The Shelluhs of the Atlas, south-east of Santa Cruz, in Suse,
during the rainy season, from November till February inclusive,
live in caves and excavations in the rocks and earth; laying up
provisions sufficient for that period, until the snow begins to
melt. The Berebbers of North Atlas have followed the same custom
from time immemorial.
_Police of West Barbary_.
When the present Emperor came to the throne, he gave indefatigable
attention to the police. He wished, he said, to make the roads safe
for travellers, from the Desert, or Sahara, to the shores of the
Mediterranean. He was vigilant in discovering thefts, and rigorous
in punishing them. If any one was robbed, he had only to report it
to the Emperor, who would forthwith order the douar where the
robbery was committed to restore the sum stolen, and to pay a fine
to the treasury of the same amount. By adhering strictly to this
system, he improved the revenue, and made travelling perfectly
safe; so that one may travel now (1805), without danger, with
property or money, from one end of the empire to the other. Before
this system of policy was renewed, (for it is an old law of the
land,) travellers with property were obliged to have a _statta_:
thus, if a caravan was going from Terodant or Marocco to Fas, it
took a _statta;_ that is, two men, natives of the district of
321 Rahamena, who accompanied the caravan in safety to the confines of
their territory; they then received a remuneration, and delivered
over the caravan to two men of Abda, who conducted it to the border
of Duquella: it was then delivered into the hands of two Duquella
Arabs; and so it went through the different provinces till it
reached Fas, under the protection, through each province, of a
_statta_, each of which _statta_ receives a remuneration. So that,
by the time of arrival at Fas, the merchandise was sometimes
subject to a charge of 8 or 10 per cent. for _statta_ or convoy
through the various provinces.
Before the Emperor Soliman thus established his authority, caravans
of gums, almonds, ostrich feathers, gold-dust, &c. &c. from Suse,
were sometimes twenty days going from Santa Cruz to Mogodor, a
distance of less than one hundred miles, the _statta_ being changed
and paid at the entrance of every kabyl, of which there are twelve
in the province of Haha alone; the camels being also changed at
every change of _statta_, increased the charge on the merchandise
to an immoderate amount. It would be a great acquisition to
England, if His Majesty were to negociate with the Emperor of
Marocco for the port of Santa Cruz; for the province of Suse
produces in abundance olive oil, almonds, and gums; worm-seed,
annis-seed, cummin-seed, and orchilla; oranges, grapes,
pomegranates, figs, melons, &c. This port was farmed, during the
reign of Muley Ismael, for an annual stipend. It is the key to
322 Sudan, and a communication might be opened on an extensive scale
from hence with Timbuctoo, Housa, Wangara, and other regions of
Sudan, so as to supply, in a few years, the whole of the interior
of Africa with British and East-India manufactures.
_Muley Abdrahaman ben Muhamed_.
This prince, who was elder brother of the present Emperor Soliman,
had accumulated considerable treasure in executing the office of
(_khalif_) viceroy of the provinces of Duquella, Abda, and Shedma.
His father, jealous of his son's power, when supported by a command
of treasure, had recourse to the usual means of transferring it to
the imperial treasury. It is held as law in this country, that
little is sufficient for every purpose of life. When property
becomes accumulated, it is alleged that more than a sufficiency is
derogatory of the principles laid down in the Koran, and ought to
revolve to the national treasury, there to be deposited as a fund
in reserve against the invasion of the country by the Europeans, an
event, which they are quite sure, from an ancient tradition, will
happen at no very distant period.
Abdrahaman, however, equally avaricious with his father, objected
to deliver up his treasure; which so irritated the Sultan, that he
ordered a party of his negro soldiers to go to the Prince's house
and seize every thing valuable. These men, in their thirst for
plunder, out-ran their discretion, as it appears; for they
323 proceeded to examine the ladies in the Horem, putting their base
hands on their persons, under the pretence of discovering if they
had concealed their jewels and gold. This outrage roused the
Prince's indignation and he lost no time in absenting himself for
ever from his father's dominions, for this insult on his
dignity.--"If my father," said the Prince, "had taken my treasure,
it would have passed from my hands to his; but to permit the
ignoble hands of slaves to offer me such an indignity, is more than
I can or will suffer." Abdrahaman therefore emigrated to the
province of Lower Suse, on the confines of Sahara, where he
remained encamped, ready, upon any alarm, at a moment's notice, to
penetrate into the Desert. He had always two _heiries_ ready
saddled at the gate of his (_keyma_) tent; one for carrying his
treasure, viz. gold dust and jewels, and the other for himself to
ride, on any emergency. Many fakeers were sent from the Sultan to
the Prince; with the most solemn assurances of his reconciliation,
and with urgent solicitations to him to return; but the Prince
never forgave or forgot the insult.
_Anecdote of Muley Ismael_.
Muley Ismael compared his subjects to a bag full of rats.--"If you
let them rest," said the warrior, "they will gnaw a hole in it:
324 keep them moving, and no evil will happen." So his subjects, if
kept continually occupied, the government went on well; but if left
quiet, seditions would quickly arise. This sultan was always in the
tented-field: he would say, that he should not return to his palace
until the tents were rotten. He kept his army incessantly occupied
in making plantations of olives, or in building: rest and rebellion
were with him synonymous terms.
Before the Portuguese transplanted their African colonies to South
America, they had penetrated far into West Barbary; they frequently
made incursions into the country from Mazagan to Marocco, and
eastward of that city. They had a church near Diminet, on the
declivity of the Atlas, about thirty-five miles east of Marocco,
which is still existing: it is a kind of sanctuary; the Berebbers
say it is haunted; they will not approach it. There is said to be
an inscription on the building in Roman characters, over the
entrance; but I never could ascertain what it is.
_Library at Fas_.
When the present Emperor came to the throne there was a very
extensive and valuable library of Arabic manuscripts at Fas,
consisting of many thousand volumes. Some of the more intelligent
literary Moors are acquainted with events that happened formerly,
325 during the time of the Roman power, which Europeans do not possess.
Abdrahaman ben Nassar, bashaw of Abda, was perfectly acquainted
with Livy and Tacitus, and had read those works from the library at
Fas. It is more than probable that the works of these authors, as
well as those of many other Romans and Greeks, are to be found
translated into the Arabic language, in the hands of private
individuals in West and in South Barbary. This library was
dispersed at the accession of Muley Soliman, and books commenting
on the Koran only were retained; the rest were burned or dispersed
among the natives.
_Deism_.
Deism was very prevalent throughout the empire. When the present
Emperor Soliman came to the throne, the deists went about in large
numbers, exclaiming, _La Allah ila Allah_, "There is no God but
God." The Emperor soon silenced these people, by proclaiming that
if any should be found uttering this truth, without adding,
"Muhamed is his prophet," should ([199]_ekul lassah_) be beat. The
sect soon disappeared.
[Footnote 199: This punishment is inflicted by two men, one on
each side; the culprit is stretched naked on the ground, and
beat on the back unmercifully, with sticks two yards long, and
as thick as a finger.]
326
_Muhamedan Loyalty_.
An alkaid of a district in the province of Abda, when that province
submitted to the Emperor, went to His Majesty, taking with him the
fruit of his government, viz. 100,000 dollars. He prostrated
himself before the Emperor, and announced that he had brought this
money to the Muselman treasury, being what he had collected since
the death of the Emperor's father. "I have lived splendidly, and
have never wanted any thing, or I should have brought Your Majesty
much more treasure." "You have been," said the Emperor, "a faithful
servant, and you shall be rewarded." He was promoted to a
government, and had many opportunities of refunding his loss. A
large sum was returned to him for his fidelity.
_Cairo_.
The city of El Kahira is called by Europeans Cairo. When Kairo was
founded, in the 359th year of the Hejra, the planet Mars was in
ascension; and it is Mars who conquers the universe: "therefore,"
said Moaz, (the son of El Mansor) to _his_ son, "I have given it
the name of El-Kahira."[200]
[Footnote 200: El Kahira is the Arabic for the planet Mars, and
signifies _victorious_.]
327
_Races of Men constituting the Inhabitants of West and South
Barbary, and that Part of Bled el Jereed, called Tafilelt and Sejin
Messa, east of the Atlas, forming the Territories of the present
Emperor of Marocco_.
_The Moors_, who inhabit the towns on the coast, and the cities of
Fas, Mequinas, Marocco, and Terodant; who speak a corrupt Arabic
language.
_The Berebbers_, who appear to be the Aborigines, and who retain
precisely the same character that was anciently given of the
Mauritanians by Sallust. These people inhabit the mountains of
Atlas, north of the city of Marocco, and have a language peculiar
to themselves. They are a hardy race of warriors, as artful as they
are indefatigable in war; when attacked by the imperial troops,
they defend themselves valiantly; and, by stratagem and device,
often surprise and defeat the Emperor's best troops, the _abeed
Seedy Bukaree_. They call the Negro and Arab troops of the Emperor,
(_mâden el grudder_), a mine of deceit, and never trust to their
vows and promises, even if they swear by the Koran. They are a
restless turbulent race, and have never been conquered. They have
adopted the Muhamedan doctrines.
_The Shelluhs_, or inhabitants of the Atlas, who dwell in houses in
the mountains south of Marocco, in the province of Haha, and in
328 part of Suse. These are a weaker race, not so athletic and robust
as the Berebbers. Their language has been represented to be similar
to that of the Berebbers, but that is evidently a mistake; I have
travelled through their country, and through the country of the
Berebbers, and have conversed with hundreds, nay, I may say, with
thousands of them: I have no hesitation in declaring them to be a
different race. Their language, costume, and habits differ; the
Shelluhs, however, possess the same art and duplicity with the
Berebbers.
_The Arabs_, who live in _douars_ of tents, and inhabit the immense
plains west of the Atlas, are the agriculturists of the country.
They form the principal population of this terrestrial paradise;
they are for the most part emigrations from the Sahara, several
centuries ago, and speak the true Arabic language. These are a fine
race of men, possessing, in a superlative degree, some of the
noblest qualities of the human race. To these may be added
_The Jews_, who wear a distinguishing costume, and a black cap;
they are all engaged in trade, and form one-seventh of the
population of the walled habitations. They are held in great
contempt, and are treated very rudely by the Arabs, and therefore
are seldom met with among the encampments of that people.
A _douar_ is a village of tents; these tents are made of goats' and
camels' hair; they are made by the females, are of a close texture,
329 extremely warm, and impervious to the rain: thus they are cool in
the summer, and warm in the rainy season. In countries exposed to
the attacks of neighbouring kabyles, they are arranged in a
circular form, covering sometimes several acres of ground, having a
large keyma or Arab tent in the centre of the circle, which serves
for a _jamma_, or meeting for morning and evening prayers, and at
other times for an _emdursa_, or seminary, where the Muhamedan
youth are taught to read the Koran, and to write, as they call it,
(_Sultan men Elsen_) the sultan of languages, or language of
languages. The tent-pegs of the respective tents are indented
within each other, so that the cattle cannot go out or in;
moreover, a hedge of thorny bushes encircles the whole, secured by
staves drove into the ground. The camels, horses, mules, horned
cattle, sheep, and goats, are all inclosed in a division of the
circular area during the night, and a fire is kept all night, to
keep off the lions and wild beasts. The incessant barking of dogs,
which are very numerous among the Arabs, prevent the travellers
unaccustomed to these habitations from sleeping.
_Various Modes of Intoxication_.
All nations have some method of getting rid of reason, for the
purpose of indulging in the vacuum and temporary independence
produced by intoxication. We, of Europe, have recourse to wine to
effect this purpose: the opulent indulge in the libations of
330 claret, burgundy, and champagne; the middling classes have recourse
to brandy, rum, and gin; but the African effects this purpose at
far less expense. A muselman procures ample temporary relief from
worldly care for a mere trifle: he buys at the (_attara_), drug
shop, for a penny, a small pipe of _el keef or hashisha_; this
completely effects his purpose. The leaves of this drug, which is a
kind of hemp, are called _el hashisha_; the flower of the plant is
called _el keef_, and is much more powerful in its inebriating
quality than the _hashisha_, but a pipe of the latter will have as
powerful an effect as two or three bottles of wine. It is said,
that when the patient is under the influence of pleasant
imaginations, the fume of this drug increases the sensation into
the most pleasing delirium, engendering the most luxuriant images,
and promoting a voluptuous vacuum. But when the person's ill fate
tempts him to taste it in a melancholy mood, it protracts the
gloomy moments, and gives the woes of life a longer duration: he
utters sighs and lamentations, he apprehends nothing but misery and
misfortune, till the effect of the drug is exhausted, and he awakes
from his dream of woe.
_Division of Agricultural Property_.
Agricultural property is ascertained by a large stone laid at each
corner of a plantation of corn, a direct line is drawn from stone
321 to stone at the season of reaping; it has, perhaps, never been
known, that these partitions have been removed for the purpose of
encroachment; a mutual confidence, and a point of honour renders
this mode of discriminating the respective property of individuals
adequate to every purpose of hedge or ditch.
_Mines_.
The mountains that separate the province of Suse from that of
Draha, abound in iron, copper, and lead. Ketiwa, a district on the
declivity of Atlas, east of Terodant, contains also mines of lead
and brimstone; and saltpetre also, of a superior quality, abounds
in the neighbourhood of Terodant. In the same mountains, about
fifty or sixty miles south-west of Terodant, there are mines of
iron of a very malleable quality, equal to that of Biscay in Spain,
from which the people of Tagrasert manufacture gun-barrels, equal
to those made in Europe. At Elala in Suse, in the same ridge of
mountains, are several rich mines of copper, some of which are
impregnated with gold: they have also a rich silver mine, the metal
of which latter is cast in round lumps, weighing two or three
ounces each piece. I have bought of this silver at Santa Cruz, and
have paid Spanish dollars for it, weight for weight; it is very
pure. Mines of antimony and lead ore are also found in Suse,
332 impregnated with gold, some specimens of which I sent to England to
be analyzed; but being informed that it yielded gold sufficient
only to pay the expenses of purifying, I gave no farther attention
to it, although I have had reason to think, since then, that an
importation of the ore would amply pay the importer.
_Nyctalopia, Hemeralopia, or Night-blindness, called by the Arabs
Butelleese; and its Remedy_.
During my residence at Santa Cruz, I had a cousin with me who was
afflicted with this disorder. When the sun sat his blindness came
on, and continued till the rising sun. This youth was so afflicted,
during a month, with this disorder, that he could scarcely see his
way with a candle in his hand, so that it was quite painful to see
him groping about. An Arab of the Woled Abbusebah Kabyl, who retain
much of the science and art of their ancestors, and whose
prosperity I had promoted at Santa Cruz, by facilitating his
commercial adventures, communicated to me a simple remedy for this
disorder; I put no faith in it, for it was so simple that I was
disposed to think it an illusion. He called on me, however,
repeatedly, and finding I had not applied it, he brought it one
morning himself, and urged me to try it, I did so; and that same
evening the eyes of the youth were almost well, and his sight was
333 completely restored the following night. This ophthalmic affection,
in an Arabic translation of Hippocrates, is called _Butelleese;_
another translation of ancient date calls it _Shebkeret:_ the name,
however, by which it is known at the present day in Africa, is
_Butelleese:_ the Latins called it _Lusciosus_, which word denotes
precisely the disease, viz. one who sees imperfectly in the morning
and evening twilight, but whose vision is clear at broad day-light.
_Lusciosus ad lucernam non videt. Vesperi non videre quos lusciosos
appellant_. Plaut. Mil. Gl. ii. 3.
This ophthalmia has been by some denominated _hen-blindness_, from
the circumstance of hens' eyes being thus affected, when they are
unable to see to pick up small grains in the dusk of the evening. I
have frequently seen fowls thus affected soon after going to sea,
from the coast of Africa, after which they decline and grow sick. A
quantity of small gravel should be spread in their coops at sea,
which prevents this disorder, and will sometimes cure it. At the
commencement of this complaint, the circumstance that first engages
the patient's attention is the dimness of his eye-sight at
twilight: the nocturnal dimness of vision was such, in the instance
before-mentioned, that the youth could scarcely see, even with a
candle in his hand, which he described, as seen by him, as if it
were misty, or as glimmering in a thick fog. There was no external
disfiguration visible in the eyes, but they appeared as usual.
334
What the cause of this disorder was I am unable to say; but I have
often suspected that it was contracted from the shining of the sun
on the white terras of the house where my cousin used to go of a
morning to shoot _tibeebs_, a bird somewhat resembling the European
sparrow. This youth was rather of a weak or delicate constitution.
I did not repeat the above remedy, as the boy's eyes continued
well, without any defect in the vision at any time of the day or
night, till seven-and-twenty days had elapsed, when the disorder
returned. I procured the remedy again, and he took it; it had the
same effect as before; he took it again, and then continued well
for a month. It again returned a third time, and was cured by one
single administration, after which it entirely disappeared, and
never returned. Some time after this, I was informed that the
British fleet in the Mediterranean was affected with this disorder;
that one-tenth, or more, of the crews of our ships had laboured
under it; and, on my return to England, I was urged to represent to
His Majesty's ministers, that I had an infallible remedy for the
disorder. I was referred to Doctor Harness, of the Transport Board.
I waited on the Doctor, and afterwards corresponded with him. He
appeared very desirous of knowing the remedy; but he was not at
liberty to grant me any remuneration for it. I, however, offered to
discover it, on being reimbursed the sum which the remedy cost me,
335 on experimental proof being produced of its infallibility; which
proposition was rejected by the Transport Board in August, 1812,
who informed me at the same time, that the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty did not judge proper to grant the sum required by me
for the discovery of the remedy for Nyctalopia, which, I should
add, was between 500_l_. and 600_l_. The remedy, therefore, remains
a secret to this day.
A celebrated electrician and galvanist having conversed with me
lately respecting this remedy for Nyctalopia, suggested to me the
probability, that the same remedy might be effectual also in _gutta
serena_, as both those disorders are known to proceed from a defect
in the optic nerve. This opinion he corroborated, by quoting, in
confirmation of it, the opinion of a well-known author. The
electrician perceiving my incredulity, or more properly, my
ignorance of the wonderful connection that exists between the
intestines and the head, was prompted, as I verily believe, by a
philanthropic disposition; and actually proved to me,
experimentally, the influence which the eyes have on the
intestines, and _vice versa_. A patient with a _gutta serena_, who
had been, as he informed me, twelve months under the hands of a
celebrated oculist, was recommended by the latter, as a last
resource, to try galvanism. He had received no benefit whatever
whilst under the direction of the oculist above alluded to, but his
intestines were intolerably deranged by the effects of the mercury
336 which he had taken. This gentleman galvanised his eyes, and the
man, who is a gunsmith, told me, that when he first went to have
the operation performed, he could not see the red border round the
hearth-rug in the front parlour, but when he returned into that
room, after having been galvanised, he assured me he saw it
plainly. He moreover declared that his bowels had been, and then
were, in a very deranged state, from the effects of the mercury
which he had taken, but that he felt incredible relief after having
been galvanised, and that, two or three days afterwards, they were
quite restored to health and strength. Being thus satisfied with
the influence that so wonderfully exists between the intestines and
the eyes, I am now making arrangements with the same gentleman, to
administer the remedy for the benefit, _as we hope_, of patients
afflicted with _gutta serena_. But I now declare to the public a
third time, that the remedy is simple, safe, and effectual, and
that I am ready and desirous of administering it to any one who may
choose to apply for it, who is afflicted with the disorder, with my
positive assurances, that it will effect a cure in eight-and-forty
hours at the utmost, but probably in twenty-four.
_Vaccination._
Intelligence received from West Barbary was instrumental in
337 promoting the adoption of vaccination. In the latter years of the
last century, the small-pox pervaded West and South Barbary. Mr.
Matra, the British consul-general to the Empire of Marocco, wrote
to me at that period officially, to procure him every information
possible, and to inform him if I could discover if cattle in this
country were subject to the small-pox. I made every inquiry without
delay, and I reported to His Excellency, (who was ambassador as
well as consul), that I had ascertained that the horses, mules,
asses, and oxen were subject in this country to the small-pox, of
which there could be no doubt, as the name given to the disorder in
the beasts of the field, was the same as that which designated the
small-pox in the human species, viz. JEDRIE. In consequence of this
information, confirmed afterwards by other enquiries, His
Excellency wrote to England on the subject, and, I believe, sent
some vaccine pus home; soon after which Dr. Jenner began his
experiments on vaccine inoculation, which have since been adopted
throughout Europe, and in great part of Asia and America. Although
I was thus instrumental in the propagation of vaccine inoculation,
yet I never asked for or received any remuneration; but I feel a
satisfaction in having been thus instrumental of good to mankind,
in this new and eligible system of inoculation, by means of which
human life has been preserved; for, according to Sir Gilbert
338 Blane's late statement, 23,134 lives have been saved during the
last 15 years by vaccination.
_Game_.
All kinds of game are plentiful in South and in West Barbary; viz.
_el gror_, a bird somewhat similar to the English partridge, but
unknown in Europe. I shot some of these birds for Doctor Brussonet,
the naturalist, who was intendant of the national garden of botany
at Montpelier, which that gentleman prepared in the oven, and sent
to the National Institute at Paris. He informed me this bird was a
non-descript. Hares, antelopes, woodcocks, snipes, plovers,
bustards. There is an abundance of partridges, red ducks as large
as geese, ducks, wigeon, and teal; curlews, in immense quantities,
are found in the flat parts of the country on the coast; immense
quantities of doves, wild pigeons, wood-pigeons, and large
sand-larks. Every person is at liberty to shoot; but the princes
and the great, consider field-sports beneath their dignity, except
hawking, and hunting the wild boar, the lion, and the tiger. The
Muhamedans do not prefer game to other food. When they have shot a
bird, they immediately cut its throat, that the blood may flow
freely; otherwise it is not lawful to eat it. Game is never seen in
the public markets. When they shoot for Europeans, they dispense
with the ceremony of cutting the throat of the game. They reproach
the Christians for eating such food, which they call (_m'jeefa_)
"strangled."
339
_Agriculture.--Mitferes._
The agriculturists, in all the Arab provinces throughout this
empire, have subterraneous caverns or apartments, generally in the
form of a cone, for the preservation of their corn during a
scarcity or famine. During my residence in this country, I have
investigated the method, and have learned the art of constructing
these depositories of grain. They season them before the corn is
deposited. They should not be constructed in a clay soil. In these
_mitferes_, throughout the Arab provinces of Duquella, Temsena,
Shawiya, &c. they preserve the corn sound during thirty years. I
have been present at the opening of them after the corn had been
deposited twenty-one years. It was perfectly sound. When these
depositories are opened, each family takes a portion of the grain,
so as to distribute the whole immediately; otherwise, in a few
months, if not consumed, it acquires a peculiar bad flavour, which
is called the _mitfere_ _twang_. To prevent this, an Arab, on
opening one of these depositaries, lends corn to all his
neighbours, and in his turn he receives it back again, when they
respectively open theirs. It is unnecessary to expatiate on the
expediency of constructing _mitferes_ in a country oftentimes
visited by locusts, the plague, drought, or inundation. There would
be a manifest policy in establishing similar granaries in our
340 colony in South Africa, where I understand they are visited by
locusts, and where the soil is similar to that of West and South
Barbary. All the valuable gums that Barbary now supplies Europe
with, and also many articles of commerce not yet known at the Cape,
might be procured from Barbary, and if transplanted to that colony,
would undoubtedly thrive, from the similarity of climate and soil.
_Laws of Hospitality_.
The territory of the Emperor of Marocco, west of the mountains of
Atlas, and from the shores of the Mediterranean to the confines of
the Shelluh province of Haha, is one continual corn-field,
inhabited by Arabs living in douars or encampments: much of the
ground, however, lies fallow. These encampments are fixed generally
at a considerable distance from the track of travellers, so that a
person unacquainted with this circumstance, would be disposed to
imagine the country thinly inhabited. The tents in safe countries,
where there is no fear of wild beasts, are pitched in a straight
line; but where lions or other ferocious animals are found, the
tents are disposed in a circular form; and thorny bushes are placed
round the douar, to prevent the visits of these unwelcome guests.
The Arabs are the agriculturists of the country, and are for the
most part emigrations from the original stock in Sahara. These
people have preserved from time immemorial the practice of open and
341 unrestrained hospitality. Their prophet confirmed these
propensities; and hospitality has been ever since, the predominant
virtue of the Arab. Accordingly, Muhamedans are entitled, through
their various journeys, to be entertained three days wherever they
sojourn. A traveller, therefore, when he chooses to rest from the
fatigue of his journey, goes to one of these douars and exclaims
(_Deef Allah_) "the guests of God." The sheik then comes forth from
his tent to receive him or them: (_Kheyma Deâf_) the travellers' or
guests' tent is appropriated to the stranger; food is brought to
him, agreeably to his rank in life, but always simple, good, and
wholesome. Here he may remain, if he chooses, for three days,
without being considered an intruder, and free of all expense
whatsoever. If he wishes to exceed the three days allowed by the
Muhamedan law, he must prove his poverty; which being done, he may
be entertained for a further period of time: but this latter is
quite optional; no man is compelled to entertain and provide food
for strangers and travellers, without remuneration, above three
days.
This hospitality extends not generally to all mankind, but to
Muhamedans only. A Christian or a Jew would be expected to pay a
trifle for his entertainment; although, in travelling through the
province of Suse, the Arabs have absolutely refused to take any
remuneration from me; but, that is not generally the case, nor
342 ought such conduct to be expected: in the instances
before-mentioned, these people considered themselves so much
benefited by the opening of the port of Santa Cruz, that they
thought they could not do enough for me. I was, therefore, every
where received in that province with the most cordial marks of
disinterested hospitality.
The laws of hospitality are sacred and inviolable. This I will
elucidate, by relating a circumstance that happened while I was at
Marocco. The Emperor was dissatisfied with the conduct of four
sheiks of Suse: they had not discharged the duties of their public
vocation, but had abused their office; the Emperor had issued
orders to arrest them, but by some means they got intelligence of
the orders; they therefore immediately ordered their horses, and
decamped in the evening from Marocco: they knew they should not be
safe any where from the Emperor's grasp, but under the protection
of the Khalif Muhamed ben Delemy, whom, however, they had in some
manner injured; nevertheless, knowing the noble character of the
man, they were resolved to try their fate; accordingly, they made
haste to reach the gates of his castle in Shtuka, before the
Emperor might discover their departure. They arrived, and
exclaiming _Deef Allah_, they were admitted. Delemy told them, that
although they had not behaved friendly to him, he would protect
them. His gates, he said, were always open to the children of
343 adversity, and they might depend on his protection. The Emperor
soon discovered, by diligent enquiry, what route they had taken,
and His Imperial Majesty urged Delemy to deliver them up; but the
latter expostulated, and observing that he should not deserve the
name of an Arabian sheik, if he degraded himself by giving up those
who had claimed his protection, in his own country: and he actually
granted them protection several months; till, at length, finding
they could not escape the hand of power, by any plan but that of
going into the Sahara, Delemy agreed to see them safe out of the
Emperor's dominions, and accompanied them to Akka, and beyond that
place, till they reached the Sahara, where, being perfectly safe,
he took his leave of them, and they exchanged _Salems_.
_Punishment for Murder._
If a man commits murder, the friends of the murdered claim redress
of the alkaid, if in a town,--of the bashaw of the province, if in
the country. If the murderer is discovered, he is taken into
custody, to suffer death, unless the relations of the murdered man
choose to compromise with the relations of the murderer: in which
case, a sum of money is paid to the former, and the matter is thus
settled.
_Insolvency Laws._
An insolvent cannot be detained in prison after his insolvency is
ascertained. He gives up his property to his creditors; but if he
344 should afterwards become a man of substance, his creditors can
claim the amount of their debts, deducting what they have already
received.
_Dances_.
The dances of the Arabs are peculiar to themselves. The youths
dance without females, and the females without youths. On all
marriages and rejoicings, music and dancing continue till the dawn
of day. Among the encampments of Arabs, in the summer season, the
whole country, at night, is in a blaze of light. The kettle-drum,
the triangle, the shepherd's pipe, and the _erbeb_ an instrument
resembling the fiddle, with two strings, form the band of music.
The youths form a double row of six or eight in each, and carry
themselves erect, with their arms hanging down close to their side;
moving obliquely to the right, then to the left, without taking
their feet from the ground, but moving their heels, then their toes
on the ground, advancing or gliding slowly along; keeping exact
time with the music: they then vault in the air, perform somersets
and various feats of agility. They sing also with great taste and
judgment, and some of them have excellent voices, being selected
for the purpose of affording entertainment to the spectators. The
ladies dance also in a similar manner, but without the vaulting and
somersets. They have a very elegant shawl-dance, which some of them
dance with great taste, and with much graceful movement.
345
_Circumcision._
The circumcision of male children is the general practice of
Islaemism; it is also used among some of the[201] _Khaffers_ or
_Cafers_ of North, Central, and South Africa. Circumcision is not a
practice ascribed to a principle of cleanliness, or any other
cause, but ancient usage. The period of performing this operation
among the Arabs is at the age of eight years.
[Footnote 201: _Khaffer_ (singular number) is an Arabic term,
applied to all who are not Muhamedans; all Pagans, Jews, and
Christians, are called _Khaffer_, _K'fer_ (plural) _Kaffir
billa_, an atheist: hence Caffraria, the name of the country
near the Cape of Good Hope.]
_Invoice from Timbuctoo to Santa Cruz._
Transport of ([202]_Alk Sudan_) gum of Sudan, bought at Timbuctoo,
on account of Messrs. James Jackson and Co. by their agent, L'Hage
Muhamed O----n, and dispatched to Akka by the spring (_akkaba_)
accumulated caravan, in February, 1794.