James Riley (Captain)

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James Riley was the Captain of the American merchant ship Commerce. He led his crew through the Sahara Desert after they were shipwrecked on the cost of West Africa, and wrote a book on the ordeal in 1816 detailing his memoirs . The book was published in 1817 and is titled Sufferings in Africa: The Astonishing Account of a New England Sea Captain Enslaved by North African Arabs.

[edit] Story

James Riley and his crew were ship wrecked off of the coast of Africa. Lost in an unknown world, Captain Riley feels responsible for his crew in this unknown land. They are captured by natives, and kept as slaves. Horribly mistreated, they suffer greatly - drinking their own urine and eventually that of camels. When the time comes that one of his men is sure to die, two educated Arabs enter the camp. Riley begs them for water. One man refuses, drawing back to strike the American slave. His brother stops him, and gives Riley the much needed water. He sees how the captain puts aside his own need for water and gives half of the precious liquid to a crew mate, James Clark. Riley works up the courage to beg the unknown, kind Arab to buy him and his crew mates. Riley promises that he has a friend that will pay for his safe return and the return of his crew. The Arab tells him that he will take him to his friend, but if he is lying, he will slit his throat and sell the crew for the price white men gathered - a blanket. Riley agrees. The Arab, named Sidi Hamet, can only take a handful of the men. Riley has now gained the chance of his freedom and that of his crew on a lie.

Traveling through the desert caused everyone to suffer - master and slave alike. There was very little food for the all ready starving American men, and very little water for everyone. Amazingly they travel the distance to the city - several hundred miles. Many times, Riley promises the Arab that he has a friend who is waiting for their return. Several times the Arab promises to slit his throat if Riley is lying. The time comes for Riley to write the note, and he is terrified. How can he write a note to a perfect stranger, begging him for several hundred dollars? He has no choice. In the note he explains who he is and his situation.

The Arab takes it into town, and meets with a British merchant, and agent. The Arab tells this man about his 'friend' and gives him the note. Amazingly the man, William Willshire, agrees to pay. The Arab brings Riley and his men into the town, and the stranger greets them with hugs and tears. Riley sends his men home to America, but stays behind, for just a few days. The Arab, his former master, promises that he will continue to look for the missing crew. Riley goes back to America, and is reunited with his wife and their five children. Two men are later returned, and Riley is told of two Arabs who were stoned, he was certain that these were his former Masters, trying to keep their word to him.

Riley died in his forties at sea from a horrible sickness. The rest of his crew died of complications caused by their time in the African desert. The last surviving crewman was the cabin boy - who died at the age of eighty - two.

[edit] Influence

This story of despair and hope has influenced some of the most brilliant minds in history. When Abraham Lincoln listed the books that had most influenced him, one was Sufferings in Africa by James Riley.