THE FRENCH SOUDAN. 
139 
Nine officers and two European sergeants are missing, as well as an 
interpreter; 1 sergeant, 6 corporals, and 61 native tirailleurs. I have 
taken in hand immediately all dispositions for defence; there is notli- 
; ing to be feared, with constant watching, especially by night. 
I have at my disposal 600 rifles and 6 guns. 
I await the column of Commandant Joffre, to whom I have sent a 
messenger to give him information and to put him oh his guard. 
I calculate that he will arrive before his passage [sic] 1 to Gotedam, 
or at some five days from Timbuctou. 
I have received to-day the mail brought by Lieutenants Dulaurens 
and Noel. 
In consequence of the new situation, I have judged it best to keep 
the officers, who brought the despatches, to fill the vacancies until the 
arrival of Joffre* s column. 
I have communicated with the commandant of the flotilla and re¬ 
quested him to retard his departure until the same date. I possess 
supplies until the arrival of the convoy, which was reported as about to 
leave Segou on the 10th January last. 
The mixed population is on good terms with us; it promises us its 
absolute support, and wishes us to remain here. 
The sedentary population is desirous for peace and tranquility for 
commerce ; but it is not accustomed to furnish guides and porters: the 
chiefs of the villages are without authority: there is even a great diffi¬ 
culty in procuring guides, on account of the terror caused by the 
Touaregs. 
Numerous envoys from the villages of different regions, some at a 
distance, have come here to give in their submission to-day. 
The commerce of the place is nil , on account of the want of security 
for the caravans. The merchandise failing, the regions of Diarefare, 
Mopti, Bandiagara, Djenne, no longer furnish any grain, millet, ground¬ 
nuts, or rice. 
Since our arrival many caravans have sent to enquire, by the 
merchants established here, whether they can come in security. I have 
replied in the affirmative. 
At the request of the chiefs and notables, I have written to the 
Commandant of Segou, to invite the inhabitants of the regions, above 
mentioned, to send eight lighters of grain, the caravans beginning to 
return. The climate is good at this season. Accommodation is 
wanted. It will be necessary to build. The sanitary state of the 
column is good, in spite of the extreme fatigue/ ” 
[It is proposed to deal with the relief of Timbuctou by Colonel 
Joifre’s column in a subsequent paper.— S.P.O.] 
1 This seems to refer to Joffre being met by the messenger at the crossing of the Oulou-Oulou 
River at Goman (?). 
