MOORISH CUPIDITY. 
11 
The Moors call it avezoiid, and make a paste of it, ^vith which 
they regale themselves. In the distance, they discovered several 
liiiiocks, which, being overspread by a kind of wild fern, resem- 
bled a vast forest. ' 
They advanced towards the hillocks, and soon perceived 
a number of camels feeding, from v.lnch they had iio^ doulit 
that the neighbourhood was inhabited. This was a vahml)le 
discovery for the poor marmers, who were almost perishing with 
hunger and thirst. Some men who were watching the camels, 
as soon as they perceived the Europeans, gave the alarm to a 
neighbouring encampment, and they soon found themselves sur- 
rounded by MoorS; wlio appeared to be overjoyed, and made the 
most dreadful shouts and cries. The shipwrecked crew not being 
together, were seized by the collar with a ferocious eageiness, 
and immediately stripped; while those who attempted resistance, 
were wounded and thrown almost expiring on the sand. 
During this barbarous transaction, M. de Brisson perceived 
a Moor unarmed, and from his costume, he recognised him to 
be one of those who had accompanied the king Alikouri on ii 
visit which he paid him at isle St. Louis. He therefore ran and 
threw himself at his feet, as did M. Devoize, the second officer 
of the ship, and tive of the crew who had not left him : but they 
soon perceived that they were as unfortunate as their companions ; 
for the Moor received them with contempt, tie asked M. de 
Brisson in a severe tone, who he was, from whence he came, 
and what brought them all there? This officer answered by draw- 
ing on the sand the form of a ship, and by means of expressive 
gestures, with the assistance of a few Arabic words, which he had 
learned at isle St. Louis, he made him understand that they had 
been shipwrecked, and begged his assistance to conduct them to 
their destination ; adding, that he possessed tlie means of reward- 
ing him for his trouble. This last remark was perfectly under- 
stood, and gave great pleasure to the Moor, who immediately 
composed his features, and placed his fingers between those of 
M. de Brisson, as a testimony that they were friends, and would 
be always united. He demanded the effects of wiiich M. de 
Brisson had spoken, and received two v/^tches, one of them a 
repeater; two chahis, a gold stock-buckle, two pair of silver shoe- 
buckles, a brilliant ring, a silver goblet and cover, and 220 livres 
in specie. The money gave hin> more pleasure than ail the other 
articles; he secreted the treasure very mysteriously in his blue 
shirt, and promised M. de Brisson that h.e would never abandon 
Jiim. lire surrender of this property had induced our country- 
man to think that he should gtun the kindness of those into whose 
hands he had fallen; but it proved to him a source of the great- 
est ujisfortipie. The ^loor then asked M. dQ Ivi^son, î\t wh*t 
B % 
