Reading between the lines of this record of a brave struggle against terrible odds, it is only too easy to realize that the policy of prevarication of the French Government in all matters colonial is a well-considered policy, as astute as it is unfair, alike to the gallant officers in command of abortive exploring expeditions as to the “rivals” so cordially disliked. NANCY BELL. _Southbourne-on-Sea, October_ 1898. [Illustration: WASHERWOMEN OF SAY.] CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE TRANSLATOR’S NOTE. vii I. AN ABORTIVE START 1 II. FROM KAYES TO TIMBUKTU 41 III. FROM TIMBUKTU TO TOSAYE 93 IV. FROM TOSAYE TO FAFA 151 V. THE TUAREGS 199 VI. FROM FAFA TO SAY 250 VII. STAY AT SAY 295 VIII. MISTAKES AND FALSE NEWS 356 IX. FROM SAY TO BUSSA 403 X. FROM BUSSA TO THE SEA; CONCLUSION OF OUR VOYAGE 446 EPILOGUE 498 INDEX 513 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE LIEUTENANT HOURST _Frontispiece_ WASHERWOMEN OF SAY xi MARKET PLACE, ST. LOUIS 1 NATIVES OF THE BANKS OF THE SENEGAL 5 NAVAL ENSIGN BAUDRY 15 THE PORT OF DAKAR 21 PART OF THE DAKAR ST. LOUIS LINE 24 RAILWAY BUFFET AT TIVIWANE 25 THE QUAY AT ST. LOUIS 26 A STREET IN ST. LOUIS 27 BUBAKAR-SINGO 27 THE COOLIES ENGAGED AT ST. LOUIS 28 THE ‘BRIÈRE DE L’ISLE’ 30 THE MARKET-PLACE AT ST. LOUIS 31 GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KAYES 32 ON THE SENEGAL 40 EN ROUTE 41