Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-08-19

/
He.hned men twenty dollars for selling my
false weights The weights we're a mere
trihe too light, having been worn by usage.
o, the scoundrel of Judge paid fifty
dollars to give judgment for me against a
Hindu, but he owed the Hindu money, and
so lost my cause. May his fathers grave
be defed He is Judge for Gaours and
Turks, but not for true believers
1t may be So replied the Johasmee,
whose countenance never relaxed for a mo-
ment from its impassive gloom. My faith
er was, moreover, lion in war, and his
courage was like fame of fire. In his
youth he was as quick to anger, when his
blood was stirred by an injurious word, as
is gun to go off when the match touches
the powder. So has it always been with the
Benz Amrou. Alas for me why else am
here? Now it Glanced that in his younger
days my father slew in quarrel man of
the family of Zobeyee. They quarrelled a.
bout the spoil of Feringee ship, and my
father fought with him and killed him. He
had neither parent, nor brother, nor uncle,
so nothing was done, for the Benz Anrou
were very strong. But he had one son, who
was then not old enough to speak. This
son grew up to manhood with his mother,
who told him all that had happened And
three months ago, as my father was sitting
alone at the door of his tent, he came behind
him, and struck him with his dagger in the
back, saying, 1t is |, the son of Daood Ibn
Zobey, who avenge my father and having
done this, he fled to the desert.
Then, when | came to my father, OPP
pressed with grief and rage he put forth
his hand and said to me- Khalil, my son,
| am dying, as it is appointed to all men to
die. Greve not, therefore, but attend to
what | say. | have lived long, and have
made the pilgrimage to Mecca, and gained
much wisdom. Now, therefore, my son,
hear my last commands. Avenge not my
death in the blood of the son of Daood for
slew his father, and life for life is just ;
why should it 90 further? If he offer thee the
price of blood, take it, and make peace with
him. In time of battle be thou brave as a
lion Stay and spare not, and take booty !;
for this belongs to the true believers. But
in time of peace keep thy hand from the
dagger for bloody hand shall never pros
per. 1t is better to save life than to destroy.
Now swear to me, my son, that thou wilt
obey my commands. For the Benz Amrou
are violent race, and quick to shed blood
So | swore that would keep my hand from
the knife in time of peace, and that would
rather save life than destroy. And my faith
err died.
And thou hast obeyed thy father, and
kept thine oath, in saving me- said the
merchant.
| have disobeyed my father, and broken
my OATH, returned the young man. Hear
yet further. When my father died l was
about to take for wife Amneh, the daughter
of the Sheikh Abdallah, of the family of
Mohassan, the loveliest maiden of Ras ell
Khema. We have been betrothed from
childhood Now it CHANGED that six days
ago, made a bargain with her brother
Zeyn for this dagger which you see. He
was rogue and cur, greedy for gain as a
Jew, and willy as a Hindu. He swore that
the haft was of silver, and you see it is on
ly copper coated with silver. So when
found this, cast it at his feet and said,
Thou son of Shaitan, thou hast cheated
me; there is thy dagger. Return me my
ten dollars But he would not, and as we
talked he grew bitter and snappish, like a
dog as he was, and threw the knife at my
head. Behold = he said, lifting his turban
and showing a raw wound in his temple
Then continued the youth, the hot blood
of the Benz Amrou boiled in my veins, and
| struck him through the ribs with my dag.
ger. He never spoke again. For three days
my brothers and kindred concealed and de-
Tended me; but the Mohassanees were toe
strong for US, and fled for safety behind
the forts of the Imaum. So | saved thy
life to atone for the life which | took, con
trary to the oath that | had sworn to my
father. Though thou art but a Persian anc
Sheah, think thy life is quite as mucl
worth as that of Zeyn lbn Abdallah.'
The merchant was too well accustomed
to the contempt with which those of hi:
creed and nation were regarded by the A
rabs, "a contempt which the Persians rotor
with equal bitterness in their own country,
to take exception at the ambiguous compi
ment with which his companion concluded
his narrative. After a moments reflection
he said And will nothing but thy life con
tent the friends of the young man? Viii
they not take the price of blood, seeing tina
he began the fray, and thou art betrothet
10 MS sister
And where asked the youth, am | t.
find two thousand dollars for the life of
Mohassaneel All my family have not st
much
1.-TWO thousand dollars is large sum
said the Persian, shaking his head; i am
poor man; nay, beggar; and in debt t.
Zemin Khan for money advanced in thi
last adventure. Yet if my boat and m,
two slaves had not been lost, might hav,
shown thee how to gain two thousand dol
lars i'll two months
What dost thou meanP asked the Jo
hasmee, eagerly; is it to plunderl Dos
thou know of a prize? | have good boat
; in which came from Ras ell Kheima, an,
three stout slaves, brave as lions in battle
Il know of no prize replied the mer
chant, laughing and besides, | am to-
old to fight. But are thy slaves as GOO
swimmers as thou? Can they dive as well
What would you have us go to fish 70
pearls and to make two thousand dollar
in two months? Am an IDIOT, that tho
, shouldst laugh at my beard
: Nay, but listen, most excellent youn
man, flower Of Bedowees--be not so hast,
/, Wilt thou swear by the holy Kaaba, and tn
tomb of the Prophet, that what shall re
5 veal to thee shall remain a secret in tn