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of this immunity; but it is founded on the public opi» 
nion; and if a sultan were to infringe it by an abuse of 
power he would cause a revolution. How respectable 
is a prejudice like this! so useful to humanity, in a coun- 
try where the inhabitant, deprived of all civil protec- 
tion, lives in the abyss of the most shocking despotism! 
The chief of this establishment bears the title of E[ 
Emkaddem or ancient, like that of Mulei Edris at Fez; 
he is equally respected, and is almost looked upon as 
a saint. I may mention here, that the two greatest saints 
of all the empire of Morocco are Sidi AH Benhameh 
who resides at Waxe'in, and Sidt Alarbi jBenmate, who 
lives at Tedla. 
These two saints decide almost on the fate of the 
whole impire, as it is supposed that they attract the 
blessings of heaven on the country. The departments 
which they' inhabit have no Pasha, no Kaid or governor 
of the Sultan; the inhabitants of them pay no kind of 
tribute, and are entirely ruled by their two saints under a 
kind of theocracy. The veneration which they enjoy is so 
great, that upon occasions where they visit the provin- 
ces, the governors take their orders and advice. They 
preach submission to the sultan, domestic peace, and 
the practice of virtue. They receive considerable pre- 
sents and alms, and there is not a woman in the empire 
that would not seek an occasion to consult them when 
they come within reach. Upon such religious excur- 
sions, they are followed by a crowd of poor who sing 
the praises of Allah and of all holy personages. A num - 
ber of armed men are continually in their retinue, and 
ready to defend the divine cause with their weapons. 
I have already mentioned that this holiness is heredi- 
