ers caused us to make so many different
counter-marches, that we were fifteen days in reaching their
habitations--a journey, which we could have accomplished in five, had we
followed the direct road.

After having climbed over mountains of a prodigious height, which are
wholly covered with small pebbles of a greyish colour, as sharp as
flint-stones, we descended into a sandy plain, overspread with thorns
and thistles. There we slackened our pace; the soles of my feet were
bleeding so much, that it was not in my power to walk any further. My
master then desired me to mount behind him on his camel, but this
attention on his part was far from giving any ease to me, but on the
contrary proved a source of inexpressible torture. The camel is
naturally a very dull animal, with a very hard trot. As I was naked, I
could not defend myself from the rubbing of the hair of the animal upon
me, in such a manner as quite flead me in a very short time. The blood
ran copiously down the flanks of the animal--a spectacle which, so far
from exciting the compassion, or moving the pity of these barbarians,
only contributed to their diversion. They made game of my sufferings,
and to heighten the jest, pushed forward their animals. It would
certainly have issued in incurable wounds, if I had not adopted a
scheme, very violent though necessary, to slip off and walk on the sand.
I received no other damage in dismounting, than my body being
universally jagged with the thistles and thorns with which I have
already mentioned the ground was covered.

As night approached, we observed a very thick smoke. I supposed we were
drawing near to some village, where we might procure something to eat,
or rather to drink; but was soon convinced it was only some thick
bushes, where our guide had taken up lodgings. I therefore stretched
myself out behind a bush to wait for death; and had scarcely lain down,
when an Arab of our company came to me, ordering me to get up, and
assist him in unloading his camel. I was very much enraged at this
order, and answered him accordingly without ceremony. He immediately
drew from under my head, a little old sailor's hat, which had been given
me in place of my own. He spit upon it as a mark of contempt, and,
seizing me violently by the arms, he drew me towards the camels. When he
thus laid hands on my body, I could no longer command myself. I
immediately struck him a blow on the face; then, having disengaged
myself from his ha