The hydraulic press., 1860-10-20
Tlle Aydraulie 2ress.
THE SACRIFICE.
A TALE OF MOROCCO.

solution of a Jewish maiden, we cut from
the Detroit Morning Post, to which paper it
is contributed by correspondent, who pro-
fesses to have been resident in Morocco at
the time of its occurrence
young Jewish girl, few years ago, suf-
fered for her faith and atoned for her tempo
.rary error, with a fortitude and resolution
which has even in Morocco made her story
memorable. She was maiden of no ord-
nary beauty and gentleness, and found her.
self so prosecuted within her own family that
existence was burthen. At any time the
lives OF the Jews are wretched enough, but
hers was rendered ntolerable by the blows
and ill-treatment of vixen mother, who,
amongst other cruelties, wished to compel
her into marriage with worthless fellow
against her choice. 1t would be tedious to
go through the detail of her misery Her
home was place of torment, and she had
no other refuge-for maiden is never safe
from insult or violence, beyond the protect
ion of her own house and family. And their
domestic despotism is such that no friend or
relation would afford her an asylum.
Under these circumstances one evening,
when she had fled from blows and injury
within doors, and sat herself down outside
the door-in the desperation of her heart she
formed the sudden resolution of escaping
from these torments by turning Mooress. This
is not uncommon among the Jewesses, al
though | have known no instance of a Jew
becoming Mussulman. | am not aware of
any absolute impedlment in the Moorish re-
ligion; but the Moors hold the Jews in such
sovereign contempt, scarcely applying to
them the epithet men, that it is doubtful
whether they would be received. Besides
the Jews, amidst all their degradation and
timidity, are tenacious of their religion to a
miracle. In becoming renegade, a JeweSs is,
of course, exempted from the dominion of
her family, is placed within the immediate
protection of the Moors, and admitted to the
privileges of the rest of the women. She is
taken care of and provided with husband
The young girl we speak of went with this
object up to the Castle, and sat down at the
door of Kaid Mohamed Ben -Abou, one of the
principal military chiefs of the Empire. Kaid
Abou is one the most gentlemanly as we'll
AS the most enlightened of the Moors He
endeavored to dissuade her from her purp-
oSe, to induce her to return home, and even
with gentle roughness repelled her, but in
vain. She was conveyed to the baShaw, but
still adhered to her resolution-which the
Moors have, however, very amiable, and a
very reasonable custom in such cases, in gi-
wing the proselyte three days for reaection-
thus affording time for the evaporation of
passion, drunkenness, or excitement. IT, af-
ter that period, the fatal words are pro-
nounced, and the ceremony of apostasy is
past, the renegade can at no future time re-
turn to his religion or ever attempt to leave
the country, without the assurance of GER
tain death if detected. During the three
days of probation, the poor girls excitement
still continued sufficiently violent to sustain
her resolution in spite of the remonstrances
Of her tribe. She became Mooress, and
was removed from their power. But alas
time and thought cooled the fever of her
passion the desolation of her new world
weighed upon her spirit; remorse and super
stitious terror thronged upon her heart; the
Rabbis' and bigoted of her sect found means
10 convey to her the reproach and contempt
of her tribe, and to stimulate into action
that far more iutolerable self-contempt which
rlings to a violated conscience. The dreary
world offered no hope to her, and she deter
mined to atone for her error by her death
TO die in the religion which she had insulted.
She accordingly presented herself to the au-
thorities, and professed her recantation. The
penalty was we'll known, but as the case was
singular, the bashaw referred it to the En-
peror, and awaited his pleasure. Meanwhile
the girl was confined in prison. The soldiers
who arrived from the Emperor had orders to
conduct her to his presence. She set out on
her journey to Morocco with the composure
OF despair. She knew twas the Journey to
her grave. During its continuance, land it
was long and fatiguing, she never lost her
command. She had been guilty of one fatal
weakness; it was to be her last.
When conducted to the judgment seat she
looked around upon the thousands of fanati-
cal and savage soldiery wthoutwavering,a
bowed herself before the Emperor with meek
ness undismayed.
The present Emperor Tor Sultan as he is
called is by no means cruel or blood-thirsty
man. On the contrary, in his private habits
he is affable and good-natured, and in his
public OF sovereign character, almost uni
formly temperate and wise. But, strange as
it may seem, the Emperor is as much slave
as the meanest of his subjects, to those fa-
natical ooseryances of ancient customs, upon
thetenacious and inviolable support of which
The very existence of the Moors as a people
depends. Even he could not, as in the pres
ent case, wrest an immemorial law of the
empire without great risk.
Demand of her." said the Sultan, eff
whathas sbeenreportedrespec her be true?'
She mildly answered in the affirmative.
"Is she aware of the penalty of immediate
leath?"
"Yes."
But inform her that it is not yet too late
She is fool to throw away her life in order
20 be reckoned among the dogs ofthe Empire,
who have deceived her. She shall be provi-
lied for, and received among our ownwomen.
aet her look around and choose for herself a
husband, among my chiefs"
~ desire merely to die in the religion of
my fathers
This was the last and only answer that
could be elected. To spare her unnecessary
pain, as she was yet speaking, soldier from
behind, at private signal from the Emperor,
struck the blow which banished from her
Eyes the dreamlike world around her. She