The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-02-16

ToiKltTl1uain m tn THE E1sT.-,fheo TT eodorus, Of
iAbyssinis, has been considered the most
Grnel and blood-thirsty ruler Of modern
tiAAas, but he hes a rivef sovereign who
Htes near the confines Of civilizesion,
afouse the indignation of humane peo-
pls throughout the world. That So
yereign is the present ,Bey of Tunis,
whose whole career, since he became
ruler OF his country, has been marked by
arbitrary oppression and crnelties. A
few OF the aged sheiks of his country,
who had known his character before lie
succeeded his father-a mild aud amiable
prinoe-urged his mother to let her
younger son ascend the throne of Tunis.
The heir apparent heard OF this, and
with the help of few Of his boon COM
panions, he seized the rens Of govern
ment. No sooner was he in power than
he vented his spite upon the above-men-
toned men. Not only were nine of his
victims bastinadoed in the most meroi-
less manner; but the eyes and tongues OF
them were torn out, and they were
thrown, in this terrible and utterly help
less condition, in the middle of July,
into desert spot, where they persisted
miserably, prey to the pitiless rays Of
ecorching African snn, and to the
equally pitiless beaks of vultures and
buzzards.
On the 9Th of November last, the Bey
was IN more towering passion than
ever before. He is an extrnvagant liver,
and spends moro money than the taxes
OF Tunls yield to him. During the se-
cond empire, he negotiated heavy loan
IN France, and some greedy Italian
bankers have likewise advanced him
large sums at exorbitant interest. Boing
afraid of France, the Bey of Tunis puys
his creditors in that country punctnally,
but has little respect for Italy; and last
summer, several Italian mcl,-of-wnr had
to threaten bis capital with bombarl-
ment. before he made arrangements for
paying the interest due to Italian bank
ers. Belng thus constant prey to
nnaiclal embarrassments, he does not
like to be swind!ed By his tux collectors.
Now, on the ahove-m entioned 9TH of
November, he received Trustworthy in
formation that three of them-Badu-
Ben-Hakim, Aldu. Ben FEST sud Diakr
Bes-Logu-had for years committed
defalcatione upon the Bey's treasury,
and accounted for only two-thirds of the
taxes they had collected. The Bey sent
for the faithless collectors, and, after
telling them Of their mied eeds, demand
ed what they were going to do about it..
The three were 30 frightened by the
anger OF his Highness. that they fell
upon their knees, and, confessing their
crime. implored his mercy.
The Bey, unable to con troll his rage,
sprang to his feet, and crying, "You
shall die, dogsi' ordered the Kadi OF
Tunis to appear before him and try the
prisoners III accordance with the old
Moslem law. The kedi appeared, found
the prisoners guilty, and asked tile Bey
what punishment should be inflicted.
The hadi told him that the law was that
those who stole money from the exche-
quer OF tho Culiph, the Sultan, or one
OF his vassals, should be impaled. "Let
them be impaled, then" said the Bey
Falnly did the wretched prisoners i'm
piore his mercy. The Bey remained in
flexible, and the cruel sentence was car.
ried into execution on the morning OF
the following day. An escort of fifty
soldiers took the three condemned men
to sand mound on which had been
erected tho three instruments ou which
they were to suffer their excrucjatiug
agony. The doomed men looked de-,
Jected, but had reached that calmness
which characterizos tho Mosem when he
knows that death is inevitable. Those
three instruments Of an Acquiring death
were strong iron spits, about ten feet
high. About five feet from the ground,
there was heavy Eail through each OF
the spits.
When the criminals rencbcd the foot
OF the mound they were seized by six
executioners. They quickly undresse,.
the three doomed mon. Two of then,
placed high step ladder close to one OF
the spiis-two Of them held the ladder
so that it did not full-aud one, a fellow
OF hercuiean strength, carried Badn-
Ben -Hakini up towards the point of IL
spit. Raisiug Gthe unfortunate man
above it. he put him upon the spit. The
victim uttered wild scream as the cold
iron entered lis flesh, md seized the
spit with his hand, but the executioncrs
pressed him down heavily until he
reached the cross nails Fortunately for
the sufferer, he died almost instantly.
The same atrocious operation was per
formed upon Aldu.Ben FEST He had
seen tho torture which his wretched pre-
decessor had to undergo. and struggled
feebly when the pitiess hands OF the
executioners seized him. The victim
lived two or three minutes after he had
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