to the Arabian saddle, I suffered but very little inconvenience on that account: indeed I set as easy as in an arm chair. I was also most generally indulged each night with the privilege of occupying a corner of their tent, while my unfortunate fellow captives were compelled, with no other covering but the canopy of heaven. Hence while these poor unfortunate people were by ill treatment as well as hunger reduced to mere skeletons; their whole bodies burned quite black by the powerful rays of the sun, and filled with innumerable sores; their feet blistered by the hot sands, or severely gashed by sharp stones; and their heads, for the want of an opportunity to cleanse them, overrun with vermin, I, blessed be God, suffered but little but from hunger and thirst.

It was a pleasing thing to me to see these unfortunate captives, almost without an exception, although but a few months before conducting as if strangers to the gospel of Jesus, on their bended knees imploring the mercy and protection of an offended God. O that they may continue to be ever grateful to Him for past favors, and learn to trust in Him for the time to come—surely then above most others they have reason to say “it is good for us that we have been inflicted.” By their request I read many passages in my bible, which seemed most appropriate to our situation, and which appeared to afford them great consolation; among which were