128
EUROPE AND AFRICA
of Central Sudan from the eastern border via Kano to
Lake Chad, and returned to Europe by way of Tripoli,
which he reached on December 10, 1892. He had traveled
five thousand miles and explored a path by which France
might reach the lake.
Meanwhile, Colonels Frey and Archinard were taking
over for France the whole of the great district between the
Senegal and the Upper Niger, as far north as Nioro; and
Lieutenants Caron Jaime and Davoust explored the Niger
northward from Bamaku to Kourioumé.! Jenne was
permanently occupied in 1893 and the gallant Colonel Bon-
nier took Timbuctu in 1894. In this latter year, in Daho-
mey, which had been taken under French protection in 1884
at the instigation of Felix Faure (then Secretary of the
Colonies) and created a French colony in 1893 through the
campaigns of General Dodds against the King of Behansin,
Captain Toutée was starting on a remarkable journey.
From Porto Novo on the Gulf of Guinea he made his way
slowly north to Badjibo on the Niger River, which he
ascended past Boussa and Say to Tibi-Farca (opposite
Zinder.) On November 8, 1895, Lieutenant Hourst 2 left
Timbuctu in an aluminum boat; brought from France in
sections and specially constructed for running the cataracts;
and, carefully surveying the country as he proceeded, he
made his way down the river to Zinder, Say, and Boussa.
After remarkable adventures, he reached the northern out-
posts of the British Royal Niger Company, by whose agents
he was escorted to the coast, and, finally, arrived at the
French consulate in Porto Novo on November 1, 1896.
Thus accurate knowledge of the Upper Niger was obtained
for the first time by the French and a definite connection
1 The port for Timbuctu.
2 His adventures are described in detail in his entertaining volume, en-
titled French Enterprise in Africa, published in 1898.