Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-19


the inscriptions at the gate, the "Kor-
arr on the scalfs hung out at the
bazaars and on the satchels hawked in
the streets. And on the other side
shameless lying, cheating, usury, buy
ing and selling of justice, cruelty ,and
inhumanity raw sores on the backs OF
the asses, blood in the streets, blood,
blood, blood everywhere, and secret
corruption indescribable.
Nevertheless I concluded that my
nervous malady must have given me
the dark glasses through which every
thing looked so foul, and l resolved in
the interests of health to push on to-
wards Fee as soon as letters arrived
from home assuring me that all were
well and happy there.
But no letters came, and at the ar
rival of every fresh mail from Cadiz
and from Gibraltar, my Impotence in
creased. At length I decided to wait
no longer, and leaving instructions
that my letters should be sent on after
me to the capital, called on the Eng
lish consul for such official documents
as were needful for my journey.
When these had been procured from
the Kasbah, and l was equipped for
travel, the consul inquired of me how
I liked the Moors and their country.
I described my conflicting impressions,
and he said both were right in their
several ways.
"The religion of the Moor" said he,
sis genuine of its kind, though it does
not put an end to the vilest govern
ment on earth, and the most loathsome
immoralities ever practiced by man.
Islam is sacred thing to him. He is
proud Of it, jealous of it, and prepared
unbeliever is fear that the Nazarene or
the Jew is eager to show his faith
some dishonor. And that" added the
Consul, reminds me to offer you one
word of warning: avoid the very shad
ow of offense to the religion of these
people; do not pry into their beliefs;
do not take note of their ordinances;
pass their mosques and saints houses
with downcast eyes. if need be; in
word, let Islam alone"
I thanked him for his counsel, and.
remembering the American, l inquired
what the penalty would be if foreign
subject offended the religion of this
people. The Consul lifted his eyebrows
and shoulders together. with an e,o-
quence of reply that required no words.
But might not a stranger" / asked,
"do 80 unwittingly?"
Truly" he answered, "and so much
the worse for his ignorance"
is British life, then" l said, "at the
mercy of the first ruffian with a dag
ger? Is there no power in solemn
treaties?"
what are treaties" he said, against
fanaticism? Give the one wide berth
and you'll have small need for the
other"
After that he told me something of
certain claims just settled for long i'm
prisonment inflicted by the Moorish
authorities on men trading under the
protection of the British flag. 1t was
an abject story of barbarous cruelty,
broken health, shattered lives, and
wrecked homes, atoned for after weary
procrastination, in the manner of all
Oriental courts, by sorry money pay
ment. The moral of all was conveyed
by the Consul in the one word with
which he parted with at his gate: IRE
spect the fanaticsm of these fanatics"
he said, "as you would value your lib
erty or your life, and keep out Of
Moorish prison-remember that, re-
member that!"
did remember it. Every day Of my
travels I remembered it. l remember
eu IL at TIE UlOSt awful Ulo1utul VI lily
life. If I had not remembered it then
should be lying here now with that
with that-behind me, All wait, wait,
Little did l expect when 1 left the
Consul to light so soon upon terrible
illustration of his words. With my
guide and interpreter, Moorish SOL
der lent to me by the authorities in re-
turn for two pisetas Zone shilling and
nine-pence) day, l stro.led into the
greater Sok-the market place outside
the walls. 1t was Friday, the holy day
of the Moslems. somewhere between
one and two o'clock in the afternoon,
when the body of the Moors. having
newly returned from their one-hour OBJ
servances in the mosques. had resumed,
according to their wont, their usual oc-
equations. The day was fine and warm.
bright sun was shieing, and the Sex
at the time when we entered it was
various and animated scene.
Dense crowds OF hooded figures. clad
chiefly in white soiled or dirty white
men In jellabs. women enshrouded in