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name people from some defect or virtue they may possess； the reason
being that there are among them only four surnames belonging to
families tracing their descent from the Ottoman house； and the others；
as I have said； take their names and surnames either from bodily
blemishes or moral qualities。 This 〃scabby one〃 rowed at the oar as
a slave of the Grand Signor's for fourteen years； and when over
thirty…four years of age； in resentment at having been struck by a
Turk while at the oar； turned renegade and renounced his faith in
order to be able to revenge himself； and such was his valour that；
without owing his advancement to the base ways and means by which most
favourites of the Grand Signor rise to power； he came to be king of
Algiers； and afterwards general…on…sea； which is the third place of
trust in the realm。 He was a Calabrian by birth； and a worthy man
morally； and he treated his slaves with great humanity。 He had three
thousand of them； and after his death they were divided； as he
directed by his will； between the Grand Signor （who is heir of all who
die and shares with the children of the deceased） and his renegades。 I
fell to the lot of a Venetian renegade who； when a cabin boy on
board a ship； had been taken by Uchali and was so much beloved by
him that he became one of his most favoured youths。 He came to be
the most cruel renegade I ever saw： his name was Hassan Aga； and he
grew very rich and became king of Algiers。 With him I went there
from Constantinople； rather glad to be so near Spain； not that I
intended to write to anyone about my unhappy lot； but to try if
fortune would be kinder to me in Algiers than in Constantinople； where
I had attempted in a thousand ways to escape without ever finding a
favourable time or chance； but in Algiers I resolved to seek for other
means of effecting the purpose I cherished so dearly； for the hope
of obtaining my liberty never deserted me； and when in my plots and
schemes and attempts the result did not answer my expectations；
without giving way to despair I immediately began to look out for or
conjure up some new hope to support me； however faint or feeble it
might be。
In this way I lived on immured in a building or prison called by the
Turks a bano in which they confine the Christian captives； as well
those that are the king's as those belonging to private individuals；
and also what they call those of the Almacen； which is as much as to
say the slaves of the municipality； who serve the city in the public
works and other employments； but captives of this kind recover their
liberty with great difficulty； for； as they are public property and
have no particular master； there is no one with whom to treat for
their ransom； even though they may have the means。 To these banos；
as I have said； some private individuals of the town are in the
habit of bringing their captives； especially when they are to be
ransomed； because there they can keep them in safety and comfort until
their ransom arrives。 The king's captives also； that are on ransom； do
not go out to work with the rest of the crew； unless when their ransom
is delayed； for then； to make them write for it more pressingly；
they compel them to work and go for wood； which is no light labour。
I； however； was one of those on ransom； for when it was discovered
that I was a captain； although I declared my scanty means and want
of fortune； nothing could dissuade them from including me among the
gentlemen and those waiting to be ransomed。 They put a chain on me；
more as a mark of this than to keep me safe； and so I passed my life
in that bano with several other gentlemen and persons of quality
marked out as held to ransom； but though at times； or rather almost
always； we suffered from hunger and scanty clothing； nothing
distressed us so much as hearing and seeing at every turn the
unexampled and unheard…of cruelties my master inflicted upon the
Christians。 Every day he hanged a man； impaled one； cut off the ears
of another； and all with so little provocation； or so entirely without
any； that the Turks acknowledged he did it merely for the sake of
doing it； and because he was by nature murderously disposed towards
the whole human race。 The only one that fared at all well with him was
a Spanish soldier； something de Saavedra by name； to whom he never
gave a blow himself； or ordered a blow to be given； or addressed a
hard word； although he had done things that will dwell in the memory
of the people there for many a year； and all to recover his liberty；
and for the least of the many things he did we all dreaded that he
would be impaled； and he himself was in fear of it more than once； and
only that time does not allow； I could tell you now something of
what that soldier did； that would interest and astonish you much
more than the narration of my own tale。
To go on with my story； the courtyard of our prison was overlooked
by the windows of the house belonging to a wealthy Moor of high
position； and these； as is usual in Moorish houses； were rather
loopholes than windows； and besides were covered with thick and
close lattice…work。 It so happened； then； that as I was one day on the
terrace of our prison with three other comrades； trying； to pass
away the time； how far we could leap with our chains； we being
alone； for all the other Christians had gone out to work； I chanced to
raise my eyes； and from one of these little closed windows I saw a
reed appear with a cloth attached to the end of it； and it kept waving
to and fro； and moving as if making signs to us to come and take it。
We watched it； and one of those who were with me went and stood
under the reed to see whether they would let it drop； or what they
would do； but as he did so the reed was raised and moved from side
to side； as if they meant to say 〃no〃 by a shake of the head。 The
Christian came back； and it was again lowered； making the same
movements as before。 Another of my comrades went； and with him the
same happened as with the first； and then the third went forward；
but with the same result as the first and second。 Seeing this I did
not like not to try my luck； and as soon as I came under the reed it
was dropped and fell inside the bano at my feet。 I hastened to untie
the cloth； in which I perceived a knot； and in this were ten cianis；
which are coins of base gold； current among the Moors； and each
worth ten reals of our money。
It is needless to say I rejoiced over this godsend； and my joy was
not less than my wonder as I strove to imagine how this good fortune
could have come to us； but to me specially； for the evident
unwillingness to drop the reed for any but me showed that it was for
me the favour was intended。 I took my welcome money； broke the reed；
and returned to the terrace； and looking up at the window； I saw a
very white hand put out that opened and shut very quickly。 From this
we gathered or fancied that it must be some woman living in that house
that had done us this kindness； and to show that we were grateful
for it； we made salaams after the fashion of the Moors； bowing the
head； bending the body； and crossing the arms on the breast。 Shortly
afterwards at the same window a small cross made of reeds was put
out and immediately withdrawn。 This sign led us to believe that some
Christian woman was a captive in the house； and that it was she who
had been so good to us； but the whiteness of the hand and the
bracelets we had perceived made us dismiss that idea； though we
thought it might be one of the Christian renegades whom their
masters very often take as lawful wives； and gladly； for they prefer
them to the women of their own nation。 In all our conjectures we
were wide of the truth； so from that time forward our sole
occupation was watching and gazing at the window where the cross had
appeared to us； as if it were our pole…star； but at least fifteen days
passed without our seeing either it or the hand； or any other sign and
though meanwhile we endeavoured with the utmost pains to ascertain who
it was that lived in the house； and whether there were any Christian
renegade in it； nobody could ever tell us anything more than that he
who lived there was a rich Moor of high position； Hadji Morato by
name； formerly alcaide of La Pata； an office of high dignity among
them。 But when we least thought it was going to rain any more cianis
from that quarter； we saw the reed suddenly appear with another
cloth tied in a larger knot attached to it； and this at a time when；
as on the former occasion； the bano was deserted and unoccupied。
We made trial as before； each of the same three going forward before
I did； but the reed was delivered to none but me； and on my approach
it was let drop。 I untied the knot and I found forty Spanish gold
crowns with a paper written in Arabic； and at the end of the writing
there was a large cross drawn。 I kissed the cross； took the crowns and
returned to the terrace； and we all made our salaams； again the hand
appeared； I made signs that I would read the paper； and then the
window was closed。 We were all puzzled； though filled with joy at what
had taken place； and as none of us understood Arabic； great was our
curios