218 
TRAVELS IN BARBARA 
of treason, was pardoned ; but he soon after en> 
gaged in a revolt by Muley Hatnet against Muley 
Semein. Hamet being defeated, all the slaves be- 
longing to himself and his partizans were forfeit* 
ed to the emperor. Mouette being of this num- 
ber, was carried to Mequinez, where extensive 
works were carrying on. Here he found himself 
in a worse situation than ever. They were met at 
the castle gate by a black " of a prodigious stature, 
" a frightful aspect, and a voice as dreadful as the 
" barking of Cerberus. " He had a staff in his hand 
entirely proportioned to his own size, from which 
each, as he entered, received a salutation. They 
were then furnished with enormous pick-axes, to 
pull down old walls, where they were kept at 
work incessantly ; and, if any one took a moment's 
respite, " he received his reward immediately.'* 
Whenever this personage went away, he left substi* 
tutes, who were anxious to prove their zeal by the 
blows they inflicted, and made besides large re- 
ports to him on his return ; none of which were 
thrown away. His voice, calling in the morning 
come, quick, " put such life into them," that 
every one strove which should be foremost, know- 
ing how surely the last would feel the weight of 
his cudgel. One day, as the king was passing, 
they took the opportunity of throwing themselves 
at his feet, — -many of them with their wounds yet 
bloody* The monarch shewed some signs of com- 
