Myself. - Perhaps owing to your political opinions, or to some crime
which it may have been your misfortune to commit?
Stranger. - I have no political opinions, and I am not aware that I
ever committed any particular crime, - I am hated for my country and
my religion.
Myself. - Perhaps I am speaking to a Protestant, like myself?
Stranger. - I am no Protestant. If I were, they would be cautious
here of showing their dislike, for I should then have a government
and a consul to protect me. I am a Jew - a Barbary Jew, a subject
of Abderrahman.
Myself. - If that be the case, you can scarcely complain of being
looked upon with dislike in this country, since in Barbary the Jews
are slaves.
Stranger. - In most parts, I grant you, but not where I was born,
which was far up the country, near the deserts. There the Jews are
free, and are feared, and are as valiant men as the Moslems
themselves; as able to tame the steed, or to fire the gun. The
Jews of our tribe are not slaves, and I like not to be treated as a
slave either by Christian or Moor.
Myself. - Your history must be a curious one, I would fain hear it.
Stranger. - My history I shall tell to no one. I have travelled
much, I have been in commerce and have thriven.
