Chapter 17 Summary

Candide is at a loss as to what direction to travel, as he does not want to stray far from Cunégonde, but he also knows that if he goes back, he will be burned for killing her brother; if he goes back to Germany, he will be in the middle of the war between the Bulgarians and the Abares. Additionally if they stay where they are, another group of Oreillons could choose to cook and eat them.

Cacambo advises Candide that they should go to Cayenne, and the two start off in the direction they believe Cayenne to be. The road to Cayenne is very rough and the horses soon die, and their food supply runs out. The two live off wild fruit for a month until they come to a stream with an abandoned canoe. Cacambo suggests they float down the...