The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-10-13
JUSTICE IN ALGERIA.
Translated from the French for the "States."
BY A DUMAS.


BY A DUMAS.
In the Ferdi 'Ouah lives Scheick nance
Bou-Akas- -ben-Achour, q descendant o
one of the oldest families of the country. a.
/ we find by -Rhadoun's history of th'
Arab and Barber dynasties. Bou-Akas il
a perfect type of the Arab of the East
His ancestors conquered Ferdj 'Ouah, tin'
country } he has consolidated and reign.
over it. After deciding to recognize the
power of France, he sent a horse of Gads
in token of submission, but has constantly
refused to 60 to Constantine, alleging ar
oath he has made against it !; the fact is. he
fears to be retained as prisoner. He pays
tribute of $4,000 francs. Every year
after harvest, at the same day and hour, by
| the same gate, enter the camels that bring
the money not even cent is ever want
ing.
Bou-Akas is forty-ni years old. dressed
like the Kabyles. in a gandoura of woolen.
held by leather belt, with fine cord
around the head he carries pair of pistols
by his side, the Kabyle yfissa, and a little
black knife about his neck. Before him
stalks a negro with his gun, and large
hound bounds at his side.
When one of the twelve tribes he rules
has done him any wrong. he merely sends
his negro to their chief village. The negro
displays the gun of BouAkas, and the
damage is repaired.
There are two or three hundred Tobias in
his pay, who read the Koran to the people.
Every individual making pilgrimage to
Mecca, on calling on him. receives three
francs, and remains SO long as he likes in
Ferdj 'Ouah, at the Scheick's expense; but
ifhe discovers feigned pilgrim, two ennis
saries find him wherever he may be, throw
him face downward, and bestow on him fifty
strokes of the bastinado. He has some
times three hundred persons to dine; he
then walks around overseeing the domes-
tics; if there is anything left, he eats, but
always last.
When the governor of Constantine, the
only authority he acknowledges, sends him
a traveller. he gives him his gun, his dog,
or his knife, according to the Importance of
the traveller, or the ungency of the recon-
mendation. Ifhe gives his gun, the strang-
er shoulders it; if the dog, he takes it in a
leash if the knife, he throws it around his
nanL. md With other of these taiis-
mans, each of which specifies the degree of
honor to be rendered, the traveller goes
through the twelve tribes without danger,
and is lodged and fed gratuitously. for he is
the guest of Bou-Akas. When he leaves
the Ferdj 'Ouah, he turns over the gun, dog,
or knife to the first Arab he meets. If the
Arab is hunting, he quits the chase; if
he drops his plough; if at home,
he leaves it. to carry the pledge to his
Scheick. The well Unknown little knife with
the black handle has given its name to Bou-
Akas-Bou-D -Djenoui, the man with the knife;
for it is with this he cuts off heads, if he
thinks the necessity for prompt justice de-
mands it. When he came into power, there
were a great many robbers about; the
Scheick adopted the plan of Disgusting
himself as simple trader, and letting fall
a douro, of which he never lost sight if the
person who picked it up put it in his pocket,
Bou-Akas made a sign to his executioner,
disguished like himself, and off went the
culprit's head, The Arabs say that child
may now traverse the twelve tribes with
crown of gold on his head, without risk.
Bou-Akas has a high respect for women,
I'D hoS ~ra1 chat whnn fhoy E1l thai
goat -shins at the fountains, the men are
to turn aside, and not pass before them.
to know what the sex thought of
nim, and meeting pretty Arab girl along |
.nd entered on light chat The woman |
ooked at him in astonishment, and said !: !
Leave me, handsome chevalier, for you do |
1ot know the risk you rum" AS he still |
to annoy her with his nonsense, |
she resumed: "Have you come from so |
great distance that you do not know you |
are in the country of the man with the |
knifs,' where women are respected!"
One day the Scheick heard that Cadi of
,ne of his tribes rendered judgment worthy
# Solomon; like another Haroun- al Rachid
10 wished to know for himself. Disguised
IS a simple horseman, without his distin
,uished arms, mounted on thoroughbred
lorse, which. however, betrayed nothing of
he greatness of the owner. he started.
Now it happened that he arrived at the
ortunate city in which this Cadi dispensed
ustice on the fair-day. consequently
,ourt-day. At the gate of the town he met
. cripple who asked aims, clinging to the
;cheick's burnous as did the beggar to St.
dartin's cloak.
..What more would you have?' asked
3ou- Akas. ..You asked aims, and have
,iven it,"
True" replied the cripple; "but the
aw does not merely say. thou shalt give
Inns to thy brother but also. thou shalt
10 all that thou art able for him."
well; what can do for you!"
"You can save me from being trampled
nder foot by the crowd of men, mules and
amels, in the town."
"And howl"