SHIPWRECK OF ?.I. DE BRISSOX. 199 
was a slave like myself. I inquired what had become of my 
companions. " Six of them (said he) were carried away by 
the emperor's son, soon after our shipwreck, and have since 
gone to France. M. Taffaro, the surgeon-major, died of 
blows he received on the head with a large stick ; M. Ra- 
boin, second lieutenant, likewise expired in dreadful torture. 
Others, to avoid the horrors of famine, have renounced their 
religion. As for me, it will not be long before I follow those 
whom death has delivered from their misery. Behold in 
what a condition I am; there is no kind of ill-treatment to 
which I am not daily exposed." 
Upon the information that some of the crew had returned 
to France, I conceived new hopes, thinking that the marine 
minister would transmit positive orders to reclaim the rest. 
Such commands were actually received by the vice-consul at 
Morocco, but he neglected to execute them. I was reflecting 
upon the cause of his total neglect, when, upon retiring be- 
hind my bush, I was much astonished to see my master's ca- 
mels returning without a guide. Being called rather too late 
to receive my portion of milk, and not seeing the poor baker, 
I took the liberty of inquiring what was become of him ; but 
the Arabs returned a very cold answer, and drove me from 
their presence. Early the next morning, a young Arab, em- 
ployed in tending the flocks, informed me that Sidy Moham- 
med, suspecting that the baker privately milked his camels, 
watched him, and having caught him in the act, seized him by 
the throat and strangled him. 
I was now the only slave remaining in the hamlet, and had 
no longer any companion to whom I could communicate my 
misfortunes. My situation became daily more deplorable, 
but yet I resolved not to suffer myself to be dejected. 
This resolution, and my conduct toward those who had 
endeavored to humble me, procured me some respect among 
these savages; so that I was occasionally permitted to lodge 
in the back of their tents, and even sometimes to drink out of 
their vessels. My master, too, suffered me to remain unmo- 
lested, and I was no longer required to tend his camels. It is 
true, he never said a word concerning my liberty, but if he 
had, I should not have regarded it, as I was so well acquaint- 
ed with his perfidy that I placed not the least confidence in 
him. It was, however, necessary for me to make faggots, as 
I had done for some time, in order to exchange them for milk, 
being often driven by thirst almost to madness. The Arabs 
themselves suffered exceedingly from the same cause; seve- 
