The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-08

"
ran at me like so many wild beasts,
struck at me with their fists, beat
me with sticks, threw s.ne down and
tranpled va me, as with a desire OF
putting an end to my existence, but on
ly in fact to outdo each other in show
ing the utmost contempt and abhorrence
of the poor, unfortunate, miserable dog
Of a Christian.
As for myself, thought I might as
well die at once, as live to suffer such
cruel ind entities; and when at last my
original captsr interfered, aud made
sigus that must get up and follow the
camels, I replied by signs that l was SC
weak, anil that without food l would
never stir from the place. At this he
flew into rage, and began beating and
punching me with long sharp stick.
used to goad on the camels, but only
turned myself on my face and groaned,
without making any attempt to rise.
at length, becoming tired Of his
first plan, and, perhaps, fearing | might
die, and thus deprive him Of a captive,
from whose ultimate sale '4e hoped to re
alize something, the old wretch called
up one of the men, ana the two lifting
me by main force, carried and placed
me- on the back Of camel, and bound
me there with strips Of hide. The car
avan WAS then starte forwar at fast
gait, aud was driven all that day and
until late hour in the evening, when
it halted beside spring in the hollow,
and there passed the night.
The heat, sun, hanger, thirst, and
the cruel joltiny received, nearly did
the work for me, and to this day it is a
wonder to me h,w nature survived
They took me down that night, far M re
dead than alivs-in fact, | was not able
to stani-ut gave me water, AM clA-
VI ui!in WttH itSsti III ~, W!iioA IcNtVSu
me wonderfully. I slept some that
night upon the bare ground, and the next
morning was able to sit up, and walk,
with much labor and pain, short dis>
tauce. A sort Of sack was now given
me to wrap round my body, and this
time | was mounted upon the camel
without being tied. made the journey
this day comparatively well; and my
treatment being less harsh for the next
week or 50, / recovered sufficient
strength to go on foot, and drive the
beasts instead of driving them, though
my feet suffered terribly, being blister.
ell by the hot sands, and often cut to
the bone, by the sharp, fiinty stones over
which | was compelled to make my
way.
81 remained three months among
this savage people, travelled hundreds
If miles over burning desert, and suf-
fered everything but death. | frequent,
ly got nothing to eat for twent, -four
hours, my tongue sometimes swelied
out beyond my lips for want Of water,
my body became broken out in sores.
and in this horrible condition | was OF.
ten beaten from pure malice. And yet
| survived it all-God only knows how
SAT last Jew trader purchased me
On speculation, treated me with compar-
ative kindness, and set off with me to
Magadare, with view of getting a
handsome ransom from some of the
European or American residents. l
need only add, that his price was paid,
and kindness rewarded, and that l sub
sequently found my way back tp my
native land, where, ever since. have
daily, almost hourly, thanked God for
my wonderful preservation and deliver
ance"