TRANSFER OF PRISONERS 
19 
time they were compelled to the dire necessity of seeking their 
food along with the cattle ; and on these occasions their only nu- 
triment was plants and live snails. 
M. de Brisson was possessed of sufficient strength and firm- 
ness of mind to resist all these hardships ; but he was soon sub- 
jected to oriiers. He was compelled to harness tho camels to the 
plough^ to attend to the tillage and sowing of the lands; and his 
master, \vlien he had fmished his own jobs, would let him out to 
odier Moors for a portion of n^ilk. He would infallibly have 
fallen under the fatigue, if some hope of liberty had not le- 
mained with him, and if he had not been enabled occasionally 
to steal some barky and mutton in addition to Ûie small quantity 
of food which they allowed him. 
The unfortunate M. Devoise being older, and not so strong 
in constitution, could not long withstand such hardships. Every 
day he prayed for death, who at length came to his assistance. 
This gentleman was the brother of the present French commer- 
cial commissioner at Tunis. I was on terms of the strictest in- 
timacy with him ; and when I heard of his shipwreck, I sent to 
the deserts with the most pressing requests that he might be de- 
livered up; but all my endeavours were unsuccessful. M. de 
Brisson paid him the last duties of humanity, Beaudré also 
died, and his body was devoured by ravens and serpents. 
M. de Brisson at length obtained the permission of his master 
to write to Mogador, which the Moors call Sovia. He addressed 
his letter to the French consul, and gave a melancholy account 
of the hardships he suffered. It was conveyed by a Jew, who 
travelled through that part of the desert; for the Jews who are 
born in the desert live on good terms with the Moors, and adopt 
nearly the jsame customs; but the Jewish inhabitants of the 
towns being more rigid observers of their religious maxims, re- 
ceive far worse treatment. 
A second favour more important than the first occurred by 
chance. Another Sidy-Mahammet, who was sheriff of the 
tribe of the Trarzas, had occasion to pass through the place 
where M. de Brisson was enslaved, and they recognised each 
other. The sheriff spoke so highly of him to the brother- 
in-law of his master, Sidy-Sellem, that the latter, who was na- 
turally humane and compassionate, made a second attempt to 
purchase him, and the bargain was at length concluded. 'I'he 
price of his transfer was five camels. 
Sidy-Sellem was the first who informed M. de Brisson of the 
change, which was soon confirmed by his former master, and they 
separated on the best terms. M. de Brisson, on returning with 
his new owner, met with a companion of his misfortune, who 
had been baker to the wrecked ship, and they travelled together 
c 2 
