t last we arrived at the tents after which we were searching,
and found in them three Mooresses and two little children, who did not
seem in the least frightened by our visit. A negro servant, belonging to
an officer of marine, interpreted between us; and the good women, who,
when they had heard of our misfortunes, offered us millet and water for
payment. We bought a little of that grain at the rate of thirty pence a
handful; the water was got for three francs a glass; it was very good,
and none grudged the money it cost. As a glass of water, with a handful
of millet, was but a poor dinner for famished people, my father bought
two kids, which they would not give him under twenty piasters. We
immediately killed them, and our Mooresses boiled them in a large
kettle. Whilst our repast was preparing, my father, who could not afford
the whole of the expense, got others to contribute to it; but an old
officer of marine, who was to have been captain of the port of Senegal,
was the only person who refused, notwithstanding he had about him nearly
three thousand francs, which he boasted of in the end. Several soldiers
and sailors had seen him count it in round pieces of gold, on coming
ashore on the Desert, and reproached him for his sordid avarice; but he
seemed insensible to their reproaches, nor eat the less of his portion
of kid with his companions in misfortune.

[Footnote 5: Oasis, a fertile tract of land situated among sand.
T.]

When about to resume our journey, we saw several Moors approaching to us
armed with lances. Our people instantly seized their arms, and put
themselves in readiness to defend us in case of an attack. Two officers,
followed by several soldiers and sailors, with our interpreter, advanced
to discover their intentions. They instantly returned with the Moors,
who said, that far from wishing to do us harm, they had come to offer us
their assistance, and to conduct us to Senegal. This offer being
accepted of with gratitude by all of us, the Moors, of whom we had been
so afraid, became our protectors and friends, verifying the old proverb,
_there are good people every where_! As the camp of the Moors was at
some considerable distance from where we were, we set off altogether to
reach it before night. After having walked about two leagues through the
burning sands, we found ourselves again upon the shore. Towards night,
our conductors made us strike again into the interior, saying we were
very near