The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-16
THE TWO ARAB CHIEFS AND THE PA
CHA OF BAGDAD.

There dwelt upon the great river Euphra'es'
near the city Of Bassora, two Arab tribes, oeao-
ly hostile TO each other; the enmity was 80 Pro-
verbal and well known, that when one man
spoke Of the enmity Of another towards ms ioe'
he would say, he hates him as an AIMEE mates
Muntifee II fell out that the Pacha oil bag
dad, being apprehensive OF the invasion oil .he
Kurds from Kurdistan. sent out an order 70 the
chief of the Anizees TO send him forthwith ~
600 men, and the order was obeyed. The pa
cha, not placing the same reliance upon 'he
promptness of the Montfee chief, resolved 10
lay plan to take him by stratagem, ana then
demand from him the aid OF his tribe. ne sue
ceeded in obtaining the attendance OF the cbiei,
and he was brought into the presence o. me
Turk. II have taken you prisoner" SAID the
pacha, "fearing that might not otherwise have
obtained the assistance OF your tribe against inc
kurds. IL you now command that ten thou-
sand of your men shall come TO my assistance,
your chains shall be struck of, and you may re-
turn safe and uninjured 10 your tribe but II you
do not comply, your head shall roll al my feet.
The chief looked the Pacha sternly in the face,
and replied, "Your knowledge OF the Arab
character has led you into this error. Had you
sent to me for ten thousand OF my tribe when
was free, know not what answer should nave
returned but as it is my reply cannot be out
negative. If you order my head TO roll at your
feet, be il so; there many more in my tfloe
equal TO mine. Shed one drop OF my blood, ana
every one will become its avenger. The arap
may be treated with when free, but when prl-
soner. never" The naughty pacha looked upon
him for moment with surprise; then turning
to his soldiers, he ordered them TO sever his head
from his body The chief stood calm and col
lected while the drawn sabre CLEANED aloit in
the air. At this moment the noise Of horse
galloping in the paved ourtyard of tn. palace
attracted the attention Of the pachi. AL every
bound he struck the fire from the stones, and
seemed TO be striving TO outstrp the wind. In "A
moment the rider vauted from his horse, and al
most in the same breath s God in the presence OF
the pacha. II was the chief Of the Anizees. = /
am come, said he, 10 strike off the chains from
my enemy. Had he been taken in an open con-
flict | should not interpose, but as he has been
taken by treachery, though mine enemy, yet will
be first to strike off his chains There are 10000
lancers under my command glancing yonder IN
your defence, but il you release not immediate
ly mine enemy, every one of them shall be di-
rected against you as a foe" The Turk was
forced to yield, and the two chiefs retired to-
gether. The chief of the Anzees conducted
his brother chief though his deadest enemy, TO
his own tribe, and then said, We are now
again enemies, we have only acted as Arabs
should always act TO each other; but you are
now safe and with your own tribe, and our an
cient hoslilities are renewed" With this they
parted, and the chief Of the Anizees returned to
the defence of the Pacha