ARAB SLAVERY. 
511 
couraged them still to hope, and led them on along 
the top of the cliffs. As evening approached^ 
one of them exclaimed, " A light !" This object 
being soon seen by all, produced an electric in- 
fluence, and diffused new life and spirits through, 
the party. Arab bondage, which had before ap- 
peared the most horrible of evils, was now, after 
so near a prospect of perishing, patiently sub- 
mitted to. It was imprudent, however, to ap- 
proach during the night, and they waited till 
next day, when they went up and presented 
themselves in a humble posture. The Arabs, on 
seeing them, set up a furious yell, and imme- 
diately began to contend with each other for the 
possession of this unexpected prey. A distribu- 
tion being made by this barbarous process, they 
had the affliction to find that they must separate^ 
in consequence of the division of the Arabs into 
two parties. For eight or ten days they proceed- 
ed S. E. into the heart of the desert, and then 
began to return towards the sea for want of water. 
On the 20th, t^vo strangers arrived ; Sidi Hamet, 
and Seid his brother, who proved to be merchants 
from Morocco. Sidi Hamet, on seeing the cap- 
tives, shewed some humanity, and gave Riley and 
one of his companions a little water to drink, 
" the first good water they had tasted, and which 
" inspired hope, as coming from a better coun- 
try." Sidi Hamet then inquired into their 
23 
