The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-07-20

But suppose he had become an atom AGAIN p
Then he would have longed to become an
eagle once more. And thus ends the circle of
human wishes
EMPERORS OF MOROCCO.
The sway of the last two or three Sultans of
Morocco has been mildness itself, in COMPARE
son with the horrible enormit;es and most afro
clous acts of cruelty that characterized the
reign of Muley Ishme and his successors
when human beings we're slaughtered in sport,
and the Monarch delighted in being his own
executIoner, carrying always gun or lance
TOR that purpose. In these regns, the misera-
BILE subjects were tortured in the most unheard
of manner and saving in two, putting out
the eyes, cruciying, burying alive, or being
burnt, were usual punishments for the most
trlflng, or no offence at all. In those golden
days-and for aught know it may still be prac-
tlsed-lt was frequent custom for an indvid-
nal to buy another of the Sultan If he fancied he
was rich, and that he could make any thing by
this humane speculation. The way in which it
was managed was thus The person wishing
to make the purchase went before the bashaw
or governor of the district, and bargained with
him for such or such person and when at
last they had agreed between themselves as to
the price, each party trying to cheat the other
in enhancing the probability of gain or loss by
the transaction, the money was paid and re-
ceipt given, which entitled the buyer to the
body of the individual bought whoever he
might be, and who accordingly delivered
into his hands. The latter part cannot better
explain than by inserting part of letter on
this horrible system, written by an English
merchant who resided at Tetuan in the reign
of Muley lshmael, and which | find inserted in
a curious account of journey to Mequinez, in
1921, written during Commodore Stewards
embassy to that city. Yesterday, Mr.. Noble
and | were passing by the prison, where we
saw man hanged by the heels, with irons upon
his legs, plncers upon his nose, his flesh cut
with scissors, and two men perpetually drubbing
him, and demanding money. When the fellow
wa5 not able to speak, they renewed their
blows ; and this was bought man, that they
gave 500 duoats for, and expected by these tor
lures to force out of him 500 ducats more. His
tortures were so severe, that Noble, when he
saw him, cried out, " o Lord, the blessed fruits
of arbitrary government !" Because you had
not seen such thing, l judged this description
might not be unacceptable" OF Muley Ish-
mael it is related in the same account, that be-
ing an expedition, and coming to a river
which his army could not pass, he ordered all
his prisoners to be killed, and interviewer with
rushes to form bridge. 1t may easily be i'm
agined, during these times, when Christian
fortunate wretches were treated who fell into
his clutches when so little regard was paid to
the lives of his own subjects. No person APP
peared before him without trembling and I'M
certainty of going out of his presence alive.
When he had killed favorite through caprice
or passion, he would sometimes forget what he
had done, and make inquiry for the murdered
person; and on being told he was dead, he
won Id ask who killed him to which his atten-
dants would reply, trembling, that they did not
know, but supposed it was God doing. When
he CHANGED, in his haste, to kill any one in
mistake for another, was frequently the
case, he would civilly beg his pardon, saying
he did not intend TO have killed the poor man
and whenever he beat person soundly, and
put him in chains, he was considered in the
high road 10 preerment, as he would generally
call on him few days afterwards and finding
him in prison, would affect to be surprised and
calling him his " dear friend,' would inquire
how he came in that unfortunate plight and
sending him a suit of his own clothes, would
place him in some high and lucrative post,
which having entered upon in a pennyless
state, it could be calculated with the greater
certainty how much he would be worth at the
expiration of certain time, whom he was sure
of being again stripped Of every thing by bis
royal patron. During his reign he raised
his kingdom to an unprecedented pitch of
military renown; and his name struck such
terror that he reigned in peace and quietness
1t is true that his son Muley Mahomet, rebelled
against his authority, but he was quickly SUBJ
dued, and his hand and foot being cut off he
died from loss of blood and Muey Zdan,
another of his sons, being then appointed heir
to the throne, was soon afterwards strangled
by his wives on account of his cruelty. The
aged tvrant, Muley Ishmael-for he was past
ninety when he died-malntained 5000 women
besides the limited number of lawful wives that
his religion allowed. 1t may we'll be imagined
that his happiness did not increase in proper
ton as the number of his ribs, and that so large
family did not contribute to increase his do
mestic comfort on the contrary, what with
their intrigues, jealousies, quarrelling, and
endless complaints of each other, they teased
and enraged the old man so much, that he
would some times order his black eunuchs Ia
| weed his establishment, as ne would term it,
and who would accordingly sometimes take of
thirty in day of the most troublesome, by a
very expeditions and easy continuance called
geefng. This consisted in twisting small
cord round the neck of the offenders and in
this way going from one to another, the rest
were by these means kept quiet for time. II
may be supposed that his issue from so many
wives during so long life was pretty numer-
Gus, having 700 sons able to mount on horse
back; of the number Of his daughters history
does not inform us. for the moors never reckon
women, but it doubtless equalled at least that
ofthe former-Brooke's TrGUsls tn Morocco.
pompsu-Wha you tink about de new law
for bolish prisonmen for debt
Cesar-I tink nobody trus now wtdout DO
money down.
A countrymsn having observed ed an advertise
ment Of a fencing master, at $l2 per quarter,
and surprising his intention was to enclose fields
on an i'm royed plan, called to inquire whether
be meant 20 find stuff
Marriage is the best state for man in yener
al; and every man is q worse man, in proper
ton as no 10 unfit for the marriage state.
JokHsoN,