EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 207 
waift, which dropped and left her naked. Chance fo determined 
that the owner of the flave pafled at the moment and faw her. 
The pubUcity of the place precluded any view of farther fa- 
miliarity, but the tumult which fucceeded appeared to mark the 
moft heinous of crimes, and to threaten the moft exemplary 
vengeance. The man threw his turban on the earth, and ex- 
claimed, " Ye believers in the Prophet, hear me ! Ye faithful, 
avenge me !" with other fimilar expreffions. — " A Caffre has 
violated the property of a defcendant of Mohammed;" (meaning 
himfelf, which was utterly falfe.) When a number of people 
was collected around him, he related the fuppofed injury he had 
received in the ftrongeft terms, and exhorted them to take their 
arms and facrifice the Caffre. He had charged a carbine, and 
affedted to come forward to execute his threats, when fome one 
of the company who had advanced fartheft, and faw me, called 
out to the reft that I was armed, and prepared to refill. 
It was then agreed among the affembly that fome method of 
punifhment might be found, that promifed more fecurity and 
profit to the complainant, and would be more formidable to the 
guilty. The man whom I have already mentioned as my 
broker was to take the flave, as if fhe had really been violated*, 
and agreed to pay whatever her mafter fliould charge as the 
* By the law of the Prophet, any illicit conne£lion with the female flave of an- 
other makes the perfon guilty refponfible for her value to the owner. Thus the 
perfonal injury is expiated. The pubhc offence of Z'lnna, whoredom, incurs a 
punifhment varying according to the charaQer and circumflances of the oflender , 
but the pofitive teflimony of four witnefTes is necefTary to eflablifh this fadl. 
price. 
