s brother-in-law was the only person who discovered any signs of
compassion towards me. "Why," said he to his brother, "did you not sell
me these slaves, when I offered to purchase them? What pleasure or
profit can you have in thus occasioning a miserable death to them? or
why treat you thus cruelly the only one that remains? You confess that
he deserves regard; nay, you suppose him to be a king; the riches he has
given you, I think, should engage you to treat him handsomely."

This last reflection raised the jealousy of the by-standers. They all
unanimously appeared to favour my cause. But Sidy Sellem was the only
person who spoke through his benevolent disposition. The rest did not
speak after him, as a mark of respect to his great age and riches. This
was the same Sidy Sellem, of the tribe of Larroussye, who had treated us
so kindly after our shipwreck, and who had forewarned me that I would
one day repent having refused his offer of purchasing me.

I was now the only slave in the village. I had no person to whom I could
communicate my distresses. My situation became daily more and more
unhappy; yet I determined with myself to be no longer affected so deeply
with it. "After having supported, with boldness, so many dangers," said
I to myself, "I have to this hour gone through extraordinary fatigue; my
health enables me to encounter still fresh trials; let me support them
with courage, and perhaps Providence will soon cease to try me farther."

This resolution, and the manner in which I had conducted myself towards
those who were wishing to depress me, had procured me some attention
amongst these savages; insomuch, that they permitted me to lie, from
time to time, behind their tents, and even, to drink at times out of
their vessels. My master left me in peace, and did not require that I
should keep the camels. It is true, he no more spake to me about
restoring me to liberty; besides, I would have given very little credit
to any thing which he would have said. His treachery towards me had
convinced me that I could place very little confidence in him.

I was obliged, however, to continue making faggots, to procure
subsistence; but I was often thrown into fits of inconceivable fury by
thirst. One must have experienced the torment which I endured, to form
an idea of the extremities to which it is possible to be reduced. I saw
that the Arabs themselves were in the greatest distress. Many died of
hunger and thirst. The sea