File:An authentic narrative of the loss of the American brig Commerce - wrecked on the western cost of Africa, in the month of August, 1815. (1817) (14755931146).jpg

Identifier: authenticnarrati00rile (find matches)
Title: An authentic narrative of the loss of the American brig Commerce : wrecked on the western cost of Africa, in the month of August, 1815.
Year: 1817 (1810s)
Authors: Riley, James, 1777-1840 Bleecker, Anthony, 1770-1827
Subjects: Commerce (Brig) Slavery
Publisher: New-York : Printed and published for the author, by T. & W. Mercein, no. 93 Gold-street
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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e, then laying their ribsbare with gashes, while their heads, hands, andthighs, received a full share of cuts and wounds-The blood streaming from every gash, ran down theirbodies, colouring and heightening the natural hide-ousness of their appearance. I had expected to becut to pieces in this dreadful affray, but was notinjured. Those who were not actually engaged in combat, seized the occasion, and snatched away the clothing in Dicks bundle, so that when the fight was over, he had nothing left but his masters blanket. This battle and contest lasted for nearly an hour—brother cutting brother, friend slashing friend. Happily for them, their scimitars were not very sharp, so that when they rubbed off the dried blood from their bodies afterwards with sand, their wounds were not so great or deep as I expected they would be, and they did not pay the least apparent attention to them. I had no time to see what they were doing with my shipmates; only myself and the cook were near each other
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BUFFERINGS IN AFRICA. 67 The battle over, I saw my distressed companionsdivided among the Arabs, and all going towards thedrove of camels, though they were at some distancefrom me. We too were delivered into the hands oftwo old women, who mged us on with sticks towardsthe camels. Naked and barefoot I could not govery fast, and showed the women my mouth, whichwas parched white as frost, and without a sign ofmoisture. When we got near the well, one of thewomen called for another, who came to us with awooden bowl, that held, I should guess, about agallon of water, and setting it on the ground, mademyself and Dick kneel down and put our headsinto it like camels. I drank I suppose half a gallon,though I had been very particular in cautioning themen against drinking too much at a time, in case theyever came to water. I now experienced how mucheasier it was to preach than to practise aright.They then led us to the well, the water of whichwas nearly as black and disgusting as stale bilgewater

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