The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-09-13
THE JUSTICE OF THE NAGIB.
FROM COL. L. DU CoRET's TRAVELS IN
sf5. .- ASHLAND AFRICA. EW aaIt

FROM COL. L. DU CoRET's TRAVELS IN
r. .shf t|l ASHLAND AFRICA. 5.v aals
- 3a5Q aa5 agG 9u of i.a sex- .g.
After the evening ltli prayer bra I took my
way to the Town, calling, by the way,
on Seid- Ahmed, with whom, in our late
ramble, / had arranged Tor an early
meeting. gfssos f.o. t..s.- 100 Pr :
We found the Nagib seated upon his
cushions, at the door of the vestibule.
There, surrounded by his chiefs and a
crowd of retainers, he rendered import
ant decisions while smoking his chicha.
The audience was a large one-for
Seid Abd'el Rahman was very popular
with his people, owing in great measure,
TO his accessibility to all. Mussulman,
Sabian' or Jew, provided only he was
of the country, enjoyed the privilege of
access to him at all times to state his
case, on which the Nag1b at once rem
dered justice by a decree based upon
equity as we'll as common cense. Ea.
Seid-Ahmed took the place reserved
for him among the members of the iris
bunal, while for myself, after the inter-
change of the usual compliments, the
Nagib ordered achipoque to be brought,
which he lighted and presented to me
with his own hands. H 1851 as
Curious to witness an example of the
justice of the country, took up the
most convenient position for seeing
and hearing, and the audience COM
menced.
There were women who complained
OF illtreatment on the part of their hus-
bands men who accused their wives
ot fraiity, or of sterilIty divisions of
inheritance to adjust; thefts and frauds
to punish anon: all which cases there
were two particularly remarkable for
the judgments rendered upon them.
The first Of these two cases was one
between katb and a. fellah-that is,
a writer and peasant-the wife Of the
latter having been taken away from
him by the former, who main tanned
that he had a claim upon her.
The woman declined to acknowledge
either the one or the other of them as
her husband, or rather, she acknowl-
edged them both--a view of the case
viii h rendered it decidedly embaras.
sing. "i hHa 1Hs
Having heard both sides, and reflects
ed moment, the Nagib said addressing
claimants, "Leave this woman here, and
return in half an hour" on which the
katib and tellah made their salutatio ms
and retired.
The second case was one between a
tet05 and a z5bdui, or, in other words,
a fruitel er and a MISUNDERSTANDING
latter very much besmeared with but
ter; the former clean. a 1a7
The fruiter said, 81 had been to buy
some butter from this man, and drew
my purse, full of money, to pay for the
butter he had put in my goul1a, when,
tempted by the sight of the coins he
seized me by the wrist / cried thief 2
but he would not let me go !; and thus
have we come before you'll Squeezing
my money III my hand, and he grasping
my wrist with his. And now, by Mo
manned, our great Prophet, l swear
that this man lies in saying that have
stolen his money. for that money is tru-
ly mine"
The butter merchant said, "This
man came to buy a goullo of butter
from me, and when | had filled it he
said, Hast thou change Of an o6u,maoth-
fa Spanish piaster)?' I searched my
pocket, from which / drew out my hand
full of money, which placed upon the
sill Of my fhop, srom which he snatched
it, and was going off with my butter
ana my money, when | seized him by
the wrist and cried 'thief 2 but in spite
OF my cries, he refused to return my
property to me, and | have brought
him hither, in order that you may Judge
between us. And now by Mohammed,
our great Prophet swear that this man
lies in saying.,that have stolen his mon
ey, for that money is truly mine"
The Nagib caused the compliments
to repeat their charges twice, but nei
Their of them varied from his first state
ment. Then he said after, moments
reflection, ''Leave this money here, and
return in half an hour" on which the
fruiterer, who had all along kept his hold
OF the money, deposited it in wooden
bowl, brought up by one of the guard,
and both compliments, having made
their salutations, retired.
When they were gone, the Nagib
quilted his seat at the door Of the yesti-
bule, and went up into the fourth story
OF the tower, taking with him the wom-
an and money in dispute. At the APP
pointed moment he returned with them,
and went back calmly to his seat. The
parties interested were all present, and
the katlb and fellah were called up.
Here, said the Na5ib, addressing
the katib stake thy wife, and lead her
away, for she is thina truly
Then, turning to his guard and point
ing to the fellah, he said,
"Give this man fifty blows of a cour-
bash on the souls of his feet"
The katib walked off with his wife.
and the guards gave the fellah fifty
blows OF courbash on the soles of his
feet.