The full terror of white slavery practiced by the Muslim Barbary Pirates comes to dramatic life in this enthralling personal account from one of their most famous captives, Thomas Pellow. From the sixteenth to nineteenth century, the Muslim Barbary Pirates captured over a million Europeans at sea and through raiding parties along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines. The victims were then transported back to North Africa, where they were sold as slaves or sent further east into the Ottoman Empire's heartland. First published in 1740, this astounding book details Pellow's life as a slave in the Muslim world, starting from his capture at sea at the age of eleven. Captured by the Barbary Pirates when they were at the peak of their power, Pellow's account of the two decades spent serving the Sultan of Morocco, Moulay Ismail, and his successor, became of the most important eyewitness accounts of this period. His book contains astounding details of the day-to-day terror that was white slavery in the Muslim world. It tells of the intimate court affairs of the Sultan, and the vicious, dangerous nature of Barbary society. Pellow also spares no expense explaining that Sephardic Jews played a major role in the slave trade-revealing that they were ever present as interpreters, bankers, and even high-level Barbary government officials. Pellow's remarkable career took him from the lowest slave status to one of the most senior slave courtiers in the Sultan's palace, granting him unprecedented access to the state's workings-and also, ultimately, allowing him to escape back to Europe. This remarkable book remains one of the greatest real-life adventure stories ever told. The reader will be shocked and also moved to laughter and tears by the deeds and antics described herein-but will be held captive by this fascinating work to the very end. This book has been completely reset.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In the summer of 1716, a Cornish cabin boy named Thomas Pellow was captured at sea by Barbary pirates and sold into human bondage to the despotic sultan of Morocco. This riveting memoir of a slave narrative is a story of pluck, and endurance in the face of barbaric splendour and suffering. A remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and to all those snatched from their homes and taken in chains to the great slave markets of North Africa. A bestseller in its day and a classic of slave literature.