The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-10-13
~CHARL0TTE, CKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA ~~
TUESDAY, OCTOBER l3, 1857 ---


Get down yourself" said the cripple,
ITO help you! Certainly"
mo; to give me your horse-he belongs
to me-"
I'VE shall see."
I'VE are in the city of the just Cadi."
~ know that"
"And you will have me taken up before
him %
ut is very likely"
"And do you suppose. when he sees you
with sound legs. and me with crippled ones,
he will not say the horse belongs to him
who has most need of him?'' -
'sIf he says So" replied Bou-Akas, "he
will no longer be the just Cadi, ''for he will
have erred in his Judgment
"They call him just" rejoined the Grip
pie, laughing, ''but not infallible."
GOOD ~ said Bou-Akas to himself;
'here is fine opportunity for me to judge
the judge" So he pushed through the
crowd, leading his horse by the bride, the
cripple perched like monkey, and reached
the tribunal where the judge was dispens-
ing justice after the Oriental mode.
The first cause was between Taleb and
peasant-that is, between a man of
letters and laborer. The peasant had
carried off Taleb's wife, and insisted that
she was his. The woman would not ac-
knowledge either as her husband. The
Judge listened to both parties and then
said Leave the woman with me, and re-
turn Tomorrow" The men saluted and
withdrew.
The next cause was between butcher
and an oil-seller; the latter was covered
with oil, the butcher spotted with blood.
The butcher began II went to buy oil
of this man ; took out my purse to pay
him {; it was full of money he was tempted
by it. and seized me by the wrist. shout
ed .thefn but he would not let me go; so
we come together before you, I clenching
my money, and he my wrist. Now, [ swear
by Mahomet that he is a liar, when he says
took his money /: the money is mine"
Then spoke the oil-seller: THE man
came to buy bottle of oil of me; and after
I had filed the bottle, he asked me if could
change piece of gold. l took handful
of money from my pocket, and laid it on
the threshold of my shop; he snatched it,
and was going off with the oil and money,
when l seized him by the wrist, and shouted
'thief' In spite of my shouts he would not
give it up, and I have brought him here
that you may judge between US. l swear
Z NJ IL, 49,. = A.
money is mine
The Cadi made each plaintiff repeat his
story neither varied. Leave the money
with me-" he said, land return to- morrow.
Now came the turn of Bau-Akas and the
cripple.
MY lord judge" said the Scheick, II
come from a distant city to buy merchan
disc in this market. At the gate of this
town found this cripple, who first asked
aims of me, and then begged me to take
him up, as he feared he should be trampled |
in the crowd of men, mules, and camels. |
Arrived at the market place. he would not |
get down, but claimed my horse and when
I threatened him with justce-'P shaw, the |
Cadi is too sensible man TO doubt that the
horse belongs to him who needs him most
he replied. swear by Mahomet, this is
the simple truth, my lord"
Next rejoined the cripple: "My lord, I
was coming here on business upon this
horse of mine, when saw this man seated
by the road side, as if half dead. l stop
ped to ask if he had met with any accident.
He answered no but that he was exhaust
ed with fatigue, and begged me for charity
to bring him to this city, where he had
business. did so ; but what was my sur
prise, when he ordered me to dismount,
and said the horse was his. So brought
nm to you. This is the truth, swear by
Nahomet."
The Cadi made each repeat his deposi-
ion. leave me the horse," he ordered,
'and return TO- morrow"
The next morning not only the parties
but great crowd, led by Curl
,sity, appeared at the tribunal. The
Taleb and the preasant were called first.
Take your wife off," said the judge to
he Taleb, "she is certainly yours"
Then turning to the executioners, he or
iered them to give the peasant fifty strokes
# the bastinado. The butcher and oil
seller were next summoned.
Take your money" said the Cadi to
he butcher; ''you certainly took it from
7our pocket, and it never belonged to that
man," and he ordered the oil-seller fifty
trokes of the bastinado. The third cause
;ame on.
SHOULD you recognize your horse among
wenty others Z" asked the judge Of Bou-
Akas.
Certainly" II
'And you :" to the cripple. Il
Certainly"
Come with me-" he continued to Bou-
Akas. They went together, and the
'cheick pointed out his horse among the
wenty. go back to the tribunal and
end me your adversary"
The cripple hurried to the stable as fast