118 RILEY. 



as the leaks increased, while provisions and water failed, 

 Riley and his men came to the conclusion, that by remain- 

 ing at sea they must perish, and on land they could do no 

 more. They retouched the coast near Cape Barbas on the 

 8th September, but finding it to consist of perpendicular 

 rocks, they walked four miles, and finally clambered up 

 broken fragments, almost at the risk of life, ere they could 

 reach the summit. But what a scene was there presented! 

 Before them extended an immeasurable plain, without a 

 shrub, plant, or a blade of grass ; nothing that even for a 

 moment could support human life. They fell to the ground, 

 exclaiming, "'Tis enough! — here we must breathe our 

 last I" From such utter despair even the horrors of Afri- 

 can bondage appeared almost a deliverance. Towards 

 evening a light was descried gleaming along the waste, in- 

 dicating that they were in the neighbourhood of a band of 

 these marauders. Having waited till morning they ap- 

 proached the camp, and prostrated themselves in a suppliant 

 attitude. The Arabs uttered a furious yell, and immedi- 

 ately engaged in a violent contest for the living booty thus 

 unexpectedly presented. This dispute ended in a division 

 of the sailors among the barbarians, by whom the captives 

 were hurried in different directions into the interior of the 

 wilderness. The suflTerings of Riley were so extreme as 

 made him almost regret the life which he had saved, till he 

 met Sidi Hamet, a respectable caravan-merchant, who, ic 

 bargaining for his person, showed much sympathy for his 

 situation, and undertook to conduct him to Mogadore, pro- 

 vided he were made sure of a good ransom. The American 

 soon had the satisfaction of seeing two blankets, a cotton 

 robe, and a bundle of ostrich feathers paid as the price of his 

 liberty. He prevailed on the Mussulman also to purchase 

 his companions ; after which they set out together to cross 

 the Desert with their master and deliverer. They had a 

 very painful journey to perform, riding with the utmost ra- 

 pidity on the naked backs of camels, over hills of loose 

 sand, while the air was filled with tempests of drift. Food 

 and water being moreover very scanty, they were reduced 

 almost to the condition of skeletons, and Riley declares 

 that he did not ultimately weigh above ninety pounds. Hia 

 mind also was oppressed with much anxiety, as Sidi Hamet, 

 with all his humanity, gave notice from time to time, that, 



