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washed by water; the level bottom was encrusted with marine salt; they were then about three hundred miles from the sea coast; the spring was not more than a hundred feet below the surface of the Desert, and from three hundred and fifty to four hundred from the bottom of the valley, over which, as they travelled easterly, the crust crumbled under the feet of the camels like a thin crust of snow.'

With difficulty they ascended on the northern side to the top of the level Desert, which had the same appearance as that on the opposite side; no undulation of surface-neither rock, tree, nor shrub, to arrest the view within the horizon-all was a dreary and solitary waste. Riley says he judged by the meridian height of the pole star, that this supposed bed of the ocean must be in about the 20th parallel of latitude.

In travelling between N. E. and East, Sidi Hamet said he saw a camel, but Riley could discern nothing for two hours afterwards, when something appeared like a speck in the horizon, and it was not until sun-set that they came up with a large drove of camels. They had travelled this day fourteen hours without a morsel of food or a drop of water, but towards midnight some meat was dealt out to them together with a large bowl of milk and water.

On the evening of the 1st October, they met with a drove of camels, which had been watering to the northward; by these people they were conducted to a shallow valley, where about fifty tents were pitched; here the ground was in many places covered with short moss, and here and there a few small shrubs. The next day the whole party moved to the northward. The tribe had about fifty lean sheep, one of which was purchased by Sidi Hamet, and they gave them all as much milk as they could drink. On the 4th they travelled about thirty-five miles N. E. when the entrails of the sheep were given to them for supper. They were now arrived among immense sand hills, piled up like drifted snow, towering to the height of two hundred feet, without a blade of grass or a shrub of any sort to relieve the eye. The trade-winds blew violently and buried the travellers in clouds of sand, which, driven forcibly against their sore bodies, gave them exquisite pain. To add to their other miseries they were all now afflicted with a violent diarrhoea, which they stopped however by chewing the bitter bark of a small shrub which grew where they had passed the night.

On the night of the 5th they thought they heard the roaring of the sea, which, the next day, was confirmed by Sidi Hamet. They met with two camels with sacks on their backs and other articles, the owner of which being asleep on the sands, Sidi Hamet and his brother drove them off with their own. The sacks contained barley and barley meal, a quantity of which they took and then let the ca

mels

mels go; but the owner, on discovering the robbery, followed them and got back his barley, Sidi Hamet having assured him it was taken only to prevent the starvation of the slaves; but he still contrived to carry off two little bags which he had also stolen, containing gold dust, charms, &c.

On the 8th they fell in with a large drove of camels, sheep, and goats, browsing in a valley, and observed about twenty tents pitched near a small thicket of thorn trees, some of them eight inches in diameter. A kid was here purchased, and the entrails given to the Christian slaves. At midnight however a bowl was brought to them containing about four or five pounds of a kind of stirabout or hasty pudding, into which was poured a pint or more of good sweet milk,'-and they agreed that this was the most delicious meat they had ever tasted. Proceeding to the northward they fell in with several wells, but the water of all of them was brackish: at many of them were parties watering their camels.

On the 11th after travelling nearly seventy miles, they reached a cluster of bushes which they had seen from a great distance looking like an island in the midst of a lake; here they found some brackish water. They now got into the deep bed of a large river or arm of the sea, at the bottom of which was a sheet of white salt that made a crackling noise under the feet of the camels. Getting out of this glen and entering some sand hills, they met with an Arab driving some goats, of which Sidi Hamet seized four, and paid the unarmed Arab with an old worn-out camel: on reaching the height they perceived the sea at a distance on their left, the sight of which revived their drooping spirits. They descended the heights, and now travelled along the sea shore in with an Arab and his wife, who were going the same way; company the woman, having been at Lancerota, could speak a little Spanish. Presently they fell in with another Arab in his tent, who affected to speak Spanish, and through him Sidi Hamet again tried to discover whether Riley really had a friend in Suara, and again gave him to understand, that if he deceived him he most surely would have his throat cut.

The road along the edge of the sea coast was rugged and uneven, and they travelled over it in the night to avoid the numerous robbers that lurk among the sand hills. In the course of the night journey Mr. Savage fainted and fell off his camel, upon which Seid and another Arab began to beat him with sticks, and, conceiving that he was perverse and obstinate, had intended to put him to death that they might not be delayed, lest they should fall in with robbers; and it was with the utmost difficulty they could be made to understand that any man could faint through hunger and fatigue

it

it was something new to them; but when, by means of a little water, he revived, Sidi Hamet appeared to be affected at the treatment he had received.

On the 17th, still travelling along the sea shore, on the sloping bank which rose from the sandy beach, they observed the black tops of high mountains in the distant horizon towards the east, and shortly after reached a well where some men were watering about forty horses and camels. Here they crossed a small river, the water of which was clear as crystal, and full of fish; on its banks grew a few bushes resembling dwarf alders and rushes: near this place also was found a plant with a stem from three to twelve inches in diameter, the branches spreading like an umbrella to the diameter of fifteen or twenty feet; they were very tender, and, on being broken off, a glutinous liquid resembling milk dropped from them; it had a disagreeable smell when burning, and was very nauseous to the taste we suppose it was either a species of aloe or euphorbium. On this day they met with the first signs of cultivation, and at night enjoyed the luxury of sleeping on a heap of straw. To us, who for so long a time had been obliged to repose our wearied limbs and wasted frames on the hard baked bosom of the Desert, or the dead sides of the barren sand drifts, this solitary heap of fresh straw seemed softer and sweeter than a bed of down strewn over with the most odoriferous flowers.'

On the 19th they passed a few rough stone huts, and a stream of clear water' purling over a pebbly bottom;' its banks were covered with green bushes and shrubs in full blossom: beyond this were cows, asses, and sheep feeding, and date trees adorning and shading the margin of the rivulet-so sudden and unexpected a change threw them into raptures. Excess of joy had so far overpowered our faculties, that it was with difficulty we reached the water's edge, but, urging forward to the brink with headlong steps, and fearlessly plunging in our mouths, like thirsty camels, we swallowed down large draughts until satiated nature bade us stop.' Riley says, the place is called by the Arabs el Wod Noon. His orthography is bad, but sufficiently correct to let us know where he is. Here Sidi Hamet treated them with some honey, which they devoured, comb and young bees all together; ' our hearts swelling with gratitude to God, and tears of joy trickling down our fleshless cheeks.'

This place appeared to be a great thoroughfare, and several armed parties on horseback passed on towards the Desert. They now proceeded to the northward, parallel with, and occasionally upon, the sea beach; and speedily reached a cultivated country, in which were several walled villages, surrounded with gardens and other inclosures. As they approached the Moorish dominions, Seid, the brother, who had all along been suspicious of Riley's story

VOL. XVI. NO. XXXII.

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about his acquaintance at Mogadore, and had often wished to sell Horace and Mr. Savage, whom he claimed as his slaves, was now determined to go no farther, and laid hold of the two unfortunate Christians, in order to carry them back to the first horde he should fall in with, and sell them for what they would fetch; Sidi's wrath was kindled at his brother's obstinacy

He leaped from his camel, and darting like lightning up to Seid, laid hold of him, and disengaged Mr. Savage and Horace from his grasp. They clenched each other like lions, and with fury in their looks, each strove to throw the other on the ground. Seid was the largest and the stoutest man; they writhed and twisted in every shape until both fell, but Sidi Hamet was the undermost: fire seemed to flash from their eyes, whilst they twisted around each other like a couple of serpents, until at length Sidi Hamet, by superior activity or skill, disengaged himself from his brother's grasp, and both sprang up on their feet instantly they snatched their muskets, at the same moment, and each retiring a few paces, with great rapidity and indignation, tore the cloth covers from their guns, and presented them at each other's breast with dreadful fury: they were not more than ten yards asunder, and both must have fallen dead had they fired.'

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Sidi Hamet, however, fired his musket in the air, and walking up to Seid said,' Now I am unarmed-fire! Your brother's head is ready to receive your balls: glut your vengeance on your benefactor!' A violent dispute ensued, in which the brutal Seid, seizing Horace by the breast, dashed him to the ground, where he lay for some time senseless. At length matters were adjusted, and they proceeded to a village to pass the night. Here Sidi Hamet told them he should depart for Mogadore, leaving them in the custody of Seid and another Arab of the name of Bo-Mohammed-and that Riley must write a letter to his friend at Suara, desiring him to pay the money for the ransom of himself and people, when they should be free; if not,' said he,' you must die for having deceived and your men shall be sold for what they will bring: he added, I have fought for you, have suffered hunger, thirst, and fatigue, for I believe that God is with you-I have paid away all my money on your word alone.' A scrap of paper, a reed, and some black liquor was then brought to Riley, who wrote briefly the circumstances of the loss of the ship, his captivity, &c. adding, 'worn down to the bone by the most dreadful of all sufferings-naked, and a slave--I implore your pity, and trust that such distress will not be suffered to plead in vain. The letter was addressed' to the English, French, Spanish, or American Consuls, or any Christian Merchants in Mogadore.' The anxiety of the captives may well be imagined. For seven days after Sidi Hamet's departure, they were shut up in a yard during the day, where cows, sheep, and asses rested; and locked up at night in a dreary cellar,

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On the evening of the eighth day, a Moor came into the inclosure, and brought them a letter. I felt,' says Riley, 'as if my heart was forcing its way up into my throat, and it entirely obstructed my breath-I broke it open; but my emotions were such, that it was impossible for me to read its contents, and I handed it to Mr. Savage; for my frame trembled to such a degree, that I could not stand, and I sunk to the earth. The letter was from William Willshire, the English consul;' it told them that he had agreed to the demands of Sidi Hamet, whom he kept as an hostage for their safe appearance; that the bearer, Rais BelCossim, would conduct them to Mogadore. This Bel-Cossim was the very man who purchased Adams at Wed-noon. He also sent them various kinds of provisions, cloaks, and shoes. Thus accoutred and fortified, they set out under their new conductor, with another person who had joined them, of the name of Scheik Ali, an Arab of a tribe near the north border of the Great Desert, one of whose daughters Sidi Hamet had married. They passed a ruined city, before the breached walls of which was still standing a sort of battering ram. It had been sacked, and the ground was strewed with human bones, bleached in the sun. They also passed several small sanctuaries surmounted with domes, and a tolerably well cultivated country abounding with cattle.

On the 30th October they crossed the wod-Schlem or river Sehlem, and the town Sehlemah. On their arrival at a walled city called Stuka, which might contain about five thousand souls, Scheik Ali procured from the chief, Muley Ibrahim, an order for their detention, under pretence that they were the slaves of Sidi Hamet his son-in-law, who was indebted to him in a large sum of money; and it was not before the 4th November that they were able to procure their release. At Santa Cruz, as usual, they were pelted with stones by the rabble, and saluted with every abusive epithet that could be thought of. This was not the worst; for here again Scheik Ali persuaded the governor to seize the slaves of Sidi Hamet for a supposed debt, which he was only prevented from doing by the unceasing activity of the Rais Bel-Cossim, who detected what was passing, and got them out of the town at an early hour in the morning: after a fatiguing and perilous journey they came in sight of Mogadore, where English colours were floating in the harbour and the American flag in the city. At this blessed and transporting sight,' exclaims Riley, the little blood remaining in my veins, gushed through my glowing heart with wild impetuosity, and seemed to pour a flood a new life through every part of my exhausted frame.' They were presently met by Mr. Willshire, whose kind reception and commiseration for their sufferings does honour to human nature. He took each man by the hand, wel

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