In Muhamedan countries, an insolvent man continues liable to his
creditors till the day of his death, unless the debt is discharged;
but he can claim by law his liberation from prison, on making oath,
and bringing proof of his insolvency: but then if he succeed
afterwards and become possessed of property, he is compelled to pay
the debts formerly contracted; so that an European should be
cautious how he contracts debts with the Moors, lest the
misfortunes that commerce is liable to should oblige him to remain
all his life in the country. A letter, similar to the following,
398 should be procured by every European, about to quit the country, to
prevent the extortion of the alkaid, who might, as has often
happened before, throw impediments in the way for the purpose of
extorting presents, &c.
_Translation of a Firman of Departure, literally translated from
the Original Arabic, by James Grey Jackson._