Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-10-05

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plain cushions of wool, covered with cotton
cloth. The bowls and spoons are of wooden
ware, brought from Constantinople; every
thing proclaims that intercourse with strang-
ers has made but little innovation here; the
whole of this ancient dwelling being just as
we read of in the Bible.
| l found Seid- ADD ell -Rahman surrounded
by some fifty of his nobles all handsome
men, Dith bright piercing eyes; some of them
young, others past the middle age. Their
long hair fell down upon their bare shoulders,
and their forms were of the true Arab type
lean and wiry. For head-dress they
wore the sommada, the rest of their costume
consisting of white fouta bound round the
loins, ornamented with broad bands of red
silk. The old men carried each matchbox,
and long, two-edged sword, suspended by
shoulder-belt; the young men a sagaie, a
battle-axe and buckler. They all had pis-
tolls and scimitars in their girdles.
The Nagib, man, at that time, of from
fifty five to sixty years of age, was decked
out in all his best, as were is followers. His
fouta, however, was of silk instead of cotton :;
instead of a sommada he wore turban, and
his weapons were of rich manufacture-the
hilt and scabbard of his scimitar being of
gold or silver gilt, while the stocks of his gun
and pistols sparkled with precious stones in
stead of mother-o, pearl or coral
When entered the apartment where the
Nagib was seated, surrounded by his court
he arose from the bench on which he sat,
and salutcd me with twenty -one salaams !;
then, approaching, he took me by the hand,
and led me into the center of the group
where seated myself upon hassir, placed
for me by a negro slave. When all were
ranged around in their places, the Nagib
opened the proceedings, saying:
"We know who you are, Hadji, and whence
you come; we have heard of your sojourn at
Mecca with the Cheriff Hussein and the I'm
aum of Sana; and our couriers have apprised
us of all that has happened on the Journey
from Sana hither. Wishing neither to de-
ceive nor to lay snares, we thus notify you,
and it will be for your interest to be equally
candid with us; for we detest deceit: liars
meet with no mercy here, death being the
punishment dealt out to them when proved
guilty. Answer plainly, then-what motive
has brought you hithery"
81 have heard, Sidi, replied I, "that your
country resembles neither Europe nor Africa,
nor yet any other part of Asia that | have
travelled through, and that should here see
many things not elsewhere to be found
This, and this alone, is my motive for coming
here"
"And wherefore do you desire to see these
things p asked the Nagib.
ASK of Allah," said |, "why some men
love noise, others silence; why some seek
the crowd, others solitude, and then I will
tell you why | would like to descend into the
depths Of ocean and see the monsters that in
habit it; why long to visit the armament
and the stars that shine over us. Allah has
endowed me with admiration of His works,
wherefore I would visit even the shifting
sands, and brave the storms of the desert"
After some further questions, the Nagib
told me that it would be necessary for me to
submit to certain ordeal imposed upon all
strangers coming to March. Then, to the
clapping Of his hands, there came four negro
slaves, who, courteously seizing me, stripped
off all my garments in the midst of the as
sembly, and annointed me with butter from
head to foot, after which they thumped and
basted me all over; a process, however, to
which had long been accustomed and one
beneficial in it's effects, softening the skin,
and rendering the muscles plant This
done, other slaves entered, bringing fouta
of red silk and sommada, with which they
invested me.
me, and taking nee by the hand, led me to
the sirir, where he seated me alongside of
him, saying that before submitting me to the
ordeal we should partake, together, of the
diet, which, on his clapping his hands, was
brought in upon mat by other slaves This
repast was composed of meat, dried dates,
honey, and camels milk, all contained in
wooden bowls-a repast simple in it's ele-
ments, but served up with the greatest neat
ness.
After the diet, we recited the first chapter
of the Koran, and then the ordeal commenced.
Leading me to the terraced roof of the tow.
er, they told me that if had really no mys-
tclies to conceal from them | should not hes
itate to throw myself fIom the battIements,
confident that the Prophet would not fail to
save me from harm by his miraculous inter
vention. 1t was no time to retreat for the
least show of hesitation on my part might
have been fatal. had heard at Sana, and
elsewhere, that by displaying courage and
presence of mind among these .freemasons as
they are called, one is sure to pass safely
through their ordeals, no matter how severe :
%%i.nout moments hesitation, therefore,
dashed forward to precipitate myself from
the height, but my feet were hardly off the
ground when l was seized by four vigorous
arms.
Expecting to be congratulated for my cour-
age, looked around. All were calm and
imperturable, the Nagib merely saying" You
have put bold face on this matter, certainly,
but anybody might have done the same be-
sides, we know not whether your courage
was not stimulated and your heart shaken
with fear. Let us now descend to the vaults
beneath the tower. There, in your conflict
with savage beasts, we shall see whether you
possess the courage of true man--the heart
to dare, and the hand to strike"
A shiver ran through me at this announce
ment, but looked steadily at the Nagib, and
signified my readiness to proceed. We de-
scended in silence from the terrace, and en-
tered the basement of the tower, where two
slaves attached key to my girdle, placing
in my left hand copper lamp, and in my
right scimitar.
"Go through the vaults" said the Nagib,
"until you reach the dens, which are five in
number, containing each panther The key
in your girdle is that of the middle den
Walk straight forward-the doors will open
of themselves to admit you. Watch careful
ly the light of your lamp, and turn not to
look behind you whatever happens; for the