Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-09
The Arabs at Amboise.

: Nantes, which transport the traveller in
few hours from the centre of civilize
France to the heart of Brittany, and all il
wild traditions and druidical mystene!
stands an ancient and time-honored town
important in the history both of France an
, England, during series of centuries
town beloved Of Anne of Brittany and c
, Mary Stuart, the scene of stirring and re
, mantle adventures without number all
which have paled before the interest it ha
excited of late years as the place of captiv
itv of a great chief, and, within few weeks
as forming rich part of that spoil whlc
the immense possessions of the house o
Orleans is likely to furnish to the presen
ruler of the French nation.
Tourists of the Loire know the charmin!
town of Amboise very well; and none eve
missed, in days of yoIe visiting its fine cas-
tie, whose high walls are bathed by the no
Bile river. This pleasure has, however
long been denied them, for the captive
whose misfortunes have excited SO mucf
sympathy throughout Europe, and whose
hone "deferred" is still destined to make hi:
"beart SICK" the ill-fated ADD 'el-Kader
with his followers, are still detained there
and likely so to be. in spite of the 'I'could
If cou7d' of his supposed struggling friend
the nephew of another great prisoner oi
days gone by.
The writer Of these pages happened to be
in the neighborhood when Abd-'el Kadel
was transferred from Pau, the birthplace OF
Henri Quatre, in the Pyrennes, to this once
CAV chateau on the Loire, and was amongst
those who witnessed the arrival Of the party.
A rumor of something remarkable soon
spread throughout the town, and a con-
course of people come hurrying over the
bridge, in order to be present at the expect
ed landing of prisoners of Importance
There was no attempt to repress this curl
osity, for no rescue was evidently feared /;
a double line of soldiers was, however,
formed, and in silence and gloom sad pro-
cession was soon formed of no less than
eighty-two individuals, men, women, and
children, all covered with large mantles OF
wool, of fashion unseen in this part OF the
world since the great Saracean warrior Abb
deraman was driven back from Todraine by
Charles Martel; the strangers thus attlred
took their way from the sandy shore of the
Loire to the preeipitous ascent OF the dark
towers before them.
These captives were the Arab chief ADD
el-Kader, his mother, one of his brothers.
in-law, his uncle, patriarch OF ninety,
whose long white beard fell to his girdle,
and four of his wives. Following them
came train Of attendants, all prisoners,
and all sharing their masters sorrows and
mischances.
The gateway closed upon the new guests,
and the inhabitants of Amboise, somewhat
awe-struck and impressed with pity, return
ed mournfully to their respective domicils,
no doubt thanking heaven that they were
denizens of free and happy France, gener-
Gus, valiant, honorable and victorious =
alas, how long to remain so!
Not alone IN the early stage of his cap
tivity. but ever since he became their neigh
Dor, the ladies of Amboise, with continuous
kindness, showed their benevolent feeling
both to HIM and to the females of his suite
and their children. Delicacies from their
kitchens, and little useful presents, were
showered upon the poor captives, who re-
ceived the attentions IN the spirit in which
they were given.
Sometimes the Emir would appear on
his balcony accompanied by the ladies Of
his suite. One Of them is said to be still
young, and very handsome. This is the re-
port of young Frenchman, whose curios'
ity was rewarded on happy occasion, when
the yelled fair one withdrew the enviou:
screen of her beauties one day, imagining
that she was unobserved, that she might
the better gaze upon the fine river, and fee
the soft breeze of all evening in June upor
her cheek. Occasionally some of the chill
dren of the captives may be seen playing
around their parents, as they stand motion
less, looking from their high position
These little captives are of all shades, froT
White to ebony hue, and are by no mean:
so silent or so still as their elders, for they
Chamber and climb and twist about upon thu
parapets IN manner quite startling tothost
who are watching from below.
Some time ago the Bishop of Algiers,
passing through Amboise, stopped to pay ;
visit to the Emir he exhorted him to res
ignation-alas what else could he preach
and received the same answer as thu
illustrious prisoner always gives to thos'
who seek to console him:
81 gave myself up on the sole condition
, that should be conducted to Alexandria
in order TO 60 to Mecca where | desired Il
finish my days. The promise was given tc
; me | ask for nothing further, and rely
on the Justice of Allah"
: The attachment of The Arabs to their chic
) IS intense an instance of this excited i'm
mense interest in Paris some time since
A young man who had belonged to Add
) 'el-Kader was detained at Toulon, from
whence he escaped. but, Instead of endeav
} or1ng to regain his own country, his sol
r desire was to behold his chief once more
and to die at his feet. He arrived at Am
boise, no one knew how, having traverse'
| France to its centre, and there his clothe
5 in tatters, his feet bleeding, and faintin
with hunger and fatigue he was overtaken
secured, and forced back again to his pris
on at Toulon, without having gained til
object of so much energy and resolution.
How could the most severe guardians c
5 the safety of France drive back such SCI
p. want from his master?
In the month of August, 1e50,a party G
the Arabs received permission to return
Africa. After extraordinary struggles be
tween their love of country and of the
master, forty men, women and children
$ consented to profit by this clemency.-
D Their parting was, however, scene Of de:
olation, agonizing to witness.
The railroad was to take back these son
4 and daughters of the Desert partly on the
N,n,r nnd q cnrri,na file with nale eulacI