several
of them lost their lives. The furious women who could not reach the ship
to pillage, fell upon us, and tore from our backs the few remaining
clothes: they attached themselves particularly to me, because mine had
been better preserved, and therefore merited the preference.

My master, who was a very great warrior, and who perceived that the
number of Arabs was continually increasing, called two of his friends,
whom he had, very craftily, made sharers with him, in the property of
twelve of the shipwrecked people, who had surrendered themselves to him.
This was the best expedient to form a party, and to preserve the share
which he had in reserve for himself. After having made the necessary
arrangement, for securing his share of the booty taken from the ship,
and the slaves which he had acquired, he separated us from the crowd,
putting us under shelter to prevent our being insulted. This was a
miserable hut covered with moss, and situated more than a league from
the sea, where we were all lodged, or rather crammed together.

The first care of our patron was to visit us frequently, fearing that we
should conceal any thing from him. Unhappily for my comrades, they could
get nothing preserved, from the harsh manner in which he treated them.
He stripped them even to their shirt and handkerchief; and gave them to
understand, if he did it not himself, others would. He seemed inclined
to come to the same extremities with me, but I observed to him that I
had already given him enough; so he left me undisturbed.

I had not yet learned into what tribe we had fallen. In order therefore
to get information, I addressed myself to our master, with whom I had
the following conversation, partly by words, and partly by signs. "What
is your name, and to what tribe do you belong? and why have you fled
from the companies which are more advanced upon the sea-coast?"--"My
name is Sidy Mahammet del Zouze; my tribe is that of Labdesseba; and I
fled from the Ouadelims, because we could not live on good terms with
them. But as to you, what is your name? and are you brother to these
people?" (pointing to my companions). I answered all his questions; but
was not a little distressed to learn, that we had fallen into the hands
of the fiercest of all the inhabitants of the Arabian Deserts. I
foresaw, from this hour, what distress and uneasiness we were to suffer,
till the time we should be delivered.--Well, then! how shall that be?
Alas, I durst