CONVERSATION ON RELIGIOUS MATTERS WITH THE SHEIKH AND MARABOUTS--THE
SLAVE TRACK--AT THE SHRINE OF THE SAINT--I START ON A JOURNEY--THE
SHEIKH GRANTS ME A FAVOUR--AN UNPLEASANT DUTY--ATTACKED BY A WILD
BEAST--ANTONIO HAUNTS OUR CAMP--ARRIVAL AT OUR DESTINATION.
Day after day we continued to travel southward--further and further from
home, as it seemed to us. Whenever we could meet, Halliday, Ben, and
I--not trusting to the sheikh's promises, of whose fickleness we had
many proofs--eagerly discussed the possibility of escaping. Ben's idea
was, that if we should arrive at length at a river running into the sea,
we might either steal a canoe or build a raft, and float down the
stream. We might thus escape from our present masters, who,
unaccustomed to the water, would be unable to follow us; but we should
run the risk of falling into the hands of still greater savages, who
might very likely murder us. Still, our present slavery was well-nigh
unbearable, and we were ready to run every risk to escape from it. We
were doubtful whether we might venture to take Selim into our counsels.
He seemed attached to us, and especially to me; but then, as he had
shown a readiness to act treacherously in the case of Antonio, he might,
should it be to his interest, play us a similar trick, Halliday thought.
I was more inclined to trust him; I liked the expression of the lad's
countenance, and he had hitherto, as far as we could judge, been
faithful to us. During the time he had been on board an English
ship-of-war, he had learned the truths of Christianity from the
boatswain and three or four of the men, who, having become truly
converted themselves, had endeavoured to win over their shipmates, and
had taken great pains with him. He had been the only survivor of a
boat's crew wrecked on the northern coast of Africa--he, being an
excellent swimmer, having gained the shore. He had been kept in slavery
a year or more by the Moors; but he at length managed to swim off to a
Spanish vessel, and afterwards entered on board the galleon where we
first met with him. Accustomed, therefore, to the habits of the Moors,
he was able to conduct himself discreetly towards them; and passing for
a good Mohammedan, he had in a considerable degree gained their
confidence. He had, however, expressed to me more than once his regret
at having to play the hypocrite.
"What can I do?" he would observe. "I know that Mohammed was a false
prophet; but if I were to say so I should have my head cut off--and to
that I cannot make up my mind. Every time I cry out `Allah is great,
and Mohammed is his prophet,' I know that I am telling a lie, and pray
to be forgiven. Do you think that the true God will forgive me?"
I replied that it was not for me to decide, but that I thought he was
bound to try and escape from such thraldom on the first opportunity.
"That is what I shall do," he answered; "but I will not escape without
you; and as I know the ways of the country, and can speak the language
of the black people further south, I may, I hope, be of use to you."
After this conversation, he came to me one day and told me that the
sheikh and two marabouts, or priests, who were in the camp, had resolved
to make me and my companions turn Mohammedans. "I warn you, that you
may know how to behave. Let me advise you not to show any indignation,
but rather to pretend that you are ready to listen to what they call the
truth."
The very next day the sheikh summoned me into his presence. I found him
seated with the two marabouts; and they at once explained the doctrines
of the Mohammedan faith, and to which, according to Selim's advice, I
listened with all the respect I could assume.
"Are you acquainted, O sheikh, with my religion, from which you wish to
turn me?" I asked quietly.
"Yes; you worship Jins, and have dealings with the Evil One," he
answered in a confident tone, as if he knew all about the matter.
I have since met others, in more enlightened lands, equally confident as
to their knowledge of the religious opinions of those who differ from
them, and equally wrong.
"You have been misinformed, O sheikh; pardon me for saying so," I
replied calmly. "I worship the one true God. Listen to the prayer I
offer up every morning." I then repeated slowly, and with all due
emphasis, the Lord's Prayer. The sheikh and marabouts listened with
astonishment depicted on their countenances.
"Can this be so?" asked the sheikh. "Such a prayer as that any true
believer might be ready to offer up."
"Forgive us our offences, as we forgive them that offend against us," I
said slowly, looking at the sheikh. "Can you pray thus and expect to be
forgiven?" I asked.
"Truly the young Nazarene has put a puzzling question," observed the
sheikh, turning to the marabouts. They shook their heads, unable to
reply, but still unwilling to confess themselves defeated.
"Now, O sheikh, understand that we Christians desire to follow that
precept, not from cowardice or a mean spirit, but from obedience to our
Lord and Master; and would you therefore wish to induce me and my
companions to abandon a faith inculcating so pure and holy a precept?
Understand that where it is practised, blood feuds, and the many other
causes which produce the quarrels and bloody wars so constantly
prevailing in this region, are impossible. Peace and prosperity reign
in exact proportion as the true Christian faith gains the ascendency
among a people."
"You argue well, young Nazarene," said the sheikh. "I may not see with
your eyes, but I respect your opinions."
We said much more on the subject, and I had reason to hope that, without
sacrificing my principles, I had gained the respect of the sheikh; but
one of the marabouts, at least, was far from contented with the result
of our conversation. He constantly afterwards attacked both Halliday
and me, endeavouring to convert us, and threatening us with severe
penalties if we refused.
We had now got a considerable way to the east, and were passing along
the track of caravans moving northward with slaves, collected in the
Black States, to the southward of the Desert. The whole road was marked
by the skeletons of human beings, who had expired from thirst and
hunger. As I was riding along on my camel, dozing in consequence of the
heat of the sun, I was awoke by hearing a crashing sound, and on looking
down I saw that my beast's feet had stepped upon the perfect skeletons
of three or four human beings, which gave way beneath them. The head of
one of the skeletons, detached by a kick from the animal's foot, rolled
on like a ball some way before me. The Arabs took no notice of the
occurrence, however, remarking that they were only those of black
slaves, and of no account.
It was about this time that several of our camels knocked up; and seeing
that they would not live, the sheikh gave the order for them to be
killed. I was struck with the savage expression of the Arabs, who stood
ready with their knives in their hands, waiting for the signal to plunge
them into the bodies of the poor animals--which, before they were cool,
were cut up to supply food for the caravan. The head of the camel to be
slaughtered being turned towards the east, an Arab stuck his dagger into
its heart, when it almost instantly dropped dead.
A good many camels having been thus lost, Halliday, Ben, and I were
compelled, as at first, to trudge on on foot.
All this time I had not forgotten Antonio, and I was sure that I
occasionally caught glimpses of him. How he managed to subsist, might
seem surprising; but he had armed himself, and was thus able to kill any
animals he might meet with: he might also pick up subsistence from the
remains of the camels, sheep, and cattle which dropped on the road.
Possibly, too, he had some confederates in the camp, who might have
hidden food as well as ammunition,--which, when we moved on, he would
know by certain marks where to find.
We at length reached a somewhat more fertile region, where date,
cocoa-nut, and other palm-trees were once more seen; while beyond it was
a large lake, on the borders of which we heard was the shrine of a
Mohammedan saint, at which the people of the caravan were about to
worship. Out of the lake, we learned, ran a broad river to the
westward; a fact which created in us the most lively interest, for it
might afford us the long-looked-for means of making our escape.
As we neared the sacred precincts, the marabouts again endeavoured to
make us change our religion. On our refusing, as formerly, to do so,
they became very angry, even the sheikh himself appearing to be much
disappointed. While we lay encamped, a day's journey, I understood,
from the shrine,--which was to the eastward of us,--he sent for me, and
expressing his confidence in my fidelity, informed me that he intended
to trust to my care the widow and children of a friendly chief, who had
died while visiting the tomb of the saint. "Her relatives, to whom she
desires to return, dwell about twelve days' journey off; and you will
return before we again set forth on our journey northward. I will send
two guides with you who know the country; but as our camels require
rest, you will be compelled to proceed on foot. The widow and her
children will, however, be provided with a camel; and the guides will
conduct another laden with provisions and water. Here," he said, giving
me an old-fashioned, large-mouthed pistol, "is a weapon with which you
can defend yourself and your charges; and here, also, is a pouch with
ammunition. You will set out to-morrow morning; and may no harm befall
you on the way!"
I hardly knew whether to be pleased or not at the confidence placed in
me. Halliday and I had been hoping that while at this spot we might
find an opportunity of escaping down the river, as we had proposed,--and
should I be separated from him and Ben, our plan might be defeated. So
as soon as I had left the sheikh I went in search of them, and told them
of the expedition I had been ordered to make.
"I am afraid you will have to await my return before we can venture to
carry out our plan."
"I don't quite see that, sir," said Ben. "You are going to the west;
and that is, I suppose, the direction the river takes. Now my idea is,
that if we can make off while the Arabs are praying to their saint, we
can meet you half-way on your return; and then we can all steer for the
river together, and either borrow a canoe or build a raft, as you
proposed."
"But the risk of missing each other is very great," I answered. "I am
therefore still inclined to hold to my opinion, that it will be better
to wait till I can get back; and if I can give a favourable account of
my mission, the sheikh will place more confidence in us, and we shall be
less strictly watched than heretofore."
"I propose that we consult Selim," said Halliday. "He has been making
inquiries about the country, and has picked up a good deal of
information which might be useful to us."
"I am sure, from what he has said to me lately, that he can be trusted,
and that he is as anxious to escape as we are,--so I agree with you,
Halliday," I said. "Perhaps the sheikh will allow him to accompany me;
if so, he will be of great assistance in enabling me to find you out. I
might ask to have him, on the plea that he understands the language of
the people."
My companions agreed to this proposal, and I undertook at once to
petition the sheikh that he would allow me to take Selim. It was also
settled that my friends should endeavour to escape from the camp exactly
twelve days after I had left it, when they were to make their way along
the banks of the river for six days, and then look out for me. I
undertook, on my part, to return eastward for the same length of time,
also keeping as closely as possible to the river. By this plan we had
good hopes of meeting, though we could not conceal from ourselves that
there were many dangers to be encountered; but yet no more feasible plan
presented itself.
So confident did I feel in Selim's honesty, that, without speaking to
him, I at once went back to the sheikh and boldly requested that he
might be allowed to accompany me. To my great satisfaction, he at once
consented.
"He is a sharp lad, and you will find him of great use on your journey,"
he added.
Selim, whom I soon afterwards found, was greatly pleased at what I told
him.
"We may hope, then, to shake the dust of the camp off our feet for the
last time," he said quietly.
I had fixed my eyes on Selim's countenance as he spoke. He turned his
on me with so honest a look, that I was more than ever convinced he was
sincere. I took his hand, and said,--"We understand each other, then;
if we escape to my country, notwithstanding the difference in the colour
of our skins you shall be my friend for life."
"I hope so," he answered. "Though we may be wide apart, our hearts may
be joined; and we may meet above, in that happy land to which all
Christians are bound."