The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-14
AN EGYPTIAN COURT.
Uew Justice is Administered In the
Land of the PharROhs.
Appleton IS Journal.


The scene is q strange one. The room is
large, crowded with people. A partition,
breast high, divides it in the center In the
rear are to be seen the turbgned Turks Of
every degree, mixed among whom are people
from almost every quarter of the globe. In
front Of this space in which are
placed benches occupied by men in gowns
which are all silk, by the way--who he is
told are lawyers. Beyond this is railing,
behind which sit the clerk, the interpreter,
The huissiar (crier), and guards scat
tered about. Still beyond q raised dais of
semi circular form, upon which are placed
eight large chairs, EN- the backs of which, as
wsll as on the wall behind then, and unon
the cornices over the windows frem which
curtsins are hung, he sees carved in the
wood or painted lin Arabic characters) words
which, if be can read, inform him that "tho
empire rests or justice" Presently door,
opening from An inner room, swings upon its
hinges the hiussier cries, ale Tribunal !"
when in walk three European and two Arab
Judges, substitute procureut.S GENERAL, two
sssessors-one European, another q native
WHO Immediately take their seats, making an
imposing sight iadeed, adorned as
they ell are (sll save the assessors)
with stsmboline costs, red tarbou-
ches on their heads, broad red
ribbon extending from theirehoulders across
their breasts (such ribbon as old King Louis
Philippe was in the habit of wearing under
his brown coat whom no went for drive),
upon which is pinned plate about the size Of
an ordinary d0or-plsto, with tho seno motto
engraved upon it which be saw upon the
backs Of the chairs, etc, and which might be
translated: "For justice, inquire within"
Presently he is called. Promptly he answers,
ard he presses forward to the bar. Arrived
there, he is asked to say why iudgGent
Should not DO pronounced against him. He
admits, ways through al Interpreter, that
he owes the money which 10 demanded of
him, but Gays that his crop is short; that be
can not pay it at present. and pleads for time.
His answer is received, he il told to 90, and he
goes, stepping, however At the door on his
way out to cast q glance behind him at the
tableaux which the tribunal presents, and
which, as it is gorgeous, is beautiful 20 his
eastern eye. de hsstens back TO his farm. In
q few days he receives 3 copy Of the iudg-
Ment which, in the meantime, has been ron
dsred against him, and which is written in
two langusgea-French or Itslisu and
Arabic. He says to the huissier who hands
it to him; "Tahib" Gt is well), places the
small piece of stamped paper In his pocket,
resumes his work and gives the matter no
further thought. Some days subsequently
ho receives another piece Of stamped paper,
and from it no learns that his property is
under seizure. Hitherto he has not allowed
his lawsuit to trouble him. He know, it ia
true, that 0 judgment has been rendered
against him, but no fancied that the
world was going on just as it lad
been going on ever since he knew any
thing about it, and it never occurred to him
that he was in any real Ganser. But now
these stamped papers, coming upon him in
such quick succession, have alarmed him.
He makes inquiries about them, and DO learns
that his property ia to be ID. Still he is not
convinced of tho fact until he receives yet
another notice TO the effect that the sale is to
take place "in the Sale des Applications
du Tribunal on certain day, ST which sale
he is requested to be present. On the day ap-
pointed he repairs to the place designated.
Arrived there, he sees another crowd. On
the bench judge, probably one of the same
before whom he appeared when his case WAS
called, dressed in tho same uniform that he
wore on that occasion. By the side of the
Judge sits tho clerk, snd beyond the clerk the
huissier. The Judge calls his Gaze. The
plaintiff counsel rises and says that his eli
ent will become the adjudicatee Of the prop
erly, which is to be sold at The estimate which
has been placed upon it probably G10 per
acre., The huissier describes the property
and the quantity Of land which is to be sold
The clerk lights a small wax taper The
huissier cries in French, italian and Arabic
Languages alternately: First candle! Ferty
acres Of land situate in tho province Of Gar
bich; assessed value, Gl0 per acre !" When
tho first taper is consumed another is lighted,
and the same cry is made. When the second
is consumed then third, with the same for
msliiies in each; and when the third one has
gone to ashes tho plGintih' is adiudged TO DO
the purchaser (for seldom is there moro than
one bidder, the plainIif), and the defendant
leaves the courtroom houssless, homeless,
md Ia