Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-16

| without delay some before him and set
forth his complaint, which the Nagib
disposed of on the spot by decision
always dictated by good sense and
equity After the customary compli-
mcnts. the Nagib has n chibououe
brought, lighted it himself and pre-
scented IT to me. Curious to have a
glance at tho judicial proceedings ~
the country I placed myself as COM
fortably as 7 could so as not to have
my attention disturbed, and the aud
icncc began.
There were women who complained
of being i'll treated by their husbands.
mon who complained of their wives
for light conduct or barrcnncss. inher-
itanccs to divide. thofts and cheats 70
punish. Among them all. two cases as
tonishod me greatly. Tho first was a
contest between n scribe and n peas.
ant, in reference to the wife of tho
scribe whom the peasant had carried
away. When the scribe claimed her
the peasant maintained that she was
his. The woman did not recognize
either of them, or rather she recognize
ed them both. which made the affair
as embarrassing a. possible. Seid Abd'ol
reflected n moment Then ne said
Leave the woman with me and come
back I'm half an hour" The scribe and
the peasant each made a salutation
ana retired.
The second affair took place ho.
tween a fruit seller and a butter NOR
chant. The latter was covered with
butter, the former was neat and clean.
t1c said Il went TO buy butter Of this
man To pay for the butter with which
he had filled my Iii sh, I pulled n hand
full Of money ont Of my purse. The
money tempted him and he caught mo
by tho wrist. cried Thief but 10
would not let go and we have cono
togo thor before You. ! holding my
money in my hand and he holding nv
wrist with his hand Now. I swear by
Mohammcd. our great prophet. that
this man lies. when he says that
stole his money from him, for tho
money is mine"
The butter merchant said this man
came to buy butter Of mo when his
, dish vas filed he said. Have Won
change for an abu-mathfa "a Spanish
piastro) folt in my pocket and drew
out n handful Of money which I lail
on the counter Of my shop. He caught
it up and was going to 60 away with
my butter and my money. when
. seized his wrist, crying Thief n
spite of my cries, he refused to zive
back what he had taken and I brought
him here that you might decide he-
, tween us. Now. swear by Mohammed
out great prophet, that this man lies
when he says that I have tried to steal
his money. for that money is mine"
Seid Ahd'cl Rahman made each Of
the parties repeat his story. Neither
} II them made any change in it. He
= again reflected and thon said "Leavs
2 the money with me and come back in
, half an hour"
The fruit seller deposited in dish.
held out to him lr ono Of tho guards,
: the money Of which he had not let
{ go. after which tho two contestants
i gave a salutation and each went his
e way. when they had departed. Seid
i Abdel Rahman left the entrance ~
v tho vcstibulc and went M to his rooms
a in the fourth story with tho woman
!. taking with him the money over which
:. tho mon had contended. AT the an
pointed time he came down again anil
TRANQUILITY took his place as before.
The interested parties were present
@ The NaEb followed tho same order
n as before and they called the Scribe
q ana the peasant. Then Seid Add el
-, pab,,,r sat1 % .bo .ox;,,o ..--t,. .
u ,.our wife TAXI bo- o,.o,. cho -.
l. n YOU" rho, ,,,r,i,, -, 1t. 80,
bo said nointine, m tho ,,aaso,. "C,,..,
!. that wan 0ftv hove 90 ,o,,r,,.,, D.,
s boav,. u.bin, or tho yolcs -. 81. co,. d..
= Tho scriho took bis rrifo AVA. o,,
y the Guards eovo tho roosa,t Two es,
:, Ihlo,r. az th, courb,sr ~, +ba soi,e "a
his foot Then car,o tba turr ~ ,bo
fruit seller and tho buttor merchant
Il There" said the Nasih 10 thn fr,i.
II sollcr "thero &c vour ,,,ono,. yor too,.
d If out Of your purse and II never ba-
Q 'ongod n your accusnr"
II Then. turning to his guards and
pointing Mt the butter seller. he said:
- GIVE that man nity strokes If a cour-
, bash on the soles of his feet" Tn,
- fruit seller carried off his money and
T., the guards gave to the butter SELLER
u the fifty blows on the soles of his
II feet
l. After tho audience asked Seid
s Abd'el Rahman how he had satisfied
Il himself that the woman was really the
n wife Of the srrihe and that the money
a really belonged TO the fruit seller.
1T Is very simple" answered he
o You saw. did you not that went IN
Z to my apartment with the woman and
g the money?