As The
Multitude Firmly Believed Him To Be Quite Dead, This Apparent
Resuscitation Astonished The People Beyond Measure; And From This
Circumstance Supplies Of Every Kind Of Provision Were Poured In On Me,
From All Quarters.
Soon after the above scene, a young woman presented herself, afflicted
with a violent tooth-ache.
The doctor, after his usual deliberation,
resolved to extract the dolent tooth; and taking a string from his
box, he fastened it round the tooth, and by a sudden jerk (which, from
its force, I expected would have brought away jaw and all), he drew it
out. The poor girl bore the operation with exemplary patience and
fortitude; and having satisfied the sapient doctor, she retired.
Whilst I was thus occupied in observing the wonderful proceedings of
this singular practitioner, an uproar in another part of the fair
attracted my notice. Curiosity prompted me to inquire into its cause,
and I found it was occasioned by a wild mountaineer, who had been
detected in the act of stealing a Moorish garment. He was seized, and
taken before the Cadi, who ordered him the bastinado immediately;
which was inflicted with such severity, that I could not forbear
interceding for the fellow. The Cadi kindly remitted part of the
punishment, and the culprit was set at liberty.
Finding nothing else likely to compensate my longer stay, I summoned
my suite, and proceeded on my journey, reflecting on the mutability of
all earthly prosperity, which was so strongly exemplified in the
history of the Moorish nation. The scene I had just left, argued such
a small remove from absolute barbarism, that, more than once, I could
not avoid exclaiming: "Are these the descendants of those people, who,
for so many centuries, gave laws to the greater part of Spain, and
subjected whole provinces to their dominion? But those times are
past, and, 'like the baseless fabric of a vision,' left 'not a wreck
behind'."
After a journey of six days (which might have been performed in three,
but for the delays I have spoken of), we arrived here. His Excellency
the Governor, and his suite, came out to meet me. He embraced me very
cordially, and conducted me to the castle, where I was served with a
sumptuous collation. The Governor being in hourly expectation of the
orders of his Sovereign to repair to court, has his route made out,
and has requested me to keep myself in readiness to depart at an
hour's notice.
I have received several letters by express, from, our Consul-general,
complaining of Governor _Ash-Ash_, who has refused granting the
regular supplies to our fleet, and the garrison of Gibraltar. From the
character I have given you of this man, in a former letter, you will
feel less astonished, when I inform you of his shameful conduct. His
rapacity and avarice are unbounded. He refuses the regular supplies,
insisting upon an additional duty being paid, besides the enormous one
already imposed, on articles furnished to the English, contrary to the
tariff established by treaty. Accordingly, I laid the following copy
of the original tariff before His Excellency, and subjoined the
imposition of Ash-Ash. _Order to be observed by the British
Vice-consuls, at Tetuan and Tangiers, respecting the English._
DUTY.
Spanish Dollars
Cows, calves, and oxen, whether
stall-fed or not, per head 5 now 25
Cobs. Cobs.
Sheep and goats, per ditto 2 - 7
Fowls, per dozen 1 - 6
Lemons and oranges, per thousand 1 - 5
Eggs, Per ditto 1 - 5
Dates, per quintal 4 - 8
Orange-trees, each 1 - 2
Figs, raisins, almonds, nuts, rhubarb,
oil, honey, soap, olives,
and red pepper, per quintal 2 - 12
Wheat, barley, oats, rice, and bean,
per measure 1 - 6
Straw, by the nett 1/4 - 1
Pomegranates, amber-wood, %c., per quintal 1 - 4
Bees-wax and candles, per ditto 14 - 26
Ostrich feathers, per lb. 2 - 16
Ivory, copper, sandrach, chohob,
and gum arabic, per quintal 5 - 15
Indigo, per ditto 1 - 10
Goat skins, per quintal 4 - 8
Beef ditto, per ditto 3 - 6
Lion and tiger ditto, each 4 - 12
Common tanned leather,per quintal 1 - 5
Morocco ditto free - 5
Wool and hemp, per quintal 3 - 6
All shoes and slippers,per hundred pair 4 - 10
Moorish caps, per ditto 4 - 10
Mats, each 1 - 5
Mules, ditto 10 - 50
Asses, ditto 5 - 10
Silk alhaiks, ditto 2 - 5
Haiks of other kinds, ditto 1 - 3
This is a correct translation of the agreement, and tariff, settled
eleven years ago, between the present Emperor Muley Solyman, and the
late Consul-general Mr. Matra. Having laid this before His
Excellency, I was so fortunate as to prevail on him to request the
Emperor to renew it, and to grant an increase of fresh provisions,
during the war, to the fleet off Cadiz, and to the garrison of
Gibraltar.
It is impossible to doubt for a moment, at at whose instigation it was
that Ash-Ash behaved in this infamous manner. It is certainly the
interest of the French nation to prevent, if possible, our receiving
supplies from Barbary; consequently we cannot wonder that every means
should be employed to accomplish this end, and Ash-Ash is certainly
the fittest instrument, from his hatred to the English: fortunately,
however, he is not a free agent. My friend, and the friend of the
English, the good Governor of this place, referred the whole to the
Emperor, who has very satisfactorily adjusted every thing to our
advantage, and the mortification of the French Consul, and his tool.
At the same time that His Excellency received the answer from the
Emperor to the above-mentioned application, a letter arrived,
requiring his immediate attendance at Fez; from which place you shall
again hear from me.
LETTER X.
_Depart from Larache with a little Army - Moorish military
Salute - Numerous Villages - Customary Procession of the
Inhabitants - Judicial Arrangements - River Beth resembles the Po - Herds
of Camels - Arrive at Mequinez - French Falsehood again put
down - Excellent Road from Mequinez - Fertility and Luxuriance of the
adjacent Country - Procession to the Sanctuary of Sidy
Edris - Multiplicity of Saints - Ceremony demonstrative of the Emperor's
Favour - Take possession of my new Residence._
Fez, - - 1806.
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