Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-07
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The Arabsl at Amboisc.

vi On, the right OF the Loire. close 10 one
OF the stations Of the railroad from Or |
leans to Nantes, which transport the ira
weller in few hours from the centre Of
civilized France to the heart of Brittany, |
and all itsiwild traditions and druidical
mysteries, stands an ancient and time
+ honored town important in the history
both of France and England during a
series of centuriese-a town beloved of
Anne of Brittany and of Mary Stuart,
the scene OF stirring and romantic ad-
Ventures without number, all of which
have paled before tho interest it has ex.
cited Of late years as the place of capt.
witty Of great chief, and. within few
weeks, as forming q rich part OF that
spoil which the immense possessions OF
the house of Orleans is likely to furnish
to the present ruler Of the French nation.
Tourists of the Loire know the char
ming town of Amboise very we'll; and
none ever missed, in days Of yore visit
ing its fine castle, whose high walls are
bathed by the noble river. This plea
sure has. however, long been denied them,
for the captive whose misfortunes have
excited so much sympathy throughout
Europe. and whose hope deferred is
still destined to make his "heart sick,
the Inflated Abd-'el-Kader, with his
followers are still detained there, and
likely so to be, in spite of the II acoald
II I could'' of his supposed struggling
friend, the nephew of anothergreatp riso-
uer of days gone by
The writer of these pages happened to
be in the neighborhood when ABIDE
Kader was transferred from Pau, the
L 4 ~,
rennes, to this once gay chateau on the
Loire, and was amongst those who wit
messed the arrival of the party.
A rumor Of something remarkable
soon spread throughout the town, and a
concourse of people came hurrying over
the bridge in order to be present at the
expected landing Of prisoners of impor-
lance. There was no attempt to reprcss
this curiosity, for no rescue was evident
" feared a double line Of soldiers was,
however formed, and in silence and gloom
sad procession was formed of no less
than eighty-two individuals, men, wo-
men and children, all covered with large
mantles of wool, OF fashion unseen in
this part of the world, since the great
Saracen warrior Alderman was driven
back from Touraine by Charles Martel {;
the strangers thus attired took their way
from the sandy shore of the Loire to the
precipitous ascent of the dark towers be-
fore them;
These captiyes were tho Arab chief
Add el-Kader, his mother, one Of his
brothers-in-law, his uncle, patriot Of
ninety, whose long white beard fell to
his girdle, and four of his wives. Fol-
lowing them came train Of attendants,
all prisoners, and all sharing their mas
ter's sorrows and mischances,
The gateway closed upon tho new
guests, and the inhabitants Of Amboisc,
Somewhat awe.struck and impressed with
pity, returned mournfully to their re-
spective domicils. no doubt thanking hea-
ven that they wero citizens of free and
happy France, generous. valiant, homo
rable and victorious ALAS, how long to
remain so
Not alone in the early stage of his cap
tiVity, but ever since he became their
neighbour, the ladies of Amboise, with
continuous kindnes showed their benevo-
lent feeling, both to him and the females
of his suite and their children, Delica-
cies from their kitchens, and little useful
presents were showered upon the poor
captives, who received tho attentions in
the spirit in which they were given.
Sometimes tho 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 report of young Frenchman, whose
curiosity was rewarded on happy occa-
sion, when the yelled fair one withdrew
the envious screen of her beauties one
day, imagining that she was unobserved,
that she might the better gaze upon the
fine river, and feel the soft breeze of an
evening in June upon her cheek Occa-
sionally some of the children of the cap
tives may be seen playing around their
parents, as they stand motiouless, looking
from their high position. These little cap.
tives are of all shades, from white to ebo-
ny hue, and are by no means so silent or
SO still as their elders, for they Chamber
and climb and twist about the parapets,
in manner quito startling to those 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
resignation-alas what else could he
preach ?-and received the same answer
as the illustrious prisoner always gives to
those who seek to console him
~ gave myself up on the sole condi-
ton that should be conducted to Alex
dria, in order to go to Mecca, where de-
sired to finish my days, The promise was
given TO me; l ask for nothing further,
and rely on the justice of Allah"
The attachment Of the Arabs to their
chief, is intense an instance of this ex-
cited immense interest in Paris, some time
since. A young man who had belonged
to Abd-el-Kader, was detained at Toulon,
from whence he escaped, but, instead of