1830.] Love, Law, and Phy sic in Barbary. 299 



to make the worst of every chance which comes in their way, nor is 

 the emperor himself backward in shewing a bad example. 



Sidi Hamet Benja, a Moorish merchant, who died a few years back 

 at Gibraltar, was known to the whole mercantile world by the extent 

 of his connections and his great riches. This man the Emperor of Morocco 

 tried to destroy, for which Benja owed him an eternal hatred; not- 

 withstanding which, his oppressor became his sole and universal legatee. 



Benja from insignificant beginnings had acquired great wealth, the fame 

 of which soon reached the sultan's ears, who by insinuations and flatter- 

 ing messages, induced him to repair to the royal presence. The unsus- 

 pecting merchant proceeded to Barbary ; no sooner had he landed there 

 than he was informed by a friend, of his having placed his foot in the 

 net; that the sultan had given orders to prevent his return, and to send 

 him in chains to Morocco, in case he did not proceed voluntarily on his 

 journey. 



This intelligence would have damped the spirit of any one but a man 

 of Benja's presence of mind, who too late saw the folly of his credulity, 

 but determined, if possible, to retrieve his error. Profiting from the 

 information given him, he resolved to go boldly forward, feigning an 

 entire ignorance of the sultan's intentions. Having caused the sum of 

 50,000 dollars to be forwarded to him from Gibraltar, the money was 

 laden on mules, and placed under the care of his escort. Benja shortly 

 after knelt in the royal presence. Previously to inquiring the nature of 

 the sultan's command, he stated his intention to withdraw his riches 

 from Europe, and to take up his residence near Seedna, his lord and 

 master, whom he intended to constitute his sole heir ; in token of this 

 intention, he pointed out the gold which already awaited the sultan's 

 acceptance, at the palace gates. The money was unladen in the court- 

 yard of the palace. The greedy sultan listened to the tale with the 

 utmost credulity the chains which awaited the merchant were withheld. 

 The sultan, thinking himself sure of getting the whole property into 

 his hands, urged Benja's speedy departure to put his purpose into 

 execution, promising him all sorts of honours and influence on his 

 return. 



Benja was not tardy in obeying the sultan's commands ; he took his 

 leave, but no sooner was he out of the kingdom, than he acquainted 

 the sultan of his knowledge of the infamous intention to imprison him 

 till he should have purchased his freedom, and congratulated himself 

 on having escaped the fangs of such a monster at so small a sacrifice. 

 Benja little intended at this time to have made the sultan his heir, yet 

 such was the case ; for having an aversion to making 1 a will, he died 

 intestate, and thus, by a law of Barbary, the sultan claimed his pro- 

 perty which the authorities of Gibraltar found themselves compelled 

 to pay into his hands. 



No Moor can reside out of his sovereign's dominions without special 

 leave : this was one of the flimsy pretexts on which the sultan intended 

 to imprison Benja. Where there are wives or children, they are gene- 

 rally held responsible for the husband or father's conduct, and are 

 punished in case of his disobedience to the law. 



It is surprising that despotic governments should find any advocate ; 

 yet such is the case. A late tourist has even held the government of 

 Morocco up to admiration, by citing cases wherein the sultan's arbitrary 

 measures have produced benefits, which even-handed justice never 



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