The fear of death turned all my food into
poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety;
for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, seeing me to
be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death.
Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of
what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a
distance from the houses, and to make my escape. An old man who saw
me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to
return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly
got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about
the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which
was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive
in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a
little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; but I
speedily set forward again, and traveled seven days, avoiding those
places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon
coconuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I
came near the sea, and saw some white people, like myself, gathering
pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to
be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple.
The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me,
and asked me in Arabic who I was and whence I came.
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