Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-08-28
The Algerian Game ladace." "

The game Is of the utmost simplicity,
and consists solely in abstaining from re-
ceiving anything whatsoever from the per-
son with whom you play. In order to
ratify the convention which Is established
between the players at the commencement
of the game, each player takes by the end
piece of straw, slip of paper, or even,
it may be, a blade of grass, which is bro
ken or torn IN two pieces between them,
the sacramental formula = adace" being
pronounced at the same time After this,
the law of the game is in full torce-that
is to say, the opposing parties are at full
liberty to cheat, swindle, deceive, and take
advantage of each other, at the earliest
opportunity. II European takes part in
the game, he is sure to be quickly beaten
but with two Moors, or Jews, or Moorish
ladies, struggle of mutual astuteness,
caution and circumspection begins, which
is prolonged for days, weeks, months, and
in many cases years.
The following story will suffice to initiate
any one into the mysteries and peculiarities
of the game; and also show the danger to
Moor of playing at Yadace with his
icite
Hassan-cl-Djcninah was vizier and chief
favorite to the Pasha or the Oudlah of
Constantine He was the fattest man in
the Pashalic; and, more than that, was
rcckoned the most Jealous husband IN all
Barbary. And it is something to be con-
sidcred Jealous in land where all husbands
are notoriously so.
GAY Young Mussulmans trembled when
they saw Hassan-el-Dj Djeninah waddle across
the great square of Constantine, or issue
from the BARRIERS shop. He walked slow
ly, for his breath was short !; but his yatag-
han was long and he could use it.
Hassan had four wives very moder-
ate and respectable number for a Moor.
The name of the youngest was Leila Khan
oum Now, if ACKNOWLEDGMENT was
Jealous of his wives, they, you may be sure,
were jealous of each other; save poor little
Leila, who was only sixteen, and not at all
of a jealous disposition but between the
envy of her sister-wlves, who hated her,
and the unceasing watchfulness of her hus-
band, who loved her with most inconveni-
ent fondness, she led terrible life of it.
Leila Khanoum was Hassans favorite wife
He would suffer her, but no one else, to
fill his pipe, to adjust the jewelled mouth
piece to his lips, and tickle the soles of his
august feet when he wished to be lulled to
sleep. He would loll for hours on the
cushions of his divan, listening while she
sang monotonous ove-songs-rocking her.
self to and fro the while, and accompany.
ing herself upon guitar, in the manner Of
Moorish ladies. He gave her rich suits OF
brocade and cloth of gold; he gave her a
white donkey from Spain to ride on; he
gave her Jewels, scented tobacco to smoke
henna for her eyelids and inger-nails; III
short, he paid her every little delicate at
tention that he could think of; and finally
he condescended to play with her for q
princely stake-nothing less than the re
pudiation of the three other wives, and the
settlement of all his treasures upon her
at Yadace.
At the same time, as l said before, b,
was terribly jealous of her, watched hel
day and night. He kept spies about her
bribed her attendants, came home at day
break after night of watching, silent anc
unobserved. He studied the language O
flowers, which in the East is rather mor'
nervous and forcible than with us; finally
he took lodging on the opposite side o
the street, that he might sit and watcl