The outpost in Gouina
chapter 44
Conclusion—the signed statement—the French settlements—the outpost in Médine—the Basilisk—Saint-Louis—the English frigate—return to London.
That military expedition on the riverbank had been sent by Senegal’s governor; its two officers were Lieutenant of Marines Dufraisse and Sublieutenant Rodamel; plus it also included a sergeant and seven enlisted men. For two days they had been busy scouting out the most promising location for an outpost in Gouina, and then they witnessed Dr. Fergusson’s arrival.
You can easily imagine the backslaps and congratulations lavished on our three travelers.1 The Frenchmen could vouch for the completion of this daring project and naturally became Samuel Fergusson’s witnesses.
Accordingly the doctor asked them right off if they would officially verify his arrival at Gouina Falls.
“Would you be willing to sign a statement to that effect?” he asked Lieutenant Dufraisse.
“We’re at your service!” the officer answered.
He led the Englishmen to a temporary outpost built on the riverbank; there they received the most attentive care and lavish hospitality. And at this location they drew up a statement that resides today in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society of London, a statement that reads as follows:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN—
We the undersigned declare that on the date given below, we watched Dr. Fergusson and his two companions Richard Kennedy and Joseph Wilson* arrive while holding onto the netting of a balloon; said balloon fell a few paces from us into the very heart of the river, rode off with the current, and vanished over Gouina Falls. In witness whereof we have signed the present statement independently of the above named.—Executed at Gouina Falls, May 24, 1862.
SAMUEL FERGUSSON, RICHARD KENNEDY, JOSEPH WILSON; Lieutenant of Marines DUFRAISSE; Sublieutenant RODAMEL; Sergeant DUFAYS; Privates FLIPPEAU, MAYOR, PELISSIER, LOROIS, RASCAGNET, GUILLON, and LEBEL.
Dr. Fergusson and his gallant companions had completed their wondrous crossing, as unimpeachable witnesses could confirm; they were now among friends and in the midst of exceptionally cordial tribes who dealt regularly with the French settlements.
They had arrived in Senegal on Saturday, May 24, and on the 27th of the same month, they reached the outpost in Médine, located on the river a little farther north.
French officers there welcomed them with open arms plus a full range of services and resources; the doctor and his companions were able to ship out almost immediately on a small steamboat, the Basilisk, which runs downriver to the Senegal’s mouth.
Two weeks later on June 10, they arrived in Saint-Louis, whose governor gave them a magnificent welcome; they had completely recovered from their stress and exhaustion. What’s more, Joe told anybody willing to listen:
“All in all that was a pretty tame journey we went on, and if a bloke’s hungry for excitement, I’d advise him to skip it; it got very tedious toward the end, and if we hadn’t run a few risks on Lake Chad and the Senegal River, I honestly think we would’ve died of yawning!”
An English frigate was ready to leave; our three travelers made their way on board; they reached Portsmouth on June 25, London the next day.
We won’t describe the welcome they received at the Royal Geographical Society nor the enthusiasm that greeted them elsewhere. Kennedy left right away for Edinburgh, packing his notorious rifle; he lost no time assuring his old housekeeper that all was well.
Dr. Fergusson and his loyal Joe remained the same men we’re acquainted with. But unbeknownst to the two, something in them had changed.
They had become friends and equals.
Newspapers all over Europe never tired of praising the daring explorers, and the Daily Telegraph chalked up a print run of 977,000 copies the day it published the journey’s highlights.
During a public gathering at the Royal Geographical Society, Dr. Fergusson gave a report on his airborne expedition, winning for himself and his two companions the gold medal awarded to the most notable feat of exploration in the year 1862.
First and foremost, Dr. Fergusson’s journey confirmed in the most meticulous fashion the geographical facts and figures determined by Messrs. Barth, Burton, Speke, and others. Thanks to current expeditions under Messrs. Speke and Grant, Heuglin and Munzinger (respectively going up to the Nile’s headwaters and pushing into central Africa), it won’t be long before we can validate Dr. Fergusson’s own discoveries in that immense region, which stretches from longitude 14° all the way to longitude 33°.
THE END
* Dick is short for Richard and Joe for Joseph.