fore the debate was closed. All caufes between the foldiers were decided in this council, but those between the citizens were determined before the chiah, who was the dey's lieutenant.

Though their fortifications were then, as at prefent,very inconfiderable, yet they were a terror to the Europeans; and, according to fome computations, above 600,000 flaves died in Algiers with the feverity of their treatment between the years 1536 and 1640.

Though the Algerines were greatly elated at the fignal difafter of Charles V. in 1541, yet they durft not attribute their deliverance to their own valour. Their opinion was, that a marabout or fanton who refided near the city, produced the tempeft that proved the deftruction of the Spanifh fleet, by beating the fea with his wand. To the memory of this marabout they erected a mofque near the gate of Babloet, where he was interred. The Turks had a great veneration for this place, and pretended that if a Chriftian army fhould ever befiege Algiers again, they would raise the most tremendous tempeft ever known by casting the bones of this marabout into the fea.

CHAP. VII.

A compendium of the adventures of Emanuel D'Aranda, containing an account of the treatment of the Algerine flaves in the time of Pinchinin.

EMANUEL D'ARANDA

was a native of

Dunkirk in Flanders, and was a flave in Algiers for the fpace of two years. On the first of Auguft 1640, he left Madrid, and proceeded by land to St. Sebaftian, where he embarked on board an English veffel, in order to return to his own country, after having vifited various parts of Spain. After being at sea a few days, they difcovered a large ship bearing down upon them, which proved to be a caravel. The mafter of the English veffel immediately ordered his fails to be furled up, and alledged for a reafon that it was not cuftomary for an English veffel to run away at sea. The caravel foon came within gun fhot, but without hoifting her colours; whereupon it was concluded that she was a pirate.

But night coming on both veffels lay to, waiting the events that were to take place the next morning. The paffengers of the English veffel used every argument in their power to induce the captain to make his escape; but he was inflexibly determined to maintain his ftation. About ten o'clock next morning two Turkish veffels hove in fight, and were foon within gun fhot. In this fituation resistance was vain. One of the Turkish veffels hailed her, and ordered her to ftrike her colours; upon which a boat's crew was fent out, who immediately took pof

feffion

feffion of the English veffel, and her crew were fent on board of one of the Turkifh fhips, which immediately after ftood for Algiers.

On the eleventh day after their capture, they paffed the freights of Gibralter, where the Turks, as they paffed, obferved many fuperftitious ceremonies. Among a variety the following was obferved; they caft a veffel of oil into the fea, which they imagined fwam to a mountain called La montagne des Signes, where a great santon or faint refided, who fubfifted upon the oil, and in confequence of this gift difpenfed various bleffings to them. During the paffage of the oil, lighted candles were placed upon the great guns (a ceremony that was particularly obferved by veffels that paffed the ftreights in the night) which burnt for the purpose of affording light to the oil in its paffage. All thefe ceremonies were performed with prayers and great devotion.

The third day after paffing the ftreights, they anchored oppofite the city of Algiers; the guns of the veffel were fired, and their report brought a large concourse of people to the fhore. D'Aranda with the rest of the crew were now freed from their chains, and taken to the market where the Chriftian flaves were fold, in order to fee if any of them were known; from thence they were conducted to the palace of the dey, (who was entitled to every eighth pritone) that he might make his choice out of the number of captives.

He was feated in his hall of audience, and fat cross-legged on an elegant feat, covered with blue tapestry, holding in his hand a number of plumes, refembling a fan. His dreis was a long gown of red filk, and a turban neatly interwoven.

After the dey had made choice of his fhare of the captives, the remainder were taken to the house of

one

one of the Turks whofe veffel had taken the prize. As D'Aranda was going into the house, the Turk asked him in Italian, if he was hungry, he answered in the affirmative; whereupon a Chriftian flave brought the prifoners fome bread and a basket of grapes, with which they regaled themfelves. The houfe was built in the Italian manner; the galleries were formed of white marble, and the pavement, the pillars and the arches were well proportioned, according to the laws of architecture. They were confined in this houfe, where they were obliged to fleep on the floor in the galleries, and were not permitted to leave the house till they were fold.

After they had been confined here feven days, they were vifited by Pinchinin and fome of the richest Turks, who came with an intention to purchase flaves. They afked the prifoners whether they were able to pay the price of their ranfom; but they answered in the negative, and in confequence no purchafe was made. They were afterwards brought to the market, where an old man, with a ftaff in his hand, took D'Aranda by the arm, and led him feveral times round the marketplace. A number of perfons, defirous of purchaf ing, appeared, who afked D'Aranda his profeffion and the place of his nativity. They took him by the hand to examine if it was hard; and ordered him to open his mouth, to fee whether his teeth were fufficiently good for chewing hard bifkets on board the galleys. They were then all ordered to be feated in a row. The old man took the first in order and led him three or four times round the market, crying arrache, arrache, who offers moft? After the fale he was placed upon the other fide of the market, and in the fame manner all the others were fold. D'Aranda was purchased by a rene

gado

gado named Saban Gallan, who gave 200 patacoons for him.

The dey being entitled to any flave at the price offered for him in the market, they were in confequence once more taken to the palace: each one having in his hat a piece of paper, on which was written the price at which he was fold. The dey thought proper to purchase D'Aranda, and Caloen and Saldens two of his companions; telling them that he had heard they were perfons of quality, and that he expected a large fum for their ranfom. He then ordered them to the ftables of the palace, where they found 250 other flaves intended as a fupply to the galleys. In thefe ftables they were confined one and twenty days, and their daily allowance here was two fmall loaves of bread a- piece.

Towards the end of September, when their gal leys make their laft cruife, thefe flaves began to prepare for fea. To each one was diftributed, by the dey's order, fome coarse cloth, for the purpofe of making them fuch clothes as were worn in the galleys. On the day appointed for the flaves to go on board, a number of barbers attended the ftables, and fhaved the heads and beards of those who were intended as rowers. After they were fhaved, the dey's fteward, and the captain of one of the galleys entered the tables, and ordered the flaves into an adjoining court, where each one had his office and ftation affigned him. After this there remained twenty flaves more than fufficient to man the galleys. D'Aranda was among this number, and the captain of the galley faid to the fteward as he paffed them, We will leave thefe rafcals on fhore, for they are favages yet.

They were then ordered back to the dey's fta

Bb 2

bles,