and that she would have been permitted to
return home, but her tongue was cut out without her receiving any
warning of the second punishment which awaited her, and after that I was
refused admittance, and I never saw my beautiful and ill-treated
mistress any more. It was from the officer who had the charge of her
that I learnt this cruel intelligence, and I went back to my lodgings
with a heart bursting with grief and indignation.

I was resolved that, if possible, I would escape from a country where
women's tongues were cut out; but how to manage it I knew not. I had
still some money and valuables, which had been left in my possession by
my unfortunate mistress, and I made inquiry about the means of
proceeding to Constantinople, where, at least, I should be in a
civilised country. At last a Jew, who heard that I wished to go to the
southward, offered to take me with him as soon as the snow was on the
ground, for which I bargained to pay five hundred roubles. In a
fortnight the winter had set in, and we got into a drotski, and went
away. We arrived at Moscow, and from thence we at last gained
Constantinople. On my arrival I selected my luggage, that I might pay
the sum agreed; but it was snatched from me by the old rascal, who
saluted me with a kick in the body which half killed me. I was locked
up in a room, and in half an hour a slave merchant came, and I was sold
for a low sum and taken away, remonstrating in vain against the
injustice. My beauty was now gone, I was more than thirty years old,
and hardship had done the rest.

My subsequent life has been nothing but a series of changes and
disasters. I was sold to a pastry-cook, and broiled by standing over
the oven. I grew obstinate and was punished by blows, but for those I
cared not. The pastry was burnt, and I was resold to a barber, whose
wife was a shrew, and half killed me; fortunately the barber was accused
of shaving a criminal, who had escaped from prison, and one morning was
stretched out before his own door, with his head under his arm. His
wife and I were both sold again as slaves.

Thus did I go down hill each year, fetching less and less, and receiving
worse treatment, until I was embarked with several others by an
Armenian, who was bound to Smyrna. The vessel was captured by an
Algerine pirate, and for a long while I was kept on board to cook their
victuals. At last she was wrecked on this coast; how I escaped I know
not, for I was wea