a quart of corn per diem, with occasionally
a few dates, divided amongst four persons. No
one would purchase their merchandize, owing, as it
became apparent to Mukni’s treacherous orders.
Mr. Ritchie, for reasons not explained, did not think
it right to draw for money on the treasury, and they
were reduced to the last extremity, when the sultan
graciously condescended to advance them eight dollars,
and at this time a neighbour repaid them ten dollars,
which they had lent soon after their arrival.
They were now able to treat themselves with a little
meat. About the 20th September, Mr. Ritchie, who
had never recovered his spirits, but had latterly
shunned the society even of his companions, again
relapsed, and was confined to his bed, and Belford,
though better in health, was entirely deaf; their condition
became every day more destitute. They had hired
a woman to cook for them at a dollar a month.
She was required to come only once a day, to bake
their bread or make their cuscoussou; and it often
happened, that when she had stolen half the allowance
to which they had restricted themselves, they were
obliged to fast till the morrow. They were saved,
when on the very brink of starvation, by a supply of
seven dollars, the munificent reward conferred upon
Belford by the sultan, for constructing a rude kind
of carriage for him. Soon afterwards, they sold
a horse for seventy dollars. This seasonable
supply was carefully economized; but it had become
much reduced when Captain Lyon and Belford both fell
ill again. The former rose from his bed, after
being confined to it for a week, a skeleton. Under
this exigency they met with a remarkable instance of
disinterested friendship on the part of a native,
Yusuf el Lizari, who, as well as his brother, had
previously shown them much kindness. “One
night,” says Captain Lyon, “as we were
all sitting pensively on our mat, our friend Yusuf
came in, and, addressing Mr. Ritchie, said, ’Yusuf,
you, and Said are my friends. Mukni has hopes
you may die, that he may secure to himself all your
goods. You seem very melancholy; do you want
money?’ Mr. Ritchie having acknowledged that
he did, Yusuf rejoined, ‘I have none myself,
but I will borrow some for you.’ Twenty
dollars being the sum named, our kind friend went out,
and soon returned with thirty, an act of generosity
so unlocked for, that we were incapable of thanking
him as he deserved. This seasonable supply enabled
us to buy some good food, and to make some amends for
our late privations. Our health soon improved,
and Mr. Ritchie’s spirits began to brighten.”
But this interval of hope was soon darkened. On the 8th of November, poor Ritchie was again attacked by illness, and after lying for three or four days in a state of torpor, without taking any refreshment, he again became delirious, and on the 20th expired. The two survivors of this ill-fated party were themselves reduce to the lowest state of debility, and the only prospect before them, was that of probably following,