Part 19 (1/2)
One of the Emperor's ministers, when an English fleet was cruising 309 off Salee, and just after some impost had been levied on the merchandise already purchased and warehoused by the Christian merchants, suggested the impolicy at that moment, of harsh measures against Europeans: the Emperor, in a jocose manner, asked what harm he could suffer from the fleets of Europeans? ”They could destroy your Imperial Majesty's ports,” replied the minister. ”Then I would build them again for one-half what it would cost them to destroy them. But if they dared to do that, I could retaliate, by sending out my cruisers to take their trading s.h.i.+ps, which would so increase the premiums of insurance (for the (_kaffers_) infidels insure all things on earth, trusting nothing to G.o.d[194]), that they would be glad to sue for peace again.”
[Footnote 194: The Muhamedans abuse the Christians for their mistrust of Providence, exemplified in their insuring s.h.i.+ps, merchandise, &c.]
_Political Deception_.
When an emba.s.sy is going to the Emperor, the alkaid of the escort endeavours to make the present, which necessarily accompanies every emba.s.sy, as bulky and conspicuous as possible, that the Arabs of the kabyls through which they pa.s.s, may be dazzled and astounded with the great appearance of the presents, which the alkaid proclaims to consist chiefly of money, or treasure. The Arabs accordingly observed, on Mr. Matra's (the British consul) presents, that the English, who had conquered Bonaparte in Egypt, and were masters of the ocean and seas, yet were tributary to the Sultan.
This idea is industriously propagated by the officers of the Emperor's court. ”Thinkest thou,” they ohserved, ”that these Christians give such large presents with a free-will? Certainly not! They are compelled to do so. The (_Romee_) Europeans are too fond of money to give it away in such loads,--even the English, thou seest, are tributary to the Seed.” [195]
[Footnote 195: A higher t.i.tle among the _true Arabs_ than Emperor: it implies conjointly, Emperor, Father of the People, Protector, and Brother.]
_Etiquette of the Court of Marocco_.
The European commerce of MoG.o.dor went to pay their respects to the Emperor Seedi Muhamed, on his arrival, from Fas, at Marocco, as is customary. The Emperor's son, Muley El Mamune, was master of the audience, and ordered the commerce to advance into the imperial presence; and standing barefooted, as is the custom before the Emperor, he requested the merchants to take off their shoes, as _he_ had done; but they expostulated, and said it was not their custom. The Prince, however, stopped them, and would not allow them to approach the imperial presence without first submitting to this ceremony. Seedi Muhamed, observing the impediment, and knowing the 311 cause, but willing at the same time to initiate the young prince in the custom of foreign countries, called his son to him, and said, ”What do muselmen do, when they enter the _Jamaa_?”[196] ”Revere the holy ground, by entering barefooted,” replied the prince.--”And what do the Christians, when they enter their church?”--”They take off their hats,” rejoined the Prince. (_Allah e berk Amer Seedi_,[197]) ”G.o.d bless your Majesty's life.”--”Then, what would you more of these my merchants, than that they pay me, even the same respect that they pay when they pray to _Allah_. Let them approach uncovered, with their shoes on, which they never take off, but to go to bed to rest”.
[Footnote 196: An Arabic or Korannick word, signifying, the congregation of prayer, or mosque.]
[Footnote 197: A term invariably used at court, in addressing the Emperor.]
The province of Ait Atter, or the Atterites, in Lower Suse, is considered as an independent province, and it pays no tribute. They have a great dislike to _kadis_[198], _talbs_, and attornies, alleging that they only increase disputes between man and man, which is not at all necessary; all disputes are, therefore, decided by the sheik, who is not a logical wrangler, but decides according 312 to the simplest manner. The following decree of their sheik is on record:--
”Four men conjointly bought a mule, which for elucidation, we will call A, B, C, and D: each claimed a leg. D's leg was the off-hind one. In a few days this leg began to swell: it was agreed to cure it by (_el keeh_) burning it with a hot iron, (a common remedy in this country.) This done, the mule was turned out, and went into a field of barley. Some spark was attached to the hoof, and set fire to the corn, which was consumed. The proprietors of the barley applied to the sheik for justice; and A, B, C, and D, the owners of the mule, were summoned to appear. The sheik, finding the leg which caused the barley to be burnt, belonged to D, ordered him to pay the value of the barley. D expostulated, and maintained that he had no right to pay; for, if it had not been for A, B, and C's portions of the mule, the barley would have remained. ”How so?” replied the sheik. ”Because,” quoth D, ”the leg which belongs to me cannot touch the ground; but it was brought to the corn-field by the legs of A, B, and C, which were the efficient cause of the ignition of the barley. The sheik reversed his decree, and ordered A, B, and C to pay the damage, and D got off without expense.
[Footnote 198: _Kadis_, i.e. judges. _Talbs_, i.e. record writers. _Kadi_ is generally spelt by the Europeans of the south _Cadi_, because they have no K in their alphabet: the Arabs have no C; the letter is _Kaf_ or K, not C.]
313 _Customs of the Sh.e.l.luhs of the Southern Atlas, viz. of Idault.i.t_ (_in Lower Suse_.)
The mountains of Idault.i.t are inhabited by a courageous and powerful people, strict to their honour and word, unlike their neighbours of Elala. They make verbal contracts between themselves, and never go to law, or record their contracts or agreements, trusting implicitly to each other's faith and honour. If a man goes to this country to claim a debt due, he cannot receive it while there, but must first leave the country, and trust to the integrity of the Idault.i.tee, who will surely pay when convenient, but cannot bear compulsion or restraint. They do not acknowledge any sultan, but have a divan of their own, called _Eljma_, who settle all disputes between man and man. These people cultivate the plains, when there is no khalif in Suse; but when there is, they retire to the fastnesses in their mountains, and defy the arm of power; satisfying themselves with the produce of the mountains.
_Connubial Customs_.
The (_shereef_) Prince Muley Bryhim, son of the present Emperor Soliman, was married to the daughter of the bashaw Abdrahaman ben Na.s.sar, who was powerful and rebellious, and prevented the Emperor for some time from proceeding to the south. This couple was married 314 in 1803. The bashaw died the same year; and in 1805 she was divorced, and sent by the Emperor to MoG.o.dor, with orders to a sheik of Shedma to marry her, it being considered a degradation for a prince to be united to the daughter of a rebellious subject. This happened in January, 1806. The widow of the late Prince Muley Abdrahaman, who rebelled against his father, and who was elder brother to the Emperor Soliman, has been recently sent by the Emperor to Bu Azar, a negro bashaw, and governor of the city of Terodant, in Suse, to marry her. These marriages are promoted by the royal decree, to prevent the females from contaminating the royal blood by illicit connection, if they remain divorced, without a new husband.
_Political Duplicity_.
A fakeer having interceded in behalf of a state prisoner, his friend, who was confined in the island of MoG.o.dor (the state prison of the empire, except for princes, who are sent to Tafilelt), the Emperor a.s.sured him he would release him; and urged the fakeer to proceed to MoG.o.dor, and wait there his Majesty's arrival. The fakeer departed, and soon after his arrival at MoG.o.dor, he learned that the Emperor was not going there; but the alkaid of MoG.o.dor showed him a letter from the Emperor, ordering him to retain the prisoner in safe keeping, and not attend to what the fakeer should say. This system of breaking engagements and promises, is too often 315 denominated policy. ”Dost thou think I am a Christian,” said an emperor to a prince who was expostulating with him for not fulfilling his engagements,--”Dost thou think I am a Christian, to be a slave to my word?”
Senor P. a Spanish merchant, received a letter from the Emperor, directed to the (_alkaid_) governor of Rabat, ordering him to show Senor P. every attention, and to a.s.sist him if he should be desirous of establis.h.i.+ng a house at Rabat. Senor P. left the court at Mequinas, well satisfied with his letter; but a few days after his arrival, the alkaid told him he must embark and quit the country in twenty-four hours, by the Emperor's order, which he showed to Senor P. who could read Arabic. He was obliged to embark immediately.
_Etiquette of Language at the Court of Marocco_.
If the Emperor should enquire about any person that has recently died, it is not the etiquette to mention the word ”death,”--a muselmen is supposed never to die;--the answer is _Ufah Ameruh_, ”his destiny is closed,” or ”he has completed his destiny.” To which the following answer is invariably given--_Allah e Erhammoh_, ”G.o.d be merciful to him.” If a Jew's death is announced to any muselman prince, fakeer, or alkaid, the expression is, _Maat hashak a.s.seedi_, ”He is dead, Sir.” _Ashak_ is an Arabic idiom, the exact meaning of which cannot easily be conveyed in English; but it may 316 be a.s.similated to--”Pardon me for mentioning in your presence a name contemptible or gross (as Jew).” Thus, for further elucidation to the enquirer after the peculiarities of language, _Kie 'tkillem ma el Kaba hashak a.s.seedi_,--”He is talking with a prost.i.tute--your pardon, Sir, for the grossness of the expression.”
If a man goes to the alkaid, to make a complaint against any one for doing any indecent act, and in relating the circ.u.mstance he omits the word _hashak a.s.seedi_, the persons present will interrupt him thus,--_Kul hashak b'adda_, ”Say _hashak_ before you proceed.”
Blood, dung, dirt, pimp, procuress, prost.i.tute, traitor, &c. &c.
are words that (in correct company) are invariably followed by the qualifying word _hashak_.
If a Christian is dead, the expression is _Mat el kaffer, or Mat el karan, or Mat bel karan_, ”The infidel is dead, the cuckold, or the son of a cuckold is dead.”
_Food_.