I was lifted up and placed on a camel where I sat and though dreadfully shaken I was too glad to be relieved of the labour of walking to complain of my beast.
-Travels through Central Africa to Timbuctoo and Across the Great Sahara, Performed in the Years 1824-1828, Vol.1, Réné Caillié, 1830 edition
Caillié was the first Westerner to reach Timbuktu and return alive to tell the tale, a big deal in British and French explorers’ societies at the time, which all had bets riding on who it would be and how well he would play the role. The English translation of his Memoir’s title put it best, “Performed”.