Chapter Seventy Seven.
Rais Mourad.
Six days had passed, during which the white slaves were comparatively well treated, far better than at any other time since their shipwreck. They were not allowed to suffer from thirst, and were supplied with nearly as much food as they required.
On the sixth day after the departure of Bo Muzem, they were visited by their masters, accompanied by a stranger who was a Moor.
They were commanded to get up on their feet; and were then examined by the Moor in a manner that awakened suspicions that he was about to buy them.
The Moor wore a caftan richly embroidered on the breast and sleeves, and confined around the waist with a silken sash or girdle.
A pair of small yellow Morocco leather boots peeped out beneath trousers of great width made of the finest satin; and on his head was a turban of bright scarlet silk.
Judging from the respect shown to him by the merchants, he was an individual of much importance. This was also evident from the number of his followers, all of whom were mounted on beautiful Arabian horses.
The appearance of his whole retinue gave evidence that he was some personage of great wealth and influence.