The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-08-24


| who was seeking a knife to cut the fore
Ilanyards, but there was only one TO be
found among US After the main lanyards
were cut, we cut the fore ones. and the
pull and tie of the foretopsail.-1he
sail and yard fell from the mast, but the
schr. would not right, and continued to
sink very fast. Myself and one of the
crew commenced diving and cutting the
lanyards of the long boat, which we got
clear from the schr. about Is minutes
before she sunk. We got no water OF
provisions from her, or compass. On
the 9th of August, we landed, almost
exhausted from thirst and fatigue. A.
bout Is minutes after our landing, we
found water, and quenched our thirst.
10 about twenty minutes, eight or ten
/ Moors came near US with long knives,
sticks and stones. On peTceiying who
we were, they ran from US. We then
made our way to the boat but found in
ii neither oars, seals, nor sail. Upon
this we returned to the place where we
| first found water, and sat down, waiting
patiently for the result, as we saw no
possibility Of getting from the shore
About half an hour afterwards, there
came about fifty Moors and Arabs, with
long muskets. swords and stones, who
made motions for us to GO towards the
mountains. Those of US who were
backward, instantly were beaten with
sticks or swords. After driving US a.
bout three miles from the sea shore, our
feet become very much cut with rock
stones insomuch that we had to stop,
not however without receiving many
blows. They at length halted in a
very steep valley, and commenced
seeching US, holding swords TO our
breasts, and making motions if we did
no tell them whether we had any mon
ey secreted, they would kill US; but we
made them understand that all our mon
ey and clothes sunk with the schooner.
10 little time they proceeded, and car
ried Us two or three miles further, to a
village, consisting of about 100 mud
huts, with Moors sleeping at one end,
and cattle at the other. We all stayed
together the first night at place near
the entrance of the village, where all
The inhabitants came to view US. The
Moors, after couple of days, began to
quarrel amongst themselves respecting
The possession of us-someiimes getting
swords, pistols and muskets, and running
at one another in great rage. But
never saw any of them wounded more
than could be produced by scratches
from the finger nails. After their guar.
rels, they would come ana strike with
their swords on the rocks near us with
he most savage fury, looking Wild and
fierce at US. About the third day, they
divided our party, one taking the Capt
and mate, and another Frenchman--l
fell to the lot Of a young chief. We
were separated entirely during the
might, but in the morning we were ali
brought together again, when we used
to relate TO each other our treatment
Where | was situated had TO sleep in
The yard with the goats and sheep, get.
ting stone for pillow, aud destitute
of clothes or covering, except one old
flannel shirt. The Chief was, in other
respects, very kind TO me; he fed me
well and used to come and stay with me
until eleven or twelve at night-Gener.
ally giving me to understand thai if
would become Moor, | should have
two wives, and have sheep and cattle
taking. also opportunities, when nc
Moors were near, to show me some o
| the handsomest girls that were in the
village. But they made no impression
on me, though some of them were very
likely. To get rid of them, informed
them as well as could, that was mar
ried in North America; which wal
false, though it answered good pur
pose in the end for me and all my unfor
tunate companions. After remaining a
bout one week at this place, some Turk,
came to buy US, and told us by signs anc
gestures not to fear, that we should ge
home before long. But they could no
purchase us from our first masters. A
Sultan Moor. by the name Ceada Ham
ct, finally bought us. After being with
him few days, he carried US early one
morning about seven miles over the
mountains, for the purpose of cutting
timber, to build a dwelling house. AZ
ter cutting and skinning The bark of the
Timber, we used TO throw il down steep
Iprecipices, about halfa mile from thence
The Moors used to carry them on their
shoulders to Ceada Hamet's. After get
ting all the timber for his dwelling, we
began to dig dirt and mix mortar, the
women bringing water in large jars con-
tanning about four gaIlons--each female
having one of them on her head. Al
about nine O'Clock at night we used tc
finish our work, when we proceeded to
the place from whence the water was