The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-11-16
THE OASIS OF sIWAH.
Translated from the German Of Bernhard
Eulenstein.

hul6uSt6lus
ORANGE LAKE, Fla, Nov. ID, 1894.
To the Editor of the Banner.
The much dreaded desert robber
Ali Suleiman, was become old. For
a generation he had been the terror Of
all caravans, as it was his constant
practice to visit even the slightest re-
sistance with death. Many troops
had been sent out against him, high
and tempting were the rewards Offer
ed for his head; all were in vain. He
was not to be overpowered. Resist
ance was of no avail against him.
But Ali Suleiman was now old. His
courage and enterprising spirit began
to fail him. He yearned for rest.
But at the same time he was not will
ing to give up his profitable business,
and for many years his thoughts were
secretly turned to the one subject
how he could carry on his robberies in
future with less hardships and with
outrisk? His wish was to invent a
plan by which he could secure for
himself an income that would render
work unnecessary. His crafty intel
leet at last hit on satisfactory scheme
which he determined to put into ex-
ecution at once. He sent two messen-
gers to Morocco, bearing particularly
polite message to the Sultan. In it he
assured the Sultan of his devoted at,
tachment and begged that he would
receive the following camels with
their rich and heavy loads as tokens
of his submission. In return he
prayed that the Sultan would be so
gracious as to forgive him all his
crimes and that he mi hit be permit
ted to atone for them in other ways.
He offered in future to protect the
! caravans himself from the perils of
the desert, but in order that the work
of expiation might be rendered an
easy one, he begged that the Sultan
would of his great goodness make him
a present of some favorably situated
oasis so that he could always hold his
troops and camels in readiness at the
right place. The oasis of Siwah APP
peared to him particularly favora-
Bile one for the purpose. The Sultan
of Morocco was highly delighted at
the submission of so dangerous a
knight Of the desert, more especially
as the worth of the offered goods was
far above that Of the land Of Siwah.
The messengers were therefore sent
back speedily with letter from the
Sultan himself signifying his gracious
acceptance, and what was of more
importance for the old pirate, most
comprehensive deed of gift was en-
closed, confirming the entire expanse
of the oasis, Siwah, as absolute prop
erty to Ali Suleiman and his heirs for
ever. Siwah is situated in the middle
of the desert, four days journey from
every other oasis. It contains in all
about 500 acres, has two never falling
springs, luxurious heritage and fur
nishes refreshing shade. All caravans
are compelled to stop there and fill
their jars with water. Now as soon as
the old robber took possession of the
oasis he caused walls to be built around
it, and fortified these further with
palisades. The doors were shut fast
and a strong guard was placed around
them.
Deeply thankful to have at last at
tanned the thirst quenching springs OF
Siwah, and in good hopes of a
strengthening rest, the next caravan
hove in sight. Great was the aston
ishment then to find the oasis fortified
and closed. All prayers. all entreties
that the doors might be opened were
in vain. Ali Suleiman produced and
displayed to them the Sultan's deed
of gift, and declared with decision
that the oasis was his private property
and that he not only could, but would
do with 1t just whatever might hap
pen to please him. At present his
purpose was to preserve the water and
pasturage for himself and his cattle.
For the rest he offered the caravan
safe and sufficient escort to the next
oasis. The merchants were well
aware this was nothing but pure
mockery, for long before they could
arrive at the next oasis both they and
their camels would perish. In order
to soften the robbers heart they Of
fered him first one, then two and at
last three camel's loads of their goods.
Ali Suleiman remained memorable.
It was not until they offered him a