The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-27


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I ,,,,,.ao d, order thatthe ship might gradually
| MAKE wav toward the land, and at the expira-
/ ton Of five days vast extent 81 sea lay be-
' Toward val the morning Of the sixth day land
/ waa visible, and we thanked Allah and his
/ prophet fOr this joyful sight. That day and
i the ensuing night we scudded along the coast,
| and on the seventh morning we observed q
| town at short distance. With much diff
1 fienItv we cleared the anchor, and came TO-
Under the land; and having launched o little
hnat that was ON the deck, we jumped into Ii
and rowed toward the beach.
After pulling for hall an hour we entered o
learned at the city gates chat we had reached
an Indian town only few days, journey from
the place Of my original destination. We
went into caravanGeri to repOse ourselves
after our perilous, voyage. and there ! IN,
experienced man, at the same time limiting to
my host that should prefer person who
had some knowledge Of magio. He conducted
me to mean-looking house IN retired
street, and, knocking at the door, told me to
ask for Muley.
/ On my entrance was received by little
Old man, with gray beard and long nose,
who inquired my business l said that
sought the sage Mnley, and he replied that he
was the man. then described the circum-
stances that induced me to apply to him, and
asked His advice concerning the disposal OF
| the dead men, and what course must pursue
| to clear the vessel Oh them. He told me that
| the ships crew were probably suffering under
the effect Of enchantment fer some crime COM
mitted on the seas, but he thought the spell
might be broken II the corpses were brought
IN dry land which could not be effected with
out removing the planks to which they adj
hered. He added that, In conformity with the
laws Of God and man, the vessel belonged to
sea, without living soul on board; however,
Ii was best to keep the matter a profound se-
cret at present, and In consideration OF suit
able recompepee, he and his slaves would help
me to get rid OF the dead bodies. agreed to
everything, and we departed for she SPELL
bound ship, accompanied by five slaves, fur
nighed with saws and axes.
On our road the necromancer, Muley, high
ly commended the happy thought that had
prompted me to fasten to the sails the name
OF the Prophet, the only means, he said.
which could have saved us. We reached the
ship betlmes, and Immediately set TO work.
AT the close OF an hour four of the dead men
were slowed In the canoe, and some slaves
were ordered to convey them ashore and bury
them; but upon their returning they told us
that the cOrpses saved them the trouble OF
interment, having crumbled into dust direct
ly they touched the earth. We continued to
remove the crew. and toward evening the
only corpse that remained on deck was that
OF the commander nailed to the mast Vainly
did we endeavOr to extract the nail no hui
man strength could have drawn it hairs
breadth, and q superstitions dread prevented
know what to do. for II would have been idle
to think OF cutting down the mast and carry
1t away. At last Muley relieved US from this
dilemma. He sent slave on shore with q
bucket, which he directed him to fill with
sand When the messenger came back with
II the magician. pronounced some mysterious
words and sprinkled the earth over the head
OF the dead man. The latter instantly opened
his eyes, sighed deeply, and blood issued
from the wound In his forehead. We then
mar fell back into the arms of slave.
"Who brought me hither?" inquired the
captain, suddenly rallying. Muley pointed
to me. and approached the sufferer.
thank thee, stranger he said, thou hast
fifty years my soul has been condemned to
reanimate my body each night. and to roam
with its mortal companion about the llmitless
expanBe OF the ocean, but now that my head
In I peace v with my iathers ne entreated him him
to relate by what means 50 horrible destiny
had fallen upon him, and Muley, having d.
rected some strong waters to be poured down
his throat, he was able to comply with our
wishes.
Fifty years ago he commenced, II was q
man OF rank and influence, dwelling In
Algiers, when love OF gain prompted me to
turn pirate. and to fit out vessel. had
cOnHnuou ILLS desperate profession ZOE sOme
time, when, at Zante. | shipped dervise
who begged 2 free passage My crew and
myself, far from respecting the piety OF the
good man. sneered at his devotion, and In
hts religious zeal he reproached me for the
night after had been drinking deeply with
my pilot. Infiamed with wine, and lncensed
beyond all bounds that a dervise should
have presumed to rebuke me, rushed upon
him and buried my dagger In the body Of
hnlx Tn a nyfatri rrr hot
voked malediction both upon me and my
crew, and told me we should neither live nor
die in peace, until our heads had touched land.
He then gave up the ghost, and we flung his
prophecy, which, however, commenced its
accomplishment on that very night. Some
OF my men mutinied and conflict onsued,
in which both parties fought with equal fury.
My suppol tiers were overcome, and I was
nailed to the mast; bnt the vessel was soon
converted into q vast tomb as the rebels died
OF their wounds. My eyes closed, my breath
ceased, and the shadow Of death fell over me
alas! 1t was only trance that enchanted my
senses. The next night, at the return OF the
the sea, l, as well as all my ompanions, re-
sumed our mortal existence, but were always
incapable of either saying or doing any thing
other than we had said OF done on the night
OF the murder. Thus have we drifted about
the ocean for fifty years without being able to
live or die, for we could not reach the Shore
Often frantic with despair we found hope
still In the storm and tempest, which In It's
rage might dash us on some rocky shore, and
permit us to touch the earth and find repose
for our troubled souls. Nothing succeeded
with us; but now. at last, am about to lay
down forever the burden of this worlds life. |
Once again, thanks to thee my unknown
benefactor; if thou seekest treasures, take
my vessel and its rich cargo as testimony
of my gratitude"
The captain here lowered his head and ex-
pired without struggle. Like his crew, he
crumbled into dust, which we gathered into
an urn, that it might receive the rites OF Sc
pulture We then sent for mechanics from
the city, who put the vessel into sailing con-
dition. After having made profitable barter
Of the stores that we're on board l engaged a
crew of sailors, and, having literally reward
ed Muley for his services, Ibrahim and en-
barked for our native land. took circuit
GUS route, touching at various islands and
countries, where we disposed Of our cargo.
a& ,6ar% lyis a.