with a numerous caravan. This remarkable man was bent not only upon scientific explorations of the country, but also upon establishing direct commercial relations between the French-African colony and Soudan. He had everything in favour of his enterprise, being supported by the Algerian learned societies, and peculiarly fitted by virtue of his own acquirements for transactions with the natives. Month after month, year after year, have passed without tidings of Mardochée, and there can be little doubt that he and his band have shared the fate of so many other travellers, and have fallen victims to the perfidy of the Touaregs.3

It must not be supposed that an experienced traveller like Alexandrine Tinné undertook a journey through the territory of the Touaregs without all possible precautions.

3 Since this went to press news has been heard of the gallant rabbi.

On the 29th of January, 1869, her caravan, composed of fifty souls-only three of the number being Europeans besides herselfand seventy camels, started from Tripoli, reaching Sokna in Fezzan on the 1st of March. Here she found, as she believed, a trusty ally in a certain Touareg chief, to whom she had been recommended, named Ik-nu-ken, who promised to escort her himself as far as Ghat. An insurrection breaking out just then in his dominions, he was obliged to absent himself, promising, however, to send her a proper substitute. From all that she had seen and heard of this man, there seemed no reason to accredit him with treacherous intentions; but instead of one escort, two Touareg chiefs appeared, both deputed, so they said, from her friend; both promising to see her in all security to Ghat, and without doubt, one having planned to murder her beforehand. This man was an

G

enemy of Ik-nu-ken, not an ally as he pretended to be, and it is supposed that the massacre and pillage of the caravan were determined as much by revenge as by cupidity.

We may conceive with what high spirits Alexandrine set out. She saw herself on the eve of making a wholly unique and important journey, every step of the way being fraught with marvel and novelty. Her brain was doubtless busy with all kinds of grand schemes for the future, the realization of long-nursed dreams and projects, having not only in view the satisfaction of her own curiosity, but scientific and philanthropic ends. She had chiefly at heart, be it remembered, the amelioration of the slavedriven population of Africa, and always hoped to achieve something on their behalf.

A few days after her departure the mur

derous scheme was put into execution. Early in the morning a quarrel broke out— as it is supposed, intentionally-among the camel-drivers, and hearing the noise, the young mistress of the caravan hastily quitted her tent to see what she could do in the way of pacification. Her appearance was the signal agreed upon for the massacre. One Touareg first disabled her right hand by a sabre-thrust, in order to prevent her from using her revolver; then with a rifle ball in the breast, achieved his deadly work. The others rushed on to the slaughter. The three Dutch sailors, her sole European attendants, were next assassinated, and then the plundering of the rich caravan began. The faithful negroes, who adored their kind young mistress, were carried off with the spoil, and the bodies of the victims left unburied on the sands. Thus perished, in the flower of her youth, one of the most enter

prising lady travellers, and one of the most courageous women who ever lived.

It is easy to criticize such a career, to urge that much she attempted was visionary and impracticable, that she risked her life. and those of her companions inconsiderately and to little purpose; in fine, that it was one at variance with common sense and expediency. Judged according to ordinary standards, so indeed it appears, but in such cases the usual tests are inappropriate; for if prudence and deliberation were the first points consulted in framing our existences, then, indeed, there would be no more voyages of discovery undertaken. If, moreover, existence, for itself, ought to be valued beyond all else, then little could be adduced in favour of one hazarded, like hers, a thousand times for what may appear very inadequate motives. But is it so? and what favour, in that case, could personal courage find at all when called