Perils and Captivity - Comprising The sufferings of the Picard family after the shipwreck of the Medusa, in the year 1816; Narrative of the captivity of M. de Brisson, in the year 1785; Voyage of Madame Godin along the river of the Amazons, in the year 1770.

Jeancharlotte-Adélaïde [Née Picard] Dardbrisson Godin, Jean Godin, Charlotte-Adélaïde [Née Picard] Dard, Pierre Raymond De Brisson

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• Publié par: sewyur
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 23
• Langue: English

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Charlotte-Adélaïde [née Picard] Dard and Pierre Raymond de Brisson and Jean Godin
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Title: Perils and Captivity
Comprising The sufferings of the Picard family after the
shipwreck of the Medusa, in the year 1816; Narrative of
the captivity of M. de Brisson, in the year 1785; Voyage
of Madame Godin along the river of the Amazons, in the
year 1770.
Author: Charlotte-Adélaïde [née Picard] Dard
Pierre Raymond de Brisson
Jean Godin
Translator: Patrick Maxwell
Release Date: September 28, 2007 [EBook #22792]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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PERILS AND CAPTIVITY;
COMPRISING
THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PICARD FAMILY
AFTER THE SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA, IN THE YEAR
1816.
NARRATIVE
OF THE CAPTIVITY OF M. DE BRISSON, IN THE YEAR 1785.VOYAGE OF MADAME GODIN
ALONG THE RIVER OF THE AMAZONS, IN THE YEAR 1770.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR CONSTABLE AND CO.
AND
THOMAS HURST AND CO. LONDON.
1827.
PREFACE.
The expeditions in which it is attempted to explore unknown and distant
oceans, are usually those which are most pregnant with adventure and
disaster. But land has its perils as well as sea; and the wanderer, thrown into
the unknown interior of the Continents of Africa and America, through regions of
burning sand and trackless forest, occupied only by rude and merciless
barbarians, encounters no less dreadful forms of danger and suffering. Several
such examples are presented in the present volume, which exhibit peril,
captivity, and 'hair-breadth escape,' in some of their striking and tragical results.
The catastrophe of the Medusa is already known to the public, as one of the
most awful and appalling that ever befel any class of human beings. The
Shipwreck, and the dreadful scenes on the Raft, have been recorded in the
Narrative of Messrs Savigny and Corréard. But the adventures of the party who
were cast ashore, and forced to find their way through the African Desert, could
be reported only imperfectly by those gentlemen who were not eye-witnesses.
This want is supplied in the first part of the present volume, which contains the
Narrative by Mad. Dard, then Mademoiselle Picard, one of the suffering party,
and for the translation of which, the Editor is much indebted to Mr Maxwell.
There is in it so much feeling and good sense, mixed with an amiable and
girlish simplicity, as to render it particularly engaging. There is also something
peculiarly gratifying to an Englishman in the reflection, that such disaster could
not have befallen almost any British crew. It was evidently nothing but the utter
and thorough selfishness which actuated the leaders and most of those on
board both of the ship and the raft, which rendered the affair at all very serious.
A wise plan formed and acted upon, with a view to the general good, would
have enabled them, without difficulty, to save the crew, the cargo, and perhaps
the vessel. The narrative of the shipwreck and journey is also combined with
the adventures of an interesting Family, related in such a manner as to give
them a strong hold in our sympathy.
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 mostinteresting 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.
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.
The Helm of the Medusa is broken by the
Waves—It is determined to abandon the
Wreck of the Frigate—The Military are put
upon the Raft—The greater part of the
Officers go into the Boats—The Picard
Family are abandoned upon the Medusa—
Proceedings of M. Picard to get his Familyinto a Boat 42
CHAPTER V.
Departure of the Boats—They seem
desirous of towing the Raft—Generous
Conduct of a Naval Officer—The
Abandonment of the Raft—Despair of the
Wretches who are left to the fury of the
Waves—Reproaches of M. Picard to the
Authors of the Abandoning the Raft—
Description of the Small Fleet which the
Boats formed—Frightful Fate, and
Deplorable End of the greater part of the
Individuals on the Raft 48
CHAPTER VI.
The Chiefs of the Expedition order the
Boats to take the Route for Senegal—
Objections of some Generous Officers—
The Shores of the Desert of Sahara are
discovered—The Sailors of the Pinnace are
desirous of Landing—The Boat in which
the Picard Family is leaks much—Unheard-
of Sufferings—Terrible Situation of the
Family—Frightful Tempest—Despair of the
Passengers 58
CHAPTER VII.
After the Frightful Tempest, the Boat, in
which are the Picard Family, is still
desirous of taking the Route to Senegal—
Cruel Alternative to which the Passengers
are Driven—It is at last decided to Gain the
Coast—Description of the Landing—The
Transports of the shipwrecked 65
CHAPTER VIII.
The shipwrecked Party form themselves
into a Caravan to go by Land to Senegal—
They find Water in the Desert—Some
People of the Caravan propose to Abandon
the Picard Family—Generous Conduct of
an Old Officer of Infantry—Discovery of an
Oasis of Wild Purslain—First Repast of the
Caravan in the Desert—They Fall in with a
Small Camp of Arabs—M. Picard
purchases Two Kids—The Moors offer their
Services to them—Arrival at last at the
Great Camp of the Moors—M. Picard is
recognised by an Arab—Generous
Proceeding of that Arab—Sudden
Departure of the Caravan—They hire
Asses 71
CHAPTER IX.
The Caravan regains the Shore—A Sail is
discovered—It brings Assistance to the
Caravan—Great Generosity of anEnglishman—Continuation of their Journey
—Extraordinary Heat—They Kill a Bullock
—Repast of the Caravan—At last they
discover the River Senegal—Joy of the
Unfortunate—M. Picard receives
Assistance from some Old Friends at
Senegal—Hospitality of the Inhabitants of
the Island of St Louis towards every Person
of the Caravan 83
CHAPTER X.
The English refuse to cede the Colony of
Senegal to the French—The whole of the
French Expedition are obliged to go and
encamp on the Peninsula of Cape Verd—
The Picard Family obtain leave of the
Engl