215 
they knew not where to find water, and if they had 
known it, had not strength to fetch it. I should have 
perished with them on the spot, if Providence, by a 
kind of miracle, had not preserved us. 
Half an hour had already elapsed since I had fallen 
senseless to the ground, (as I have since been told,) 
when at some distance a considerable caravan, of more 
than two thousand souls, was seen to be advancing. It 
was under the direction of a marebout or saint called 
Sidi Alarbi, who was sent by the sultan to Ttemsen or 
Tremecen. Seeing us in this distressing situation, he 
ordered some skins of water to be thrown over us. 
After 1 had received several of them over my face and 
hands, I recovered my senses, opened my eyes and 
looked around me, without being able to discern any 
body. At last, however, I distinguished seven or eight 
sherifs and fakihs, who gave me their assistance, and 
showed me much kindness. I endeavoured to speak 
to them, but an invincible knot in my throat seemed to 
hinder me; I could only make myself understood by 
signs and by pointing to my mouth with my finger. 
They continued pouring water over my face, arms, 
and hands, and at last I was able to swallow small 
mouthfuls of water. This enabled me to ask, " Who are 
you?" When they heard me speak, they expressed their 
joy, and answered me, " Fear nothing; far from being 
robbers we are your friends" and every one mentioned 
his name. I began by degrees to recollect their faces, 
but was not able to remember their names. They 
poured again over me a still greater quantity of water, 
gave me some to*drink, filled some of my leather bags, 
and left me in haste, as every minute spent in this place 
was precious to them, and could not be repaired- 
