32 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER once with Baudry and Mandao to the Governor, M. Grodet, who told me that he had received despatches authorizing him to suspend my expedition, and to employ us as he liked ! Our party was at once broken up. Baudry was sent to make forced marches to the Niger to escort some convoys of provisions on their way to re-victual Timbuktu. I should be disposed of later, and, as a matter of fact, I was eventually sent to take command of the Niger flotilla.

I must quote the actual words of this despatch, so fatal to us, for not long since M. Grodet was defending himself from GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KAYES. , , r 1 • the charge of havmg been somehow the cause of the delay to our expedition of two whole years. The despatch was addressed — " Colonies a Gouverneur, Sudani' and ran thus — 'Autorise surseoir Mission Hourst, et disposer de cet officier!'

As will be observed, the Governor of the Sudan was authorized, that is to say, he could do as suggested or not, to suspend, that is to say, to stop us, for the limited time which seemed desirable to him. But any further disputing about it would do no good now.

One remark, however, I must make : we were stationary for two years on the banks of the Niger above Timbuktu, doing no particular service to our country. Decceur, Baud, and others were marching on Say from Dahomey. Can one fail to see what immediate political and diplomatic The translator thinks it best to give the actual words of this celebrated despatch, which caused so much excitement at the time.