Evening star., 1922-07-02
Translated From the French
BY WILLIAM l.. MCPHERSON.

Translated From the French
BY WILLIAM L. MCPHERSON.
TT WAS in Tunis, in the Maltese
quarter. near the sea gate A
family from Malta. like SO many
others. lived there in a dingy
lodging, amid poverty, dirt and
sauawlings Through the door, al
ways open on the narrow, crowded
street, one could see the comings and
goings of the peddlers Of fruits and
vegetables, the stalls in which so
many things are cooked in oil, the
gayly painted Arab carriages. the
tumble of Mussulmans in soft-colored
sandouralis and Of the Maltese resi-
dents, men with fur caps on at 80
degrees in the shade and women
dressed in heavy black. as foul and
unsightly as beggars.
Smells likewise penetrated into the
house, the pungent odors Of Italian
cooking, Arab musk and whiffs OF
flowers. The indigo sky, a soft ser
pent blue. followed above the roofs
the course of the straight. narrow
street.
When they didn't quabble or fight
the members Of the family-father.
mother and six children-engaged in
those confusing calculations which
are the rage in that part Of the world.
MO people could be more supersti-
~ tious or fanatical than the Mall
tese-even the Sicilians. In the pro-
cessions in which they take out the
statue of the virgin one sees them
running to throw on the platform on
which the madonna is carried all that
they have at home in the way OF val
uables, and especially of jewelry-the
mothers little gold chain the father 8
watch, and SO forth. But when the
procession is over each one takes
back his property. for it was ques-
ton Of loans, not Of gifts.
AS to the calculations in question:
One of the children falls down while
playing. At once the whole family eX-
claims. mo. 34." The mother raises
her arms to heaven. All voices cry:
NO. a." For each event and each ges-
ture represents a number which all
the world knows by heart. At the
end Of the day they add the figures,
and then by a series of difficult opera
tions, combining the days total with
the totals Of preceding days. they
obtain a number which forecasts the
winning number OF one knows not
what lottery, always running In this
quarter of Tunis.
This form of collective neurasthenia
ia met with everywhere in the colony.
1t explains how there can happen an
adventure, like the one. absolutely
authentic, Of which the above men
toned family was the victim.
One morning they saw entering
through the open door, murmine cere-
monies salutations. a Maugrabin-
that is to say, an Arab from Morocco
wearing a white robe under black
cloak with cowl, with features
straight and strongly marked, eyes
close together and a look which held
and dominated you.
Morocco is pre-eminently q land of
sorcerv: The Maltese know this. as
everybodys else does. So the MauGra-
bins appearance impressed the fam
,ly even to the point Of silencing the
daily disputation.
"close the door, the sorcerer or
dered.
The father ran and closed It.
THE children must go outside"
When only the father and mother
were left he said:
4 +
ssT CAME to hunt you up because
l my art has revealed to me that
there is a treasure concealed in your
house. I had the revelation last night
and 1 hurried here to tell you. For
Allah sends me to the poor to lift
the burdens from their shoulders. This
treasure is hidden under your bed,
and am going to show 1t to you. II
such 10 your wish"
With hands clasped. the miserable
couple listened.