SHIPWRECK OF M. DE BRISSON. 195 
faces, and pelted us with stones. The children imitated their 
example, pinched us, pulled our hair, and scratched us with 
their nails ; their cruel mothers ordered them to attack some- 
times one and sometimes another, taking pleasure in making 
them, torment us. Exhausted with hunger, thirst, and despair, 
we had impatiently -wished for the moment of our arrival, but 
little did w^e foresee the new torments that awaited us. 
After our masters had divided their slaves, the favorite wife 
of the talbe ordered M. Devoise, M. Baudre, and myself, who 
had fallen to her husband's share, to unload the camels, to 
clean a kettle which she brought us, and to pull up some roots 
to make a fire. While thus employed in signifying her will 
to us, her husband Avas quietly enjoying a sound sleep on the 
knees of one of his concubines. 
The hope of soon regaining my liberty inspired me with 
sufficient fortitude to endure the hardships imposed upon me 
by this diabolical woman. I therefore went to collect some 
wood, but Avhat was my surprise, when upon my return I be- 
held my two companions, who had been dreadfully beaten, ex- 
tended on the sand. They had been subjected to this cruel treat- 
ment because their strength being entirely exhausted, they had 
been unable to perform the task assigned them. My repeated 
outcries awakened my master, and though, as yet, I spoke the 
language very imperfectly, I endeavored to address him in the 
following terms : " Have you conducted us hither to cause us 
to be butchered by a cruel Avoman ? Think of your promise. 
Conduct mfi. without delay, either to Senegal or Morocco: if 
you do not, I will cause all the eflects I gave you to be taken 
away." 
My passion knew no bounds, and several of the neighbors 
having approached me, my master appeared to be extremely 
uneasy, fearing lest I should mention the quantity of the ef- 
fects which he had received from me. Addressing himself to 
his wife, "I forbid thee," said he, "to require from him the 
least service that may be disagreeable to him; and if thou dost, 
I desire that he may not obey thee." From this moment that 
woman conceived an implacable hatred against me. 
The end of August approached, and not the smallest pre- 
parations were made for our journey. I asked Sidy Moham- 
med what he was waiting for in order to conduct us to Sene- 
gal. He replied that he was looking for strong, vigorous ca- 
mels, capable of enduring the fatigues of such a journey, and 
that it was his intention to set off as soon as he had procured 
them. 
