264 TRAVELS IN THE SAHARA. 
ley-meal mixed with brackish water, when it could 
be procured. On the first day, his steps were 
marked with blood ; but the Arabs drew out the 
thorns from his feet, and, having scraped his soles 
with their daggers, plastered them over with tar 
and sand, which enabled him to walk without far- 
ther pain or difficulty. In that part of the desert 
which he traversed, he observed much excellent 
land, that would be very fertile if cultivated. It 
produced great quantities of truffles, which the 
Moors, with much humanity, denied to themselves, 
and gave to M. Saugnier. He was employed, when 
he resided at the horde, in making butter, by shak- 
ing the milk in a goat's skin, and in collecting dead 
wood ; for, though the country was covered with 
bushes, the Arabs never touched a green stick. 
M. Saugnier had not remained long in this situa- 
tion, till he was sold to one of the Moors, who at 
that period were in rebellion against the Empe- 
ror of Marocco, for a barrel of meal, and an 
iron bar about nine feet in length. During a jour- 
ney of nine days, he ate nothing but small wild 
fruits resembling jujubes. After being repeatedly 
sold, he rescued his master from being assassinated 
by four Arabs, from which moment his sufferings 
were at an end, and he was treated as one of the 
tribe. But, as he refused to renounce his country, 
he was again sold to the chief of Glimi, who then 
commanded the Moors who were in rebellion against 
10 
