liable to under the Emir, might have a highly beneficial effect; especially at the present period, when many of the tribes are reduced to the lowest ebb of misery by the interruption of their commerce, and the expenses and devastations of war. A slight tribute as acknowledgment of vassalage might be required, but floating according to the resources of the tribe, the fruitfulness of the season, &c. Thus it would not be so galling or so liable to excite revolt. Again, as it has been observed, the payment of such tribute might be rendered less loathesome to them if they saw that it was returned to them in some manner, by being laid out in the encouragement of markets, in forming roads, making fountains, purchasing those lands held by the Arabs by prescriptive right or title, or otherwise for the increase of their well-being as well as of that of the European; instead of leaving them to imagine that it is wholly expended in furthering the means of crushing their religion and their race.

Many Arab families hold their possessions by right of title; and many tribes by immemorial occupation have derived a right to vast tracts of country. Nothing can be more liable to rouse the passions of the subjected or friendly tribes, than the seizure of such lands without remuneration by the French Government in order to

found European settlements thereon. It is little to be doubted that in the end such a proceeding is as injurious to the progress of the colony as in most cases unjust in itself, fomenting rebellion, and thus entailing at the same time loss of life, and ultimately a far greater cost than the purchase of the desired territory would do.

The annual taxes of the Regency of Algiers under the Turks is given by Shaw at 1,647,000 francs. For the year 1822, according to Mr. Shaler, it figured at 2,360,964 francs. The impost gathered from the Arab tribes under the French for the past year (1846) amounts, as may be seen in the preceding chapter, to above 5,000,000 francs, and this squeezed from tribes reduced to great poverty, and suffering by the ravages of war.

CHAP. XVIII.

THE SORROWS OF A CADI.*

THE following narrative of a journey amongst the Kabaïles of the mountains we have so lately traversed, is both illustrative of the manners and customs of that curious people, and of pleasing simplicity in its details. The hero of this story, which has been published in French, is a cadi under the French authority, who recited it to General Marey, the Governor of Medeah.

"Six years ago," says the Cadi, "a dervise of Mequinez arrived amongst the tribe of the 'Abides,' asking alms from tent to tent, and gaining also some money by making matches. I pitied his poverty, and perceiving, moreover, that he was well acquainted with the sacred writings, I received him into my family, where I employed him in teaching the young boys to read, when my duties as Cadi obliged me to be absent. This very holy man seemed to have completely renounced his wandering mode of life. Not a day passed but that he thanked me

*From the French.

for the benefits I had conferred upon him. I became much attached to him, and, after four years of probation, gave him my daughter, my only child.

"El-Hadj-Ahmet, having a child by my daughter, became indeed a son to me: no longer did I hide anything from him; he knew even the spot where I buried in the earth my money. Now, when I went amongst the 'Beni Douaires' to pass judgment in that affair which has made me incur your displeasure, my son-in-law robbed me of all my treasure, 700 'boudjous,' my pistols mounted with silver, my gun, and my holy books; then mounting upon my mule he fled, quitting my daughter and her infant. I did not become aware of the extent of my misfortune until I returned to my tent: then did I remember that my son-in-law had neither country, parents, nor friends, and all hope was lost to me of ever again discovering him. My grief was so great that I could not remain in my tribe; so I came to Medeah, to the dwelling of a friend. From him I learned that my son-in-law had passed through that town, saying that he went by my orders to Algiers, to make some purchases. Upon this information I decided to pursue the robber. Arrived at Blidah, again had I tidings of him, and was told that he had gone towards the East

Leaving my horse in the hands of a friend, I then undertook, alone and on foot, my search for El-Hadj-Ahmet.

"Quitting Blidah, I sought him amongst the Khachna. I attended their market at Khemis. Peace and tranquillity reigned there, and some cavaliers of Colonel Daumas were in that country in pursuit of robbers. All spoke of the anxiety

with which the Marshal watches over the interests and rights of those tribes. The Khachnas are happy; they have sown much corn, and dream of the profits that will accrue to them from a plentiful harvest. The Khachnas not being able to give me any information regarding my son-inlaw, I quitted them to go to the market of the Djema of the Issers. The great news at this market was the expected arrival of the French army. I learnt from the Issers that they were also servants to the French, and that they even awaited them with impatience, in order that they might enjoy that tranquillity which the Marshal rendered to all the tribes submitted to his authority, and that they might at last be relieved from the anxiety that the projected razzias of Ben Salem and the neighbouring Kabailes upon their country and their market, caused them. The Issers are in constant communication with Colonel Daumas, and habitually