At four o’clock in the afternoon, after we had passed the greatest heat of the day in the disgusting tents of the Mooresses, stretched by their side, we heard a cry of “To arms, to arms!” I had none; I took a large knife which I had preserved, and which was as good as a sword.  We advanced towards some Moors and Negroes, who had already disarmed several of our people whom they had found reposing on the sea shore.  The two parties were on the point of coming to blows, when we understood that these men came to offer to conduct us to Senegal.

Some timid persons distrusted their intentions.  For myself, as well as the most prudent among us, I thought that we should trust entirely to men who came in a small number, and who, in fact, confided their own safety to us; though it would have been so easy for them, to come in sufficiently large numbers to overwhelm us.  We did so, and experience proved that we did well.

We set off with our Moors who were very well made and fine men of their race; a Negro, their slave was one of the handsomest men I have ever seen.  His body of a fine black, was clothed in a blue dress which he had received as a present.  This dress became him admirably, his gait was proud and his air inspired confidence.  The distrust of some of our Negroes, who had their arms unsheathed, and fear painted on the countenances of some made him laugh.  He put himself in the middle of them, and placing the point of the weapons upon his breast, opened his arms, to make them comprehend that he was not afraid, and that they also ought not to fear him.

After we had proceeded some time, night being come, our guides conducted us a little inland, behind the downs where there were some tents inhabited by a pretty considerable number of Moors.  Many persons in our caravan cried out, that they were going to be led to death.  But we did not listen to them, persuaded that in every way we were undone, if the Moors were resolved on our destruction, that besides, it was their true interest to conduct us to Senegal, and that in short, confidence was the only means of safety.

Fear caused every body to follow us.  We found in the camp, water, camels’ milk, and dry, or rather rotten fish.  Though all these things were enormously dear, we were happy to meet with them.  I bought for ten francs one of these fish which stunk terribly.  I wrapt it up in the only handkerchief I had left, to carry it with me.  We were not sure of always finding such a good inn upon the road.  We slept in our usual bed, that is to say stretched upon the sand.  We had rested till midnight:  we took some asses for Mr. Picard’s family, and for some men whom fatigue had rendered incapable of going any further.

I observed that the men who were most overcome by fatigue were presisely those who were the most robust.  From their look and their apparent strength they might have been judged indefatigable, but they wanted mental strength, and this alone supports man in such a crisis.  For my part I was astonished at bearing so well so many fatigues and privations.  I suffered, but with courage; my stomach, to my great satisfaction did not suffer at all.  I bore every thing in the same manner till the last.