They are vain and talkative; and when anything puts them out of humor, they commonly vent their anger upon their female slaves, over whom they rule with severe and despotic authority, — which leads me to observe, that the condition of these poor captives is deplorably wretched. At day-break they are compelled to fetch water from the wells in large skins; and as soon as they have brought water enough to serve the family for the day, as well as the horses (for the Moors seldom give their horses the trouble of going to the wells), they are then employed in pounding corn and dressing the victuals. This being always done in the open air, the slaves are exposed to the combined heat of the sun, the sand, and the fire. In the intervals, it is their business to sweep the tent, churn the milk, and perform other domestic offices. With all this, they are badly fed, and oftentimes cruelly treated."[1]
Here is another scene:
"About two o'clock I came to the village of Socha, and endeavoured to purchase some corn from the dooty [chief man of the village], who was sitting by the gate, — but without success. I then requested a little food by way of charity, but was told he had none to spare. Whilst I was examining the countenance of this inhospitable old man, and endeavouring to find out the cause of the sullen discontent which was visible in his eye, he called to a slave who was working in the com-field at a little distance, and ordered him to bring his hoe along with him. The dooty then told him to dig a hole in the ground,
- ↑ Chap. XII.
