124 
FRENCH GUNS. 
been indignant ; in their presence he always pretended great 
kindness for me, and compassion for the sufferings which I 
had endured in the desert. It was impossible that he could 
altogether deceive them, for, notwithstanding the abundance 
of water which we had since we left Telig, I was often 
obliged to apply to the other Moors in the caravan when I 
wanted drink : I was also driven out of our tent many 
times by the rudeness of my tormentors, and took shelter 
with my neighbours, who were much amused with my con- 
versation, and collected around me, to question me about 
my escape from the christians, their manners and customs ; 
they asked me also whether 1 had been ill-treated by my 
white master. I always took care, as much as I could, to 
counteract the impression which they all have, that Musul- 
mans are ill-treated amongst us, an idea which proceeds 
from their intolerant system. 
They all showed me their guns and inquired where they 
were made ; and when I told them that they came from 
France, I observed that they thought them the more valua- 
ble : accordingly, if I wanted to flatter a Moor 1 told him 
that his gun was of French manufacture, and out of gra- 
titude for the pleasure which I affbrded him, he commonly 
offered me a share of his dokhnou and water. 
On the 29th, at six in the morning, we proceeded north- 
ward. The soil over which we passed was covered with 
quartz. About nine o'clock in the morning, we halted in a 
place where we found some traces of vegetation amidst the 
rocks. One of the Moors took water in his leather bag, 
and went to tend the camels ; the others were engaged in 
examining and weighing their gold ; they commonly hide it 
as I have already mentioned, in pieces of rag, on which they 
put a mark denoting the quantity, and the person to whom 
it belongs ; for this gold is often the proceeds of goods en- 
trusted to them by merchants, when they leave Tafilet. 
The camel upon which I rode was laden with ostrich- 
