Chapter I: Preface

This little Tale, which the Author has given permission to be published, was written more than five-and-twenty years ago, after a residence of six years in Marocco. The story is founded on tragical facts, which occurred at the time, and is intended to illustrate the character of the people of West Barbary, as well as the state of oppression under which the Jews of that country suffered, but which of late years the Author understands has been greatly ameliorated, owing to the humane exertions of Sir Moses Montefiore, and the remonstrances of the British Government.

_April, 1867._

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE
I. THE CONSPIRACY 1

II. THE ACCUSERS 10

III. THE PLEDGE 22

IV. THE HUNT 32

V. THE SPY 45

VI. THE SAHARA 51

VII. THE SHEIK OF THE LION TRIBES 65

VIII. THE SULTAN 76

IX. THE FALCON CAGED 86

X. BLOOD FOR BLOOD 97

XI. SHEIK AYOUB 122

XII. AZORA 148

XIII. THE FALCON'S SWOOP 162

XIV. RETRIBUTION 175

XV. THE PLEDGE REDEEMED 182

EXPLANATIONS OF ARABIC TERMS USED.

_Alfa_ regiment. _Azora_ from Johor--Pearl. _Bab_ gate. _Bintekee_ a gold coin (of seven or eight shillings). _Delal_ auctioneer. _Djehennem_ hell. _Djilabea_ a striped hooded cloak. _Douar_ a circle of tents. _Filelly_ from Tafilelt. _Fondak_ barrack--caravanserai. _Hayk_ Moorish plaid. _Jinnah_ heaven. _Kaïd_ a governor. _Kaisaria_ bazaar. _Kasba_ citadel. _M'Shouar_ audience hall--durbar. _Majnoon_ possessed with a demon. _Marabt_ holy beggar--friar. _Merjana_ coral. _Mulai Idris_ patron saint of Fez. _Oom el hassn_ nightingale. _Peçeta_ a silver Spanish coin. _Roh_ a spirit--(rook or castle.) _Rebeb_ a stringed instrument. _Sahel_ the plain. _Shah Māt_ king is dead--(check-mate.) _Taleb_ a lawyer--scribe. _Zurzur_ blackbird.

THE ARAB'S PLEDGE.