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_Shaving or Throat-cutting_.--Damel, the King of the Yaloffs, (a
people of Africa,) being at war with Abdulkader, King of Foota Torra,
the latter inflamed with zeal for propagating his religion, sent an
ambassador to Damel, accompanied by two of the principal Bashreens,
who carried each a knife fixed on the top of a long pole. When they
obtained admission into the presence of Damel, they announced the
object of their embassy in the following manner:--"With this knife,"
said the ambassador, "Abdulkader will condescend to shave the head of
Damel, if Damel will embrace the Mahomedan faith; and with this other
knife, Abdulkader will cut the throat of Damel, if Damel refuses to
embrace it--take your choice." Damel coolly replied, "That he had no
choice to make; he neither chose to have his head shaved nor his
throat cut;" and with this answer the ambassador was civilly
dismissed.