to a second vastly more terrible.

I inquired at the Captain, at what distance he supposed we were from
Senegal; but his answer was not satisfactory. Ignorant to what hand we
should turn, I informed my companions in misfortune, that I could not
flatter myself with the hopes of conducting them to any village of the
tribe of Trargia, where I might perhaps have been known by some Arab who
had relations at the island of St Louis. "In this case," said I, "our
captivity would have been shorter and less rigorous; but I am afraid we
may fall in with some hordes of the tribe of the Ouadelims and
Labdesseba, a ferocious people, who live in a manner truly savage, who
always wander through the deserts, and subsist on the milk of their
camels."

We had no sooner landed, than I persuaded my companions to ascend the
rocks to discover upon what country Providence had cast us. When we
reached the summit, we perceived a vast plain, covered with white sand,
and interspersed with certain plants, resembling branches of coral.
These plants carry a small grain, of the same colour, and almost the
same shape, with mustard. The Arabians call it Avezoud: they gather it
and make it up into a paste, on which they feast. We observed that the
distant hills were covered with a species of wild fern, which bore the
appearance of an extensive forest.

In proceeding towards the hills, I found some camel's dung under my
feet, and soon after observed the animals pasturing here and there.
There remained therefore no doubt of the country being inhabited, a
discovery which was very agreeable to us; for although we were entirely
ignorant what sort of people they were into whose hands we had fallen,
we were very happy in the thoughts of approaching some inhabited
village, as hunger began to press very hard. I knew better than any of
them, from former experience, what we had to fear from hunger, and still
more from thirst.

I was occupied with these dismal reflections, when I observed at a
distance some children eagerly gathering together their herds of goats,
and driving them away before them. I instantly concluded that we were
discovered, and that our presence had occasioned some terror amongst
them. The cries of the children spread the alarm to the neighbouring
camps, and the inhabitants very soon appeared coming out to meet us.
When they had observed us a little, they separated from one another,
skipping and bouncing about upon the sand; they covered the