The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-18
TORTURE IN THE EAST.
How Defaulters are Treated In Tunis-
Barbarities orthe Bey.

Theodorus of Abyssinia has besn considered
the most cruel and bloodthirsty ruler Of mod
ern times, but he has rival sovereign who
lives near the confines Of civilization, and
whose atroclous conduct should arouse the 10
dignation of humane people throughout the
world. That sovereignis the present Boy OF
Tunls, whose whole career since he became
ruler Of his country has been marked by arbi-
trary oppression and cruelties. few OF the
aged shelks OF his country, who had known his
character before he succeeded bis father-a
mild and amiable prlnce-urged his mother 10
let her younger son ascend the throne or lunis.
The heir apparent heard ofthis, and with the
help of few of his boon companions he seized
the relns of government. No sooner was be IN
power than be vented his spite upon the above
mentioned men. Not only we're nine OF his
victims bastinadoed in the most mercll1ss man-
ner, but the eyes and tongues OF them were
torn out, and they were threwn, IN this terrible
and utterly helpless condition, Ill the middle OF
July, into desert spot, whero they perlshed
miserably, prey to the pltiiess rays OF d.; .
scorching African sun, and to the equally pitt
less beaks OF the vultures and buzzards. On
the 9Th OF November last the Bey Was IN more
towering passion than ever before. He ls an
extravagant liver, and spends more money han
the taxes Of Tunis yield to him. During the
second empire be negotiated heavy loan IN
France, and some gre edy Italian bankers nave
likewise advanced him large sums at eXoTbl-
tant interest. Being afraid OF France, the Bey
OF Tunis pays his creditors IN that country
punctually, but has little respect for Italy, and
last summer several Italian men -of-war bad to
threaten his capital with bombardment before
he made arrangement for paying the interest
dine to Italian bankers. Being thus a constant
prev to financial embarrassments, he does not
like TO be swlndled by his tax collectors. Now,
on the above mentioned 9Th OF November he
received trustworthy information that three OF
them-Badu-Ben Aakim, Aldu-Ben-Fesl ana
Diakr-Bes-Logu-hadf for years committed de-
falcations upon the Bey's treasury, and ac-
counted for only two-thirds of the taxes they
had collected. The Bey sent for the falthess
collectors, and, after telling them OF their mis-
deeds, dem anded what they were going to do
about IT. The three were 30 frightened oy the
anger of his Hlghaess that they fell upon thelr
knees, and. confessing their crime, lmplored
his mercy.
The Bey, unable to control his rage, sprang
to his feet, and crying, 'You shall die, dogs"
ordered the Kadl of Tunis to APPEAR before
him and try the prisoners in accordance with
the old Mosem law. 1he Ksdi appeared,
found the prisoners guilty, and asked the Bey
what punishment should be inflicted. Inc
Kadi told him that the law was that those VINO
stole money from the exohequer OF the Callpb,
the Sultar. or one of his 7assaIs, should be i'm
paled. LET them be impaled. then" said the
Bey. Valnly did the wretohed prisoners lm-
plofe his mercy. The Bey remained inhexible,
and the cruel sentence was carried into execu-
ton on the morning OF the following day. An
escort OF fifty soldiers took the three con-
demned men to sand mound on which had
been erected the three instruments on which
they were to suffer their excruciating agony.
The doomed men looked detected, but had
reached that caImness which characterizes the
Moslem when he knows that death lsfinevita-
Bile, Those three instruments OF an agonizLng
death were strong iron spits about ten feet
high. About i've feet from the ground there
was a heavy nail through each Of the splts.
When The criminals reached the foot OF the
mound they were seized by six execuEoners.
They quickly undressed the three doomed
men. Two of them placed O high step.ladder
close to one of tn, splts-two Of them held the
ladder 90 that it did not fall-and one, fellow
ofher,ulean strength, carried Badu. Ben Haklm
up towards the poiut of q spit Raising the
unfortunate man above it, he put him upon
the spit. i he victim uttered wild scream as
the cold iron entered his flesh, and seized the
spit with his hand, but the executioner press
ed him down heavily until he reached the cross
nail. Fortunately for the sufferer, hs died
almost instantly. The same atrocious opera
tion was then performed upon Aldu- -Fssi.
He had seen the torture which his wretched
p1 edecessor had to undergo. and struggled
feebly wheu the pitiless hands of the execu-
TONER seizeu him. The victim lived two or
three minutes after he had been impaled,
ntteriug feeble moans, and presenting On ap-
pearauce than which nothing could be lmaSln-
ed moro horrible. The third culprit seemed
utterly Indifferent to his fate, and died with
the sang troid of true Moslem.