f the
women who surrounded him was his favourite. He pointed her out to me. I
approached, and presented her with two handfuls of cloves, which her
husband had very carefully kept, and wished me to present her with, in
order to gain her good wishes. I learned that Moorish women were very
fond of odours, and in a very particular manner of cloves. She received
my present with an insulting haughtiness, and pushed me into the tent
with disdain. Immediately after, this woman, the most wicked of all whom
I had known, hated by all her companions, such was the blackness of her
character, came to order us (viz. Sieurs Devoise, Baudre and myself, who
had fallen to the share of her husband) to unload the camels, to clean a
kind of kettle, and to gather roots for making a fire. While she was
thus employed in giving her orders, her dear husband was lying fast
asleep on the knees of one of his concubines.

The hope of soon regaining my freedom, gave me the necessary spirit to
support me under the hardships which this wicked woman made me suffer. I
therefore went out to make faggots; but what was my despair to find, on
my return, my two companions lying felled with blows, and stretched out
on the sand. They had been thus abused, because their strength was
totally exhausted, and they could not execute the task which she had
enjoined them. I awakened my master with my redoubled cries; and
although I could not speak his language well, I made shift to support
with him the following conversation:--"Did you bring us hither to kill
us by the hands of this cruel woman? Remember the promise which you made
me. Conduct me without delay to Senegal or to Morocco; otherwise, I
assure you, that though I should perish, I will cause to be taken from
you, though I cannot do it myself, all the treasure which I have given
you; I will certainly find a master who will treat me with more humanity
than you have done."

My rage was excessive. Many of the neighbours, witnesses of my
transport, were gathering about us. This was very disagreeable to my
master, who feared lest I should cause him to deliver back the valuable
effects I had given him. He came to me, took me in his arms, and pushed
me hastily into his tent, and entreated me not to make such a noise. He
then presented me with a bowl of milk, "Carry that," said I, "to my
companions, who are expiring for want." He assured me they should have
some, and besought me to be quiet. I showed him my arms all to