CHAPTER  THE FOURTEENTH
THE RECORD OF THE CHRISTIAN SLAVES

SINCE the custom of enslaving enemies taken in war
dates back to the earliest pages of history, and as
beyond offering brotherly terms to such of their foes as
should accept their prophet, the Mohammedans
'^vicHml^'^'^        have made no exception to this practice, it may
be inferred that the presence of European slaves
in Morocco counts from the first invasion of Spain.    But
it is not until comparatively recent years that we come
across the traces of the captives, and not until the seven¬
teenth century, when the  Salli rovers captured  English
vessels in increasing numbers, that anything approaching
an all-round picture of their sufferings can be obtained.
Nor can even an approximate estimate be formed of the
thousands who endured so sad a lot, which increased in
sadness as the distance grew between the civilisations of
Morocco and Europe.

The earliest, and for a long time the only, available

records are those of the noble men who, under the general

name of Redemptionist Fathers, undertook most

^^^dT^^^        dangerous and arduous journeys to Morocco for

the purpose of redeeming those of the captives

who  had  not,  by accepting  Islam, abandoned  hope  of

ransom.     Renegades  had  this  to face  in exchange  for

scanty privileges and a freedom which was only nominal,

since they could never leave the country save by flight.

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