I strove during the rest of the conversation to counteract the bad impression which these imputations had made upon my marabout; but I saw that I had lost all his confidence, and that it was only by a speedy return, and an apparent resolution to settle in his country, that I could impose upon him or his nation. CHAPTER V. Disappointments experienced at St. Louis. — The author takes up various occupations. — He departs once more. — Particulars respecting the environs of Kakondy. — The Nalous, Landamas, or Lantimas, and Bagos. When I reached St. Louis, I heard, to my great mortification, that Baron Roger had returned to France; I requested, nevertheless, an interview with the governor; which was not granted till several days afterwards. In the mean time, I was indebted to the hospitality of one of my friends; for although I had made known my forlorn condition, the administration of St. Louis did not offer me any assistance. I could not but be much hurt by this insulting reception. Was I then estranged from my country by the pains I had taken to serve it? Could I be suspected of being a mere adventurer? And had I not eight months before received instructions from Baron Roger, who promised me the protection of the government? I still hoped, however, that the governor, when he had read my journal, would do me justice and appreciate my zeal. When I delivered it to him, I apprized him of my plans for the future; it was not long before I discovered how much I had lost by the departure of my true patron; not that his successor was deficient in talents, or in the love of science, but he did not enter into his views; in short, it was not he who had sent me amongst the Braknas. The substance of my plan was as follows: I asked of government the moderate sum of six thousand francs, (£250) with which I intended to buy a flock and two slaves, and take them with me to the Braknas. Here I proposed to establish myself for some time, and to continue my studies; and I reckoned upon dispelling, by these means, the suspicions which had been excited about me, and which were no doubt known to my marabout. Returning to them in this way, with means of subsistence analogous to their own, I could easily have obtained leave to accompany them on their commercial expeditions. I intended to visit Adrar this year, to penetrate as far as possible towards the northern part of the desert, and, when I had a favourable opportunity, to direct my course to the east, under pretence of a pilgrimage to Mecca, passing through the towns of Wâlet and Timbuctoo. I hoped to traverse this immense tract of desert, in more senses than one, to collect all the information I could of a commercial or geographical nature, and to return to Europe through Egypt.