204 SHIPWRECK OF M. DE BRISSON. 
to show me that Paris lay toward the north, and wrote down 
a few cyphers, as far as twelve, asking me if I knew them. 
He likewise put several questions of the same kind, to display 
the great extent of his learning. 
" Did the mountaineers treat thee well? (continued the 
prince;) Did they take much of thy effects ?" I replied to all 
his questions ; observing, that in proportion as we approached 
the capital^ we found the manners of the inhabitants milder 
and more civilized, " My authority does not extend over all 
the country thou hast traversed, (said he,) or rather my orders 
cannot be conveyed so far. With whom didst thou come?" 
With Sidy Selim, of the tribe of Roussye. •' I know him ; let 
him be brought hither." A moment afterward my master was 
introduced. The emperor ordered one of his guards to take 
care of me and the baker till he should receive fresh orders 
and to supply me with food from the royal kitchen : this man 
seemed greatly surprised that the sultan should have con- 
versed so long with a slave. 
Fortunately the French consul was at this time in great 
favor with the emperor, on account of some presents which he 
had made him. The emperor, for this reason, set all the pri- 
soners at liberty, and me among the rest ; so that we had now 
only to consider of the necessary measures for our return to 
France. 
The Arabs of the desert, among whom I had resided, are 
so ignorant that they not only consider themselves as the prin- 
cipal nation in the world, but have the foolish vanity to be- 
lieve that the sun rises for them only : " Behold the luminary, 
(said the3^) which is unknown in thy country! During the 
night thou art not lighted, as we are, by that heavenly boc^y 
which regulates our days and oli fasts. His children (mean- 
ing the stars) point out to us the hour of prayer. You have 
neither trees nor camels, sheep, goats, nor dogs. Are 3'our 
women made like ours?" " Indeed, (said one, counting my 
fingers and toes,) he is made like us; he differs only in his 
color and language, which astonishes me. Do you sow barley 
in your houses ?" (meaning our ships.) " No. (answered I ;) we 
sow our fields almost in the same season as you." " How 1 
(exclaimed several of them,) do you live upon land ? We be- 
lieved that you were born and lived upon the sea." 
As soon as my quarantine was finished at Cadiz, where I 
landed, before I proceeded to my native land, or to the arms 
of a tender and affectionate wife, I wrote to the Marshal de 
Castries that I waited his orders to return to Seneq-al. Charr^-- 
