Indian-corn, and barley. Adams thinks this place was all
the property of one man.
The place at which they next stopped, having travelled
that day in a north-east direction, was the residence of a
great warrior named Cidi Heshem, who had with him
upwards of six hundred black men and Moors, most of
them armed with muskets, which they kept in excellent
order. Adams was informed that he admitted into his
sendee any runaway Negroes or Moors; to whom he gave
liberty on condition of their entering into his service.
He appeared to be very rich : having numerous camels,
goats, sheep, and horned cattle, and abundance of piece
goods of various kinds, as also shoes and other manufactures
which were exposed for sale in shops kept by Jews.
The place was called after its owner, Bled de Cidi Heshem,
in the district of Suz, and to the best of Adams’s recollection,
contained from twenty to thirty houses. Here he saw
a great quantity of silver money, principally dollars. Cidi
Heshem was at war with the Emperor of Morocco. (56)
After staying one night and part of the next day, Adams
and his companion proceeded on their journey ; and the
following night slept at a place where there were only two
huts. The next day they arrived at a place of a similar
description, and then set out, expecting to arrive at a large
77
town, situate on a high hill by the sea side named in
English Santa Cruz, (where he was told, formerly a British
Consul resided), but called by the Moors Agadeer. They
did not, however, get so far; but reached a place called
Cidi Mahomeda Moussa,* situate in a wide sandy plain,
where the harvest being just got in, the inhabitants were
holding a market, at which there appeared to be assembled
not less than four thousand persons from all quarters, who
had goods of all descriptions for sale. This market, he was
told, is held once a year, and lasts for five days. Here
Adams’s companion was met by several persons of his
acquaintance, who seemed greatly delighted at his success
in effecting his (Adams’s) liberation; some of them spoke
English.
After remaining there one day, they set out again on
their journey, and by one o’clock reached Agadeer. As
soon as they arrived, the Governor sent for Adams, and
said to him in the Moorish language, “ now, my lad, you
“ may consider yourself safe.” He afterwards made particular
inquiry as to the treatment Adams had met with ;
and on being told with what inhumanity he had been used
* There is a sanctuary near Santa Cruz, called Cidi Mohammed Monsoul,
but Adams appears to have confounded it, (probably from the similarity of the
names) with Cidi Hamet a Moussa. See Note 56. D.