An Account Of Timbuctoo And Housa Territories In The Interior Of Africa Part 27

In the name of G.o.d! the all-merciful and commiserating G.o.d, on whom is our account, and we acknowledge his support; for there is neither beginning nor power but that which proceeds from G.o.d, the High Eternal G.o.d.

From the servant of G.o.d, the commander of the faithful [in Muhamed]

upheld and supported by the Grace of G.o.d.

Soliman the son of Muhamed, the son of Abdallah, the son of Ismael, Prince of [the house or dynasty of Ha.s.san][222] who was ever upheld 396 by the power of G.o.d, Sultan of Fas and Marocco, and Suse, and Draha, and Tafilelt, and Tuat, together with all the territories of the West.

[Footnote 222: The words between brackets are not in the original, but implied.]

L.S.

Soliman, son of Mohamed, son Abdallah, G.o.d illumine and support him!

To our dearly beloved and cherished, exalted by the power of G.o.d, the Sultan[223] George the Third, Sultan of the territories of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, Prince, descended from the dynasty of the Sultans of Rome and Palestine, &c.

This premised, we inform you, that we make diligent inquiry about you, desiring heartily that you may be at all times surrounded by health and prosperity. We wish you to increase in friends.h.i.+p with us, that our alliance may be more strongly cemented than heretofore, even stronger than it was in the days of our ancestors, whom G.o.d guard and protect.

Now therefore we make known to you, that your physician, Doctor Buffe, has been in our royal presence, [which is] exalted by the bounty of G.o.d, and we have been well pleased with his medical knowledge and diligent attention, and moreover with the relief he has given to us.

397 We have therefore to entreat of you to give him your royal order to return to Gibraltar, in our neighbourhood, well provided with all good and necessary medicines; that he, residing at Gibraltar, may be ready to attend quickly our royal presence, whenever we may be in need of his [medical] a.s.sistance. We trust you will return him without procrastination to our throne, seeing that he has been of essential service to us.

We recommend you to exalt Dr. Buffe, in your favour and esteem on our account, and we will always be your allies and friends. May you ever be well and in prosperity! Peace be with you, 4th of the month Jumad El Lule in the year [of the Hejra] 1221, (corresponding with 5th July, 1806, A.D.)

[Footnote 223: This perhaps is the only letter extant, wherein a Muselman Prince gives the t.i.tle of Sultan to a Christian king.]

LETTER VII.

In Muhamedan countries, an insolvent man continues liable to his creditors till the day of his death, unless the debt is discharged; but he can claim by law his liberation from prison, on making oath, and bringing proof of his insolvency: but then if he succeed afterwards and become possessed of property, he is compelled to pay the debts formerly contracted; so that an European should be cautious how he contracts debts with the Moors, lest the misfortunes that commerce is liable to should oblige him to remain all his life in the country. A letter, similar to the following, 398 should be procured by every European, about to quit the country, to prevent the extortion of the alkaid, who might, as has often happened before, throw impediments in the way for the purpose of extorting presents, &c.

_Translation of a Firman of Departure, literally translated from the Original Arabic, by James Grey Jackson._

L.S.

Soliman ben Muhamed, ben Abdallah, ben Ismael Sultan, &c.

Praise be to G.o.d alone.

Our servants El Hage Mohamed o Bryhim, and Seid Mohamed Bel Akkia, peace and the mercy of G.o.d be with you! This premised, I command you to suffer the Christian merchant, Jackson, to embark for his own country, if it appears to you that no one pursues him in law [for debt,] as I wrote to you on this subject in my last letter: if no one claims of him any right by law, allow him to go, and do not impede him.[224] G.o.d protect you, and peace be with you. 3d day of Saffer, the good year 1220 of the Hejra, (A.C. 1805.)

[Footnote 224: This repet.i.tion of the princ.i.p.al subject in Arabic correspondence, is a mode of impressing on the mind more forcibly, the subject intended to be impressed, and is commonly practised by the best Arabian, and African writers; it also frequently occurs in the inspired writings. See Psalms lxxv, l.

lxxvii, 1. &c.]

LETTER VIII.

As a specimen of the lofty style of writing so much in use among 399 the Eastern authors, I shall add the summons which Hulacu the Tartar conqueror of the East, (who took Bagdad, and entirely subverted the government of the Saracens,) sent to Al Malek Annasar, sultan of Aleppo, in the year of the Hejra 657, (of Christ 1259.)

Let Al Malek Annasar know, that we sat down before Bagdad in the 655th year (of the Hejra,) and took it by the sword of the most high G.o.d: and we brought the master of it before us, and demanded two things of him; to which he, not answering, brought deserved punishment upon himself. As it is written in your Koran, "_G.o.d doth not change the condition of a people, till their own minds are changed_." He took care of his wealth, and fate brought him to what he is come to. He chose to exchange precious lives for pieces of money made of vile metal; which is plainly the same that G.o.d says _They found_ [the reward of] _what they had done present with them_.[225] For we have attained by the power of G.o.d, what we desired; and by the help of the most high G.o.d we shall increase.

Nor is there any doubt of our being the army of G.o.d upon his earth.

He created us, and gave us power over every one upon whom his anger rests. Wherefore, let what is past be to you an example, and what we have mentioned a warning. Fortifications are nothing in our 400 hands, nor doth the joining of battle avail you any thing; nor will your intreaties be heard or regarded. Take warning therefore by others, and surrender entirely to us, before the veil be taken off, and [_the punishment of_] sin light upon you. For we shall have no mercy upon him that complains, nor be moved by him that weeps. We have wasted countries, we have destroyed men, we have made children orphans, and the land desolate. It is your business to run away; ours to pursue; nor can you escape our swords, nor fly from our arrows. Our horses are racers; our arrows strike home; our swords pierce like lightning; our fortifications are like mountains, and our numbers like the sand. Whosoever surrenders comes off safe: whosoever is for war, repents it. If you will obey our command, and come to our terms, your interest and ours shall be the same; but if you be refractory and persist in your error, blame not us, but yourselves. G.o.d is against you, ye wicked wretches: look out for something to screen you under your miseries, and find somebody to bear you company in your affliction. We have given you fair warning, and fair warning is fair play. You have eaten things forbidden[226], you have been perfidious in your treaties. You have introduced new heresies, and thought it a gallant thing to commit 401 sodomy. Prepare yourselves therefore for scorn and contempt. Now you will find what you have done; for they that have done amiss, will now find their state changed. You take it for granted, that we are infidels. We take it for granted, that you are _villains_; and _He_ by whose hand all things are disposed and determined, hath given us the dominion over you. The greatest man you have is despicable among us; and what _you_ call rich, is a beggar. We govern the world from east to west, and whosoever is worth any thing is our prey; and we take every s.h.i.+p by force. Weigh therefore what is fit to be done, and return us a speedy answer, before _infidelity_[227] shall have kindled its fire, and scattered its sparks among you, and destroy you all from off the face of the earth. We have awakened you by sending to you: make haste with an answer, lest punishment come upon you unawares.

[Footnote 225: A quotation from the Koran. The Tartar was a deist, and quotes the Koran in derision.]

[Footnote 226: The Muhamedans, whose religion is a compound of Judaism and Christianity, have borrowed many customs from either, they abstain like the Jews from swine's flesh, &c.]

[Footnote 227: As the Muhamedans charge every nation that doth not believe Muhamed to have been a prophet with infidelity, so the Tartar (who was a Deist) returns it upon them.]

402

LETTER IX.

_Translation of a Letter from the Emperor Muley Yezzid, to Webster Blount, Esq. Consul General to the Empire of Marocco, from their High Mightinesses the States-General, of the Seven United Provinces. Written soon after the Emperor's Proclamation, and previous to the Negotiation for the opening of the Port of Agadeer, to Dutch Commerce._

"Praise be to G.o.d alone; for there is neither beginning nor power without G.o.d."

L.S.

Yezzid ben Muhamed, Sultan ben Sultan, (i.e. Emperor and Son of an Emperor.)

"To the Consul Blount. Peace be with those who follow the right way, or the way of the true G.o.d: and this being premised, know that I have received your letter, and that we are with you, (the Dutch nation,) in peace and amity and good faith, and peace be with you.

22 Ramadan, year of the Hejra 1204, (A.C. 1792.)"

Translated literally by the Author, from the original Arabic in his possession.

LETTER X.

_Translation of a Letter from the Emperor Yezzid, to the Governor of MoG.o.dor, Aumer ben Daudy, to give the Port of Agadeer to the Dutch, and to send there the Merchants of that Nation._

"Praise be to G.o.d alone; for there is neither beginning nor power without G.o.d, the eternal G.o.d."

403 L.S.

Yezzid ben Muhamed, Sultan ben Sultan.

"Our servant (or agent) Alkaid Aumer ben Daudy, peace be unto you, with the mercy and blessing of G.o.d: this premised, I command that all the duties you have collected be sent to me speedily by my brother[228] Muley Soliman, who will (_berik_) discharge you by receipt for every thing you deliver to him, for he is our representative. We are preparing to go to the siege of Ceuta, with the acquiescence of the High G.o.d, by whose power we hope to enter it, and take it. And we command you to send the Alkaid M'saud El Hayanie to my port of Agadeer, with all things necessary for his journey, a.s.sisting him with every possible succour, and send with him twenty Benianters[229], who must be sailors skilful in the management of boats; and the Christian merchants of the Dutch nation will go to Agadeer, and establish their houses there; for I have given that port to the Dutch to trade there: and send with them Talb Aumer Busedra, and the eye of G.o.d be upon you, and peace be with you."

[Footnote 228: The duties were at this time collected in kind; viz. one tenth of every thing imported from Europe: and the present Emperor Muly Soliman was deputed to convey them to the camp before Ceuta, to his brother, the Emperor Muley Yezzid, whose army was besieging that fortress.]

[Footnote 229: _Benianters_, are a kabyle of Sh.e.l.luhs of Suse, who are employed to work, and row the boats, and land the goods at MoG.o.dor.]

404

Seventh day of Arrabea Ellule, year (Hejra) 1205.[230]

Translated by the Author, from the original Arabic in his possession.

"Be vigilant with respect to the matter of the establishment of Agadeer, and of M'saud El Hayanie." [231]

[Footnote 230: Corresponding with A.C. 1793.]