New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08

cerian pirates, Salec royers, aud Barbay c0r'aiiS
generally very real and perpetual scourge upon
the seas They not suppressed }or several equally
bad reasons In the first place the Powers were not
unwilling their neichbors suffer In the second
place all Of, them wished to husband their resources
that they might be able to do the more injury TO one
another. add that in the eighteenth century sympathy
and sensibilty were both in the hrva condition.
Neither governments nor individuals thought much
about the Sufcrings OF the poor people who wero
thrown into the worst form Of slavery by the MoorS
and. though much oral show OF pity was manifested
few practical steps taken for The rescue OF the
victims. and for the suppression of the high
handed outgagcs practised habually by weak Power
upon the subjects Of the strongest The several
states Of Europe indeed, treated the Moors with
consideration well calculated to confirm and establish
the belief that their negotlaors feared them; view
which necessarily commended itself to fanatical
Mahomctans, who regarded all Christians as inhdel
dogs, destined to the fires Of Gehcnna, and deserving
only the contempt Of the followers OF the Prophet
50 the Barbary cOrsairs continued to prey upon the
floating commerce of the world and the world either
paid Regular blackmal for exemption 6tfully ran
somed the captives Of whom large percentage sank
under the cructes of their aslmasters while small
proportion secured measure OF relief and freedom by
abjuring Christianity and turning Mosem.
This class OF rcnegade naturally embraced the least
orthodox Christians such sailors adventures, men
Of loose life and all upon whom the yoke OF religion
sat lightly. Their apostacy did not a rule procure
them the confidence Of their Moorish masters and this
for obvious reasons but many renegades tai
fellows Of their hands, and ready for any daredcvry
they wer frequently appointed soldiers, even military
commanders. or captains Of corsar ships. They Jared
better han the stanch Christians, however for they
being Mussulmans. longer put to ha!d labor
As 10 the Christians. they employed much after
the manner Of the Children OF Israel I'm Egypt They
were made to build and If they not required 10
used in the preparation of the concrete blocks with
which the Moors constructed their cdhccs. Working
all day under blazing sun, often not allowed 10
stal ghten their aching backs for few moments, AZ
night they consigned To underground pits, and
fed so scantly that soul and body were scarce kept
together. Nor this all. The masters. chiefs and
I'm particular the Emperor Of Morocco. fond 0!
showing their power and gratifying their bigoty BY
abusing, torturing and sometimes killing. the pris
one Emperor. because the capives at work on
a certain fortress did not keep perfect time when
manipulating the concrete. ordered the superintendent
10 have them thrown from he walls Gripping or killing
many Of them. other tyrants would think nothing Of
knocking prisoners tho head running them
through with spears. and there no escape nor re
dress. The Moorish cmpcrors held the lives Of their
subjects 30 cheapy That they could MT be eN
pccted show more cOn,.. -t.on lot inhdcls and
there to take ID" iit 81 the oppressed.
some free European merchant, resided the coast
they made profit ont Of the ransoning Of captivcs
acting ncrotiaorS II than suspected that
they were anything but soictous for the suppression
Of piracy and slavery.
The volume which Dr.. Robert Brown has edited SO
well relates the adventures OF Cornish lad. who.
making his first voyage with uncle. in his eleventh
year. taken by a Sace rover and passed three
and twenty years IN captivity among the MO)rr
Thomas Fellows story IS one Of many which pub
h,hcd during the eighteenth century. When a captive
escaped from the Moors he usually rccountcd his al
ventures with the object Of making ltllc money ~
most capiives were sclfaring men, at ali events
ilterate. their narratives had to be edited. and the
ed commonly Grub street hacks. who not only
spoiled the yarn by turning IL into stiff and pedantic
gulgc but who. 10 pad the book scruplcd not 10 pill
fer whole chapters from eXant works Of travel 50 THAI
d,crcdit thrown upon many such stories. Dr.
Brown has however. carefully over THIS book ana
is satisfied Of It's ecnuncness for which. indeed, there
Is sufficient external and Independent evidence. Thomas
Peow has not altogether escaped the baeful influence
Of Grub street, which has stiGcned and artihclaIzed
many passages In his story but the latter contains
abundant demonstration Of its intrinsic truth. and the
authors statements can be confirmed In several IN
stances PcOw did not undergo the suierings com
monty experienced by European prisoners In Barbary
His youth probably pleaded for him. and his youth may
also excuse the apostacy By which, after few months
of endurance he obtained a certain amount Of favor
In the eyes Of his captors.
lie himself declares that he underwent daily torture
for two months before he yielded. II may be 50, but
boy Of eleven could hardly be expected to court mar
tyrtom in such way, and II the child had sub
mtcd verbal pressure alone he would not have been
bIamcworthy I'm the circumstances. lie was, upon
adopting the faith Of IsaIn taken into the EmpcrJrs
service and his first employment was the delicate Office
Of doorieeper In the harem. His orders were strict
and here he won reward aud promotion occasion
by seadfasty refusing admittance to the Emperor him
self that poentae having approached the door after
canonical hours. He went far a. to fire
through the door at the importunatc visitor fegnng
not to recognize him. and he expected dccapston at
least OH the morrow. But the ruler had notions Of
equity and realizing that the boy had done his duty
faithfully presented him with tine horse and ac-
couremcnts and praised hs conduct Pellow troubles
came chiefly from the Empcror's fayorite wife, who
WAS coquettish and adventurous and between the grim
exactng and the willy slippery mistress, the boy
felt his head uncomorsby loose upon his Immature
shoulders and finally asked the Emperor 10 give him
other and less hazardous employment. The hvorltc
indor-d his petition and 1t was granted. lie was
transferred to the Emperor's body guard and having
served there some umc MS master thouSW III 10 pro
vide him with wife.
The description of the Emperors methods in marry
ing his soldiers is Interesting. A one lime he
couped Of these troops with many grs NJ one
f.u swoop, merely indicating with nod or gesture |
winch man should take which woman. and dl,paichng
tbs whole busn - IN an hour A. PellOw was sorc- |
thing Of a favoritc, his marriage made the oc
ca.on of a Jest. At first Il number Of Jet black |
women were brought ont. and he told to choose |
one of them. Throwing himself AT the Empcror's |
feet he begged hat he might have wife Of his
color The Emperor laughed. the black girl, were |
removed and group Of mulattoes took their place.
Again the intended bridegroom protested, and then a
single figure closely yelled. appeared Peow was |
told 10 take her hand lie did 50. and finding il |
black appealed to his master. who laughed
and told him TO LIT her veil. He did 80. aud dis |
covered that she viii c; her hands and hav |
ing been stained to carry the joke. lie seem. |
o have been happy In his welded life though when
his wife and little daughter both died suddenly some
wears later must he said that the bereaved husband
and father took his double loss with her startling
coolncss and philosophy. lie next prof. Otcd to
cnpnlncy over q body OF 900 men. and thencefOr h |