■f^S TRAVELS IN THE 
water from wells which had been dug by the followers of 
the Prophet. This treatment, at length, so frightened the boy, 
that I believe he would sooner have perished with thirst, thaji 
attempted again to fill the skin ; he therefore contented himself 
with begging water from the Negro slaves that attended the 
camp; and I followed his example; but with very indifferent 
success ; for though I let no opportunity slip, and v/as very ur- 
gent in my solicitations, both to the Moors and Negroes, I was 
but ill supplied, and frequently passed the night in the situation 
of Tantalus. No sooner had I shut my eyes, than fancy would 
convey me to the streams and rivers of my native land : there, 
as I wandered along the verdant brink, I surveyed the clear 
stream with transport, and hastened to swallow the delightful 
draught ; — but alas ! disappointment awakened me ; and I found 
myself a lonely captive, perishing of thirst amidst the wilds of 
Africa 1 
One night, having solicited in vain for water at the camp, and 
being quite feverish, I resolved to try my fortune at the wells, 
which were about half a mile distant from the camp. According- 
ly, I set out about midnight, and, being guided by the lowing of 
the cattle, soon arrived at the place ; where I found the Moors 
very busy drawing water. I requested permission to drink, but 
was driven away, with outrageous abuse. Passing, however, from 
one well to another, I came at last to one where there was only 
an old man and two boys. I made the same request to this man, 
and he immediately drew me up a bucket of water ; but, as I was 
about to take hold of it, he recollected that I was a Christian, and 
fearing that his bucket might be polluted by my lips, he dashed 
