192 SHIPWRECK OF M. DE BRISSON. 
snatched me from the hands of the claimant, and delivered 
me into those of the enraged priest, dreading lest he should 
thunder forth an anathema against his antagonist. 
When I had recovered a little tranquility, and began to re- 
flect upon the danger I had escaped, I was so much affected 
that I could not refrain from tears. I endeavored to conceal 
from every eye this testimony of my sensibility and grief: 
but being observed by some of the women, instead of feeling 
compassion, they threw sand in my eyes, " to dry my eye- 
lids," as they said. Fortunately the obscurity of the night 
concealed me from the sight of these monsters, and saved me 
from their fury. 
We had now been three da^^-s in a state of slavery, and 
during that time had taken no nourishment but a little flour, 
which though before spoiled by the sea-water, was rendered 
still more disagreeable by the mixture of barley meal, which 
had long been kept in a goat's skin: and, bad as this repast 
was, it was frequently interrupted by the alarming outcries 
which we heard at a distance. 
The Arab tribe to whom we were prisoners had repaired 
to the sea-coast, a few daj^s before our shipwreck, to collect 
the fruits of wild plants for the support of their families in the 
interior of the country ; but upon the approach of their ene- 
mies, the Ouadelims, they prepared to return home with their 
provisions and prisoners. 
After passing mountains of prodigious height, covered Avith 
small, sharp, greyish flints, we descended into a sandy valley, 
overgrown with sharp thistles. Having here slackened our 
pace, I found that the soles of my feet were entirely covered 
with blood, so that it was impossible for me to proceed any 
farther. My master then made me get up behind him upon 
his camel; but this attention on his part, instead of giving 
me any relief, had quite a contrary effect, and exposed me to 
the severest pain. A camel naturally steps very heavy, and 
his trot is remarkably hard. Being naked, and unable to de- 
fend myself from the friction of the animal's hair, in a very 
little time my skin was entirely rubbed off My blood trick- 
led down the animal's sides, and, instead of exacting pity in 
these barbarians, this sight afibrded them a subject of diver- 
sion. They made sport of my sufferings, and spurred on the 
camels, in order to heighten their enjoyment. My wounds 
would in consequence have been rendered incurable, had I 
not formed the resolution of throwing myself off and walking 
upon the sand. This I accomplished, and sustained no other 
