Moreover, he begs to inform me that he has sent for our lost camels to
the districts where they are supposed to be detained, with a peremptory
order, that if they are not immediately given up they are to be seized
by force, and if not found, other camels are to be confiscated instead
of them. This may be the first effect of the slaughter of the Tibboos.
It is quite clear, however, that En-Noor is bound in honour to recover
for us our lost beasts of burden; their detention must otherwise
disgrace his authority.
As soon as a Moor or an Arab gains a little money, he begins in the
first place to buy a new wife. The merchants, especially those who
traverse the Sahara, have a wife and an establishment at all the
principal cities. When they have half-a-dozen of these establishments
they are then great men. Es-Sfaxee has gained a little money by our
misfortunes, and he now begins to talk of buying a young slave for a
wife, and what not, to attend him on the road. But no sailor, who sails
the waters of the world through and through, and has a lass at every
port, manages matters so well as the travelling Moorish merchant. This
Moor has his comfortable home in every large city of the interior of
Africa, and no one inquires whether he exceeds the number fixed by the
law of the Prophet or not. Indeed, no one knows how many wives he has,
or where they are.
Ferajee, of the escort, had a particular salutation, by which he used
always to address me.
Pages:
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341