
with our misfortunes, and vexed, doubtless, at having mortified 
us, though that certainly was not his intention, bade us good 
bye, and retired. Early on the morning of the next day we 
received a visit from M. Dubois, mayor of the town of St. 
Louis, in Senegal. That good and virtuous magistrate told 
us he had come, at the instance of the English governor, to 
offer us assistance; viz. an officer's allowance, which con- 
sisted of bread, wine, meat, sugar, coffee, &c. As my father 
had not been able to procure any thing from governor 
Sclnnaitz, he thought it his duty to accept that which the 
English governor had so generously offered. We thanked 
M. Dubois ; and in a few hours afterward we had plenty of 
provisions sent to us. 
If my father had made himself some enemies amiong the 
authors of the shipwreck of the Medusa and the abandoning 
the raft, he was recompensed by real good friends among 
the old inhabitants of Senegal, who, with himself, deplored 
