condition admitted, our captors moved away toward the Vistula. Here a slave-dealer from Astrakhan fortunately purchased us all; and we moved forward into Turkestan. A body of Kharesmian plunderers seized our caravan, and conveyed us to the Kharesniian frontier, the Khan of this region proposing to make us part of a body of slave colonists intended to cultivate his tract of country, almost depopulated by the Tartars long ago, and scarcely occupied ever since. Here we received eacha dwelling, but our employment consisted exclusively of herding horses and goats. Our flocks of goats yielded us meat; and kumyss formed our chief drink. Years we continued in this employment. The Khan of Kharesm claimed dominion over our territory; and dispatched a large force for its subjugation. Repeatedly we observed an officer in command whom we thought we recognized. At last our district fell into his power and we found ourselves again subject to a change of masters. An order given one day, to his own servant, in the Spanish language, convinced us that our new viceroy was none other than Don Abraham, whom we had repeatedly seen; and whom my father and Solomon well knew, and frequently conversed with. We made ourselves known to him; and with a noble generosity and a friendly gladness that gave him infinite pleasure, Don Abraham not only secured our absolute release, but furnished us with ample means to purchase the estate where Solomon and his friend first made my father’s acquaintance. We could not continue our journey without enjoying the profound pleasure
