190 SHIPWRECK OF M. DE BRISSON. 
however, escaped this first danger only to become the victims 
of a second still more terrible. 
When the wretched crew had reached the shore I per- 
suaded them to climb the surrounding rocks, on the summit 
of which we discovered an extensive plain, terminated by 
some small hills, covered with a kind of wild fern. On these 
hills we saw some children collecting a flock of goats. As 
soon as they beheld the strangers, they set up such outcries 
as instantly alarmed and brought together the neighboring 
inhabitants. These, after viewing the crew, began to dance 
and caper, at the same time uttering the most horrid cries 
and yells. 
When these savages came up, some of my companions, 
among whom were the first and second lieutenants, separated 
from us. They were immediately surrounded and seized by 
the collar, and it was then that, by the reflection of the sun's 
rays from the polished blades of their poniards, we first dis- 
covered them to be armed. As I had not perceived this be- 
fore, I had advanced without fear. 
Our two unfortunate companions having disappeared, I 
could not make the men stop even for a short time. Fear got 
such possession of their hearts, that, giving vent to cries of 
despair, they all fled different ways. The Arabs, armed with 
cutlasses and large clubs, fell upon them with incredible fury, 
and I had the mortification of soon seeing some of them wound- 
ed, while others, stripped naked, lay extended and expiring 
on the sand. 
I was so fortunate as to obtain a promise of good will from 
an unarmed Arab, who afterward proved to be a talbe, or priest, 
by giving him two watches, a gold stock-buckle, two pair of 
sleeve-buttons, a ring set with diamonds, a silver goblet, and 
two hundred and twenty livres in specie. The latter article 
afforded him most pleasure. 
The news of our shipwreck being spread through the coun- 
tr}'-, we saw the savages running in great haste from all quar- 
ters ; their numbers naturally increased the jealousy of the 
others, so that they soon came to blows, and several lives 
were lost in the contest. The women, enraged that they 
could not pillage the ship, fell upon and tore from us the few 
articles of dress we had left ; but their attention was princi- 
pally attracted by mine, which seemed to be more worthy of 
their notice. 
My master, who was by no means of a warlike disposition, 
perceiving that the number of Arabs increased every moment, 
