History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 12

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

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All the men had gone out hunting on their camels (for plunder), taking their arms with them. The old and young women went to see the strangers and, having no water, took with them a large skin with a roll of tent cloth to make them a shelter. The strangers rose as the women drew near and saluted them by the words "Labes Labes Salem, Labes Alikom" ("Peace, Peace be with you"). The women returned the salute in the same words. They then fixed an awning, and took the bundles from the camels and the saddles and placed them in the tent. While the women were making these preparations, the strangers remained seated on the ground beside their guns, as each had a double-barreled musket. The women then seated themselves on the ground near the strangers and as near as Riley could gather asked where they came from, how long they had been on the road and what goods they had. Having satisfied their curiosity, the old woman went to Riley and told him that Sidi Hamet had come with blankets and blue cloth to sell, that he came from the Sultan's dominions, and

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that he could buy Riley and carry him there if he chose, and where he might find his friends and kiss his wife and children. Before the men returned, Riley went to the tent of Sidi Hanet with a wooden bowl and begged for some water, showing his mouth. He looked at Riley and asked if he was Rias (the captain), which being answered in the affirmative, he told his brother to give him some water, which his brother would not do; then he himself took the bowl and poured out about a quart of clear water, saying "Sherub Rias" that is "Drink Captain." Riley drank about half of it and was going to take the rest to the tent where Clark lay stretched out on his back, a perfect wreck, breathing like a person in the last agonies of death, but Sidi Hamet would not permit him to carry the water away, bidding him drink it himself. After. Clark's condition was pointed out to him, Sidi Hamet permitted Riley to give Clark the balance. It was per- fectly fresh and revived him exceedingly. He said, "This is good water and must have come from a better country than this. If we were once there and I could get one good drink of such water, I could die with pleasure, but now I cannot live another day."

The men soon returned and began with others of the tribe, who had received the news .. of the arrival of the strangers, to form a circle and chat with them and each other; this con- tinued till night, and Riley thought there were at least 200 men present. After dark they be- gan to separate, and by 10 o'clock at night none remained at the tent but Riley's old mas- ter's family and three or four of their relatives. On this occasion Riley and the other prisoners were turned out into the open air, and were obliged to pass the night without shelter or covering. It was a long and tedious night, but at the time of milking the camels the old master came to them and, as if afraid of losing his

property by their death, and anxious that they should live, dealt out about a pint of milk to each. This milk tasted better than any they had yet tasted: it was sweet and saved Clark from dissolution. This was the first nourish- ment they had had in three days.

The next morning Sidi Hamet came to- ward the tent, beckoned Riley to come to him and bade him sit down on the ground. Riley had by this time learned many words in their language, which was ancient Arabic, and could understand the general current of their conversation by paying attention to it. Hamet began questioning Riley about his country and the manner in which he had come there. Riley made him understand that he was an English- man, and that his vessel and crew were of the same nation. Riley found that Sidi Hamet had heard of the shipwreck and of the English. Riley stated, as well as he could. the manner of the shipwreck and told him that they were reduced to the lowest depth of misery ; that he had a wife and five children in his own country besides Horace, whom Riley called his eldest son, mingling with his story sighs and tears and all the signs of affection and despair which the recollection and his present condition called forth.

Riley found Sidi Hamet to be a very intel- ligent man, for although he knew no language but the Arabic, he comprehended so well what Riley wished to communicate. that he actually shed tears at the recital of their distress, not- withstanding that among the Arabs weeping is regarded as a womanish weakness. He seemed to be ashamed of his own want of fortitude, and said that men who had beards like him ought not to shed tears. And he re- tired wiping his eyes. Finding that he had awakened Hamet's sympathy, Riley thought he would try by offers of large amounts of money to induce him to buy himself and his compan-

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ions and carry them out of the desert. So the first time he saw him alone, he went to him and begged him to buy him and carry him and his companions up from the desert to the Sultan of Morocco or Marockah where he (Riley) could find a friend. He said "No," but he would carry him to Swearah, describing it as a walled town and seaport. Riley told him that he had seen the Sultan and that he was a friend to his nation. He then asked Riley many other questions about Mohammed Rahsool. Riley bowed and pointed to the east, then towards Heaven, as if he thought he had ascended there. This seemed to please Hamet, who asked how much money Riley would give him to carry him up: upon which Riley counted over 50 pieces of stones, signifying that he would give as many dollars for himself and each of his men. "I will not buy the others," he said, "but how much more than 50 dollars will you give me for yourself, if I buy you and carry you to your friends. Have you any money in Swearah?" asked he by signs and words, "Or do you mean to make me wait till you get it from your country?" Riley replied that his friends in Swearah would give him the money so soon as he was brought there. "You are deceiving me," said he. Riley made the most solemn protestations of his sincerity. "I will buy you then," said he, "but remember if you deceive me I will cut your throat," (making a motion to that effect). This Riley assented to and begged him to buy his son Horace also, but he would not hear a word about any of the others of the crew, as it would be impossible, he said, to get them up off the desert, which was a great distance. "Say nothing about it to your old master, nor to my brother, nor any of the others." He then left Riley, who went out to seek for snails to relieve his hun- ger. Riley saw Savage and Hogan and brought them with Clark near Sidi Hamet's tent, where

they sat down on the ground. He came out to see them, miserable objects as they were and seemed very much shocked at the sight. Riley told his companions that he had great hopes that they would be bought by this man and car- ried up to the cultivated country. But they ex- pressed great fears that they would be left be- hind. Sidi Hamet asked Riley many questions about his men, and wished to know if any of them had died and if they had wives and chil- dren. Riley tried all he could to interest him in their behalf, as well as his own. Riley found that his companions had been very much stinted with milk as well as himself, and that they had had no water. They had found a few snails, which had kept them alive, but even these now failed.

On the 24th they journeyed on all day to- ward the northwest, the whole tribe, or nearly so, in company and the strangers also. When Riley's mistress pitched her tent near night, she made up one for. Sidi Hamet also. Riley begged of him on his knees, every time he had an opportunity, for him to buy his companions, and on the 25th he had the happiness to see Hamet pay his old master for him, giving the old Arab two blankets or coarse haicks, one blue cotton covering and a bundle of ostrich feathers, with which the old man seemed much pleased, as he had now three suits of clothing. They were a long time making the bargain.

This day Horace came with his master to fetch something to the tent. At his approach Riley went to meet him and embraced him with tears in his eyes. Sidi Hamet was fully convinced that Horace was Riley's son. Riley had found a few snails this morning : these he divided between Mr. Savage and Horace be- fore Sidi Hamet, who signified to him in the afternoon that he intended to set out with Riley in two days for Swearah; that he had tried to buy Riley's son, but could not succeed, for his

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master would not sell him at any price. Then said Riley, "Let me stay in his place." He said he would be a faithful slave to his master as long as he lived. He asked Sidi Hamet to carry Horace up to Swearah saying that his friend would pay for him and send him home to his mother, whom Riley, himself, could not see unless he brought her son with him. "You shall have your son, by Allah," said Sidi Hamet. The whole tribe were gathered in council relative to this business, as Riley sup- posed. In the course of the afternoon they de- bated the matter over and seemed to turn it every way; they fought, besides, three or four battles with fists and scimitars, in their warm blood and loud discussion in settling individ- ual disputes. In the evening he was told that Horace was bought, as the tribe in council had forced his master to sell him, though at a great price.

Riley now redoubled his entreaties with his new master to buy Savage, Clark and the re- mainder of the crew, telling him that he would give him a large sum of money if he got them up safe; but Sidi Hamet told him that he would be compelled to carry them through bands of robbers, who would kill him for their sakes, and that his company was not strong enough to resist them by force of arms. Riley fell on his knees and implored him to buy Savage and Clark at any rate, thinking if he should buy them he might be induced to purchase the remaining part of the crew. Riley's mind had been so busy employed in schemes of redemp- tion as to almost forget his own sufferings, since Sidi Hamet had bought him. He had given Riley two or three drinks of water and had begged milk for him from his former master.

On the morning of the 26th Riley renewed his entreaties for him to purchase Savage, Clark and Hogan; the others he had not seen

since the second or third day after they were in the hands of the Arabs. Riley did not know where they were and could not designate them to his new master Hamet, though he told the latter all their names. Hogan and Savage looked much more healthy and likely to live than Clark, and Sidi Hamet insisted that it was impossible that Clark could live more than three days and that if he bought him he would lose his money.

Riley told him he should not lose his money, for whether Clark should live or die he should have his money. Clark was affected with scald head, rendered a raw sore in con- sequence of his sufferings; and his hair, which was very long, was of course in a very filthy condition. This attracted the attention of Sidi Hamet and his brother, the latter of whom was very surly and cross looking. They poked the hair and scabs with their sticks and de- manded to know what was the occasion of the filthy condition. Clark assured them that it was in consequence of his exposure to the sun and as that was the reason attributed by Riley for the horrible sores and blisters that covered their bodies and half-wasted flesh, they said it might be so, but asked why the heads of the rest were not so. They next found fault with Riley's shins, which had for a long time been very sore, and they examined every bone to see if it was all right in its place, with the caution that would be taken with the purchase of a horse.

Sidi Hamet finally informed Riley that he had bought Savage and Clark, and had bar- gained for Hogan, and that he was going to kill a camel that night for provisions for the journey. The water had been expended for two days and all the other families were alike destitute. Riley did not get more than a gill of milk and a small handful of snails in 24 hours. The snails served in a small degree to allay

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their hunger. Riley was extremely anxious for the killing of the camel. He and Clark spent the afternoon gathering sticks to make a fire. A little after midnight Hamet showed them where to carry the wood they had col- lected. It was in a little gully that it might not be seen by the neighbors, while their former master was leading the camel up to the same place. On its arrival they made it lie down in the usual manner. It was a very old one and very poor, so that it was not able to keep up with the drove during the journey. Sidi Hamet told Riley that he had bought it tor a blanket. The camel being down, they put a rope around its lower jaw with a noose, then hauling its head around made the rope fast to its tail. Then they brought a copper kettle that would hold about three gallons. Thus prepared, Sidi Hamet opened a vein in the right side of the camel's neck, close to its breast; the blood streamed out into the kettle and soon filled it half full. This they set over the fire and boiled, stirring it all the time until it became thick and of the consistency of calf liver. Then, taking it off the fire, they passed it to Riley, saying "Coole Riley" ("Eat Riley"). Riley did not wait for a second bid- ding but fell to, with Clark. Their appetites were voracious and they soon filled themselves with this delicious food.

Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, and the privacy observed in killing the camel, many of the hungry neighbors had found it out and came to assist in the dressing and eat- ing of the animal. They insisted on having some of the blood, and would snatch a hand- ful, in spite of all the masters could do to hin- der them. They were very officious in helping to take off the hide. The entrails were rolled out and they put the small entrails into the ket- tle (without cleansing them of their contents), with what remained of the liver and lights, but

they had no water. to boil them. Then one of them went to the camel's paunch, which was very large, and, cutting a slit in it, dipped out some water in a bowl, thick with the camel's excrement; this they poured into the kettle and set it to boiling, stirring it and now and then taking out one of the entrails and biting it to see if it was cooked.

During this time a half dozen hungry wretches were at work on the camel, which they would not leave, under the pretense of friendship for the owners, and would not suffer the strangers to work; and it being dark they managed to steal and carry away more than half of the camel's bones before morning, with half the meat and half the skin.

The masters, though they bought the camel and were as hungry as any of them, could scarcely get a bite of the entrails without fighting for them. Though the masters saw the natives in the very act of stealing and carry- ing off their meat, they could not prevent them, fearing worse consequences, it being a stand- ing maxim to feed the hungry, even if the owner of the food be obliged to rob himself and family to do it.

Notwithstanding the blood Riley and Clark had eaten was perfectly fresh, their thirst in- creased in consequence of it. In the morning a boy came running and stuck his head in the paunch and commenced drinking. Riley's master, seeing that Riley's mouth was very dry, told him to pull the boy away and drink. this was soon done, putting his head in up to his shoulders and drinking of the contents. The liquid was very thick, but not salt, and allayed their thirst.

The morning was spent in cutting off the little meat from the bones and spreading it to dry ; the bones were roasted on the fire for their masters, who cracked them between two stones and sucked out the marrow. Near noon Horace

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was brought to where Riley was: he was very hungry and thirsty and said he had had nothing for the last three days. Sidi Hamet said to Riley, "This is your son, Rias." He seemed to be real glad that he had been able to put chase him and gave him some of the entrails to eat that he had saved for that purpose. Riley also gave him some of the thick camel's water, which he found to be very delicious. Burns came up soon after, and Sidi Hamet asked if he was one of the crew, to which Riley replied that he was. Sidi Hamet said that Burns' master wanted to sell him, but he was old and good for nothing, adding that he could buy him for a blanket, showing Riley a very poor old one. "Buy him," said Riley ; "he is my countryman, and I will pay as much for him as for the others." Thereupon Sidi Hamet went out and bought Burns and gave him something to eat. Poor Burns was greatly rejoiced that there was a prospect of getting his liberty and of getting something to eat. Sidi Hamet that afternoon bought Hogan, and the latter came and was given something to eat. By night the natives had stolen so much that there only remained 15 pounds of the camel. Hogan's late master now claimed one more blanket than had been agreed upon. As he was a stout fellow, Sidi Hamet would not be imposed upon. Riley begged very hard for poor Hogan, all to no purpose, and his old master drove him away, laying on his back with a stick unmercifully. Hamet's eyes seemed to fairly flash as he left them. Hogan's hopes had been raised, now to be blasted and to be driven away like a criminal.

The day was employed in making prepara- tion for their departure. Their masters made them sandals of camel skins, a small knife was hung on Riley's neck as a token of author- ity, and he was placed in command of the rest of the slaves. In the evening Sidi Hamet told

Riley that Savage would be with them by and by, and that they would start in the morning for Swearah, and that he hoped they would again be free. He then told Riley how much he had paid for each of them: that he had ex- pended all of his property and that if Riley had not told him the truth he would be a ruine i man. He then made Riley repeat before his brother Riley's promises to him, and the pen- alty of having his throat cut if his words did not prove true. Late that evening Savage ar- rived. He was very thankful to get something to eat, as Sidi Hamet had saved some of the entrails for him, which were now given him. They saved what water remained in the camel's paunch and put it in a goatskin, straining it through their fingers to get out the thickest of the filth.

On the morning of the 28th they were called and made to load the camels. All the Arabs in the valley set out in the morning to drive their camels to water; they had now been with- out water for 18 days; and were now at least two days' journey from the well where Riley and his men had been taken prisoners. Soon after sunrise Archibald Robins came with his master to see Riley and the others. Riley begged on his knees, for Sidi Hamet to buy Robins, but he said it was impossible and hur- ried them on. Riley told Robins of his present hopes and urged him to keep up his courage and that if he were successful in gaining his freedom, he would endeavor to effect Robins' release also.

Sidi Hamet and Seid, his brother, had two old camels on which they had ridden and they also bought a young one that was not broke for riding. They were now joined by a young Arab. called Abdallah-he had been Savage's master and owned a camel. Sidi Hamet had a kind of saddle for each of the old camels. but nothing to cover the bones of the young one.

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He placed Savage, Burns, and Horace on the big one. and Riley and Clark on the other one. Seid and Abdallah took seats on the one be- longing to Abdallah, and Sidi Hamet mounted the young one, sitting behind the hump bare- back, breaking him. Thus they started at a long trot. They started at 9 A. M. and con- tinued for about three hours, when they stopped to rest in a little valley. Here Sidi Hamet pulled out a checked shirt and gave it to Riley ; he said he had stolen it and that he had tried to get one for Horace, but could not. He said, "Put it on, your poor backs need it."

The next morning they started before day- light and only stopped about 15 minutes, trav- eling fully 105 miles. That night the men were forced to lie on the bare ground, without any covering, with the cold wind blowing a gale ; they did not sleep a bit. If placed upon the rack, their sufferings could not have been greater. Sidi Hamet seemed greatly grieved at their condition, and said that they would soon come to good water, where they could drink all they wanted and then they would not travel so fast. On the 29th they were placed on the camels a little after daylight, having nothing to eat and only a little camel's urine to drink, which they preferred to their own; though bitter it was not salt. Proceeding on their journey at a long trot, they came to what appeared to have been an arm of the sea or a river, but was dry. After. searching for some time, they found a spring of sweet water, of which they drank their fill. Here the camels were watered. Here Riley learned the quan- tity of water a camel could drink. They filled a goatskin that would hold at least four gal- lons 15 times, and one camel drank all of it. Having finished watering the camels, they started on their journey. They this day trav- eled about 50 miles.

That night they ate the last of their camel's

meat, which was not more than an ounce apiece. On the morning of the 30th, they started very early and let the camels walk, although their walk required those of the party that were afoot to keep on a trot to not fall behind. About 2 o'clock P. M. Sidi Hamet said, "Riley Shift Gemel" (Riley, I see a camel"). He was very much rejoiced and so were his companions. But neither Riley nor his companions could see anything of the kind for at least two hours; then they saw a camel approaching like a speck on the horizon, but it did not come up until sunset. They had trav- eled about 40 miles. They were in a terrible condition, worn to skin and bone, chafed and sore in every joint and muscle, and were com- pelled to lie on the hard ground, not even loose sand, for a bed. About II o'clock P. M. Sidi Hamet brought a bowl of cooked meat which was divided among them.

On the morning of October, Ist they started early. Sidi Hamet called Riley and told him that this man had his spy glass and wanted to know what it was worth, this and some other things, that convinced Riley that they were in the vicinity of the place where they were ship- wrecked. About 4 P. M. they fell in with some Arabs, who had been to the northward to water their camels. They continued with them over night. Riley and his companions found some soft sand to lie on and slept until midnight, when they were awakened and given a good drink of milk. They had traveled about 40 miles.

On the 2nd day of October, the tribe did not move as Sidi Hamet said they would re- main in camp for the purpose of feasting his party. This tribe, like all the others that Riley met, took no nourishment except a drink ot milk at midnight. On October 3rd they left this hospitable tribe of Arabs, who had fed them, and traveled about 30 miles.

On the 4th they set out, all on foot, driving

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their camels. Here the sand was loose and dif- ficult to walk in. They now came to immense sand hills, and the wind blowing almost a hur- ricane, blew loose sand in their faces, which cut like knives. At dark they made a shelter from the wind and sand with their saddles, for their masters and themselves. They had made about 30 miles that day.

On October 5th Riley and his companions started to drive the camels into camp, when they stampeded and all their exertions could not stop them. Sidi Hamet, seeing their pre- dicament, came to their relief and after some time succeeded in bringing the camels back. They could only make about two miles an hour in the deep sand. The sand was as hot as coals to their feet. They now had nothing to eat. About midnight Riley was awakened by a roar- ing sound and supposed it was a sand storm, that would soon bury them; but as it did not come nearer and the wind did not increase they concluded it was the ocean. This was the first time they had heard the sea roar, since the 10th of September. This proved that their masters were going toward Morocco.

On the 6th of October they started early, and Sidi Hamet said they would get no more milk. About noon their masters discovered two camels and as they approached near un- sheathed and primed their guns. They found the camels loaded and drove them along quietly. Sidi Hamet found the owners asleep and snatched a bag from near their heads. He overtook Seid and Abdallah, made the camels lie down, opened the sacks and found them filled with barley, the first bread stuff the pris- oners had seen. They took about 50 pounds of barley and tied up the sacks. The small sack that Sidi Hamet had taken from near the heads of the sleepers contained barley meal. One of them overtook the party. Sidi Hamet motioned the man to go back but he continued

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 12

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870