Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-23
.r.swo OF TIE MOOR,

In my last believe gave you an &C
count OF a Moorish execution. Another In
stance Of capital punishment here was at
tended with the following singular circum-
stances, A Moor of the village Of Sharf had
shot with pistol, in the market of Tanger,
fellow villager. The brother of the muir
dered man started Immediately for Meyul-
nez. where the Sultan was then residing,
and claimed the life of the murderer. The
Sultan heard the complaint, acknowledged
the justice Of the demand, and summoning
the plaintiff INTO his presence delivered the
following decision:
"We grant you our permission to take
the life of the murderer ofyour brother with
the same instrument of death with which ne
was assassinated, and on the same spot and
at the same hour of day. "But," added the
Sultan, ''why seekest thou also to be man
slayer" Accept the price of blood, which
is lawful unto true believers, and we Will
guarantee you its payment from our Sherel-
an hands, aud two hundred mitzakel( equiv
alent to 50 cents each) shall be the sum-"
To this the plaintiff replied, "Can that
sum purchase me brother'
go thy way" said the Sultan eve have
heard and understood; letter will be gwen
you by the vizier, in which our mandate
shall be written"
Furnished with the sentence of death, the
man returned to Tangier, and presented 1t
to the Governor. On the same day OF the
week, and at the same hour, the murderer
was brought out of prison and seated on the
very spot where he had taken his fellow
villagers life, while crowds of people atten-
den to witness his death. The pistol was
now given to the brother of the murdered
man, who loaded it, went up to the crimi-
nal, walked slowly around him, and said
'In the presence of God and man, call up
on YOU to answer me truly. Didst thou STAY
nv brother" To this the criminal replied.
81 did," One of the multitude now step
ping forward, addressed the brother of the
murdered man: "Accept the price ofblood'
said he, "and promise you one hundred
ducats in addition, which those here assem-
bled will gladly give"
"Worthless words, 'said the villager; and
again he walked round his victim. Again
he asked him the same question, and again
the same reply was given. A second offer
was now made of two hundred ducats, and
again the villager walking around the GRIM
inal repeated his question, adding, "Say
what thou believest, am about to take thy
life"
"That God is God, and Mahomed is the
Prophet of God" responded the criminal.
Scarcely were the words uttered, when
the pistol was discharged. The muzzle had
been placed at the small of the back, being the
same spot where he had shot the man for
) whom he was now about to die; but the
wretched criminal, although MORALLY woun-
ded, did not expire for some hours.
Although indolent, hypocritical and vim
dictive, Moor is patient under suffering,
perfectly resignated to whatever infections
Providence may choose to visit him with, a
scrupulous and rigid observer of the forms
of his religion, and firm and conscientious
believer in its faith and his holy prophet
His predestination principles teach him 10
bear misfortunes with the patience and firm
! ness ola philosopher-and on this account in
stances of suicide rarely occur. 1.-THE Moor
possesses few of the virtues of civilized ma
lions, still he is at least free from many OF
I the vices which luxury and refinement en-
tail as curses upon the former.
In all punishments the Mosaic law is, as
nearly as possible, adhered to, as the fol-
, lowing circumstances viii illustrate.
: Mr.. L., an English merchant residing at
I Mogadore, had some years ago an atfray
6 with a party of Moors who insulted him as
ne was returning si.~OI:--s,- IL. Ma,
course of the scutfie the merchant acciden-
tally knocked out two teeth from an old wo-
man. who happened to be in the way
Complaint was immediately made to the
governor, who was obliged to take the Chris
tan gentlemen into custody as well to pro-
tect him from the violence ofthe mob, who
were proceeding to revenge, in a very sum-
mary way, the loss of the lady, masticators
as to see the law carried out. Such is the
strictness observed on this hand that the mer-
chant was sentenced to have two ofhis teeth
extracted-but as a mark of especial favor,
he was allowed to make the selection, and,
as it rarely happens that person possesses
so good set as to make it very inconven-
lent to spare the number required, the Chris
tain, after all, was probably no great suffer
er.
On Fridays, all the gates of all the towns
in Morocco are closed during the perform
duCC vi SCINlIC Ct tuC oS'Oldl liiOoQQCos-
This originated, it is said, from the Portu-
CUES taking the fortress of Ceuta on that
day, by means of the following stratagem:
The Christians contrived to introduce a
number Of large cases, containing as was
given out, presents for the Sultan, but in re-
atty armed men, who, when the people
were all at mosque attending service, seized
the forts, turned the guns upon the town,
and thereby became possessors of the place.
Since that time the gates throughout the
empire have been kept closed during the
time of prayers. Another reason given Of
this custom is that Moorish saint of great
reputation, in former times predicted that
the Moors would be attacked and conquered
by the Christians on Friday, (their Sab
bath) whilst engaged at their mosque in
prayer.
With the exception of matters of account,
wills, &C., which are settled by judge ap-
pointed for every town, the law is admins
tered daily, and even on their Sabbath, by
the bashaw, governor, or principal alkaid OF
the place, who is expected to be in readi-
ness at all times to attend to any complaints
that may be made. During trial, the &C
cuser, together with his witnesses are in
kneeling posture, as is also the accused,
whilst making his defence. The testimony
of the witnesses is given, oath for oath, and
10 ,kyNN Il