when I became somewhat calmer, I reflected on the
danger, which I had so fortunately escaped and my mind was so much
affected that I could not refrain from tears. I endeavoured to conceal
from those around me, this evidence of my sensibility and distress; but
some of the women beside me, observed it, and in place of being affected
with my situation, they threw sand into my eyes, to dry, as they said,
my eyelids. Happily the night, that screened me from their view, saved
me from the rage of these monsters.

We had been now three days in slavery, and had as yet got nothing to
support us, but a little meal, not more corrupted by sea-water, than by
a mixture of barley meal, which had been long kept in goats skins; but
even this wretched repast was interrupted by alarming cries, which we
overheard at a distance.

One of Sidy Mahammet's friends ran up to him, and advised him to hide
himself very quickly, because the Ouadelims were arming from every
quarter to carry off their seizure. "Fly with your slaves," said he,
"whilst I gather together some of ours, and at break of day we will
proceed on our march to regain our habitation." I have since learned
that the tribe of Labdesseba, had only come to the sea-coast about three
days before our shipwreck, to gather together the wild grain for the
support of their families. They appointed the place of rendezvous;
meantime, we were to conceal ourselves behind the hillocks of sand,
where we should remain, till some Arabs of another tribe, but equally
interested in preserving their booty, should come to join us, and
reinforce our troop. A guide, who should go before us, was to place at
little distances, small pyramids of stones, to point out to us the road
which we should keep, and to prevent our falling into the midst of some
hostile village, more especially of the Ouadelims. The fact was, these
people are so avaricious, whether friends or enemies, there is equal
cause to be suspicious of either. At break of day, all those who had
Christian slaves joined us, and we all proceeded on our march for the
interior parts of the country, where the families of our respective
masters resided.

It is impossible to describe our sufferings on this journey, especially
from thirst. We had such difficulty to move our tongue, that we
trembled to ask the smallest question. We were obliged to follow the
track of the camels, by which our march was hastened; and dreading our
being carried off, our mast