A short time after his appointment, a merchant having left his
Excellency a present during his absence from home, was immediately
summoned before him, when the following dialogue ensued: -
_His Excellency._ - "Sir, how dare you leave a present at my house?"
_The Merchant._ - "Other governors before your Excellency have received
presents."
_His Excellency._ - "I am a governor of no presents! How much do you owe
the Sultan, my master?"
_The Merchant._ - "I - I - I - don't know," (hesitating and trembling)
_His Excellency._ - "Very well, when you owe the Sultan nothing, bring me
a present, and take this away, and make known to everybody, that Haj
El-Arby receives _no_ presents."
The fact is, the Governor knows what he is about. Were his Excellency to
receive 16,000 dollars per annum as presents from the merchants of
Mogador, the Sultan would demand of him 15,999; besides, there is not a
merchant who makes a present that does not demand its value, a _quid pro
quo_ in the remission of custom-duties. Sidi-El-Arby is also a thorough
diplomatist, so far as report goes; he promises anybody anything; he
keeps all on the tiptoe of most blessed expectation, and so makes
friends of everybody.
