A Tale from Morocco.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13432, 2 November 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Tale from Morocco.

In Morocco, the Baled-el-Maghrab (the land of the setting sun of the Arabs), 'u-e Lex Talionis is as much an integral part of .'the social system as-'is-; life and death. the 'Moor's, it" may bes-said, are frankly brutal. They have a certain rude code of honour to which, they adhere .when 'convenient, but among "themselves 'they devise every possible excuse for not fulfilling engagements with the '"ghaiour." On the other hand they are. extremely punctilious in exacting -full measure and complement of execution: from Europeans with whom they have dealings, and many stories might be told showing how Moorish judges mete out justice to their own people to the detriment of the alien.. For instance, it, is riot very long since that a-British subject riding through the Soko (or market place) ;at Marakesh had the ill—fortune to cannon against a halfblind old woman, who, - falling to the ground; broke off two of her front teeth. /'The Englishman; promptly offered compensation. It was refused, and the injured woman, before the' local .Kaid, demanded that her innocent aggressor should have two teeth knocked out in re-, tribution for her i^jury.iProtest followed/on. protest against this exaction until finally tlifrt matter was carried to the Sultan himself. That potentate' (and this instance is given to show the,. forcefulness of native custom) begged the Englishman to comply with the old woman's demand, and publicly sacrifice his irlcisors, in return for which oblation he granted him concessions which have made -that English merchant and- his family; foiemost ainong the wealthy .foreigners in Morocco./