The Second Part of the Volume has an affinity to that which has now been mentioned. The western coast of Africa, lying along a great maritime and commercial route, and being heavily encumbered by rocks and shoals, has been the theatre of frequent shipwrecks; and Europeans, when cast ashore, have always experienced the most dreadful fate from the inhuman and bigotted natives. Several relations of this nature have been lately published, but under somewhat of a romantic and dubious aspect. That of Brisson, here inserted, appears the most authentic, and at the same time to present the most interesting and varied train of vicissitudes; and although it is already not unknown to the English reader, its republication, we presume, will not be altogether unacceptable. The Third Relation carries them into quite a different quarter of the world--to the shores of the mighty River of the Amazons in South America, and to the boundless forests and deserts by which it is bordered. We shall not anticipate the narrative of what befel Madame Godin in her voyage down this river; but it will not probably be denied to present as extraordinary a series of perils, adventures, and escapes, as are anywhere to be found on record. It is drawn from the account of the Mission of M. de la Condamine, sent, in 1743, by the French Government, along with M. Bouguer and other Academicians, to measure an arc of the meridian, under the latitude of Quito, and thus ascertain the figure of the earth. This forms a well known and respectable source; but the Mission being directed almost exclusively to scientific objects, the narrative may not perhaps have often met the eye of the general reader. _Edinburgh, August 1827._ CONTENTS. PAGE I. THE SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA xiii TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE xvii AUTHOR'S PREFACE xix CHAPTER I. M. Picard makes his first Voyage to Africa, leaving at Paris his Wife and two young Daughters--Death of Madame Picard--The Children taken home to the House of their Grandfather--Return of M. Picard after Nine years Absence--He marries again, and Departs a short while after, with all his Family, for Senegal--Description of the Journey between Paris and Rochefort 19 CHAPTER II. Departure from Rochefort--The Picard Family Embark in the Medusa Frigate--Account of the Voyage till they reach the Arguin Bank 28 CHAPTER III. The Medusa Frigate runs aground on the Arguin Bank--Description of the Shipwreck--A Raft is constructed--They swear not to abandon those who wish to go upon it 35 CHAPTER IV.