The priest of the mosque is called the _imam_. He is in charge of all religious ceremonies, and when the collective prayer is said, the faithful follow him in all the chants and movements. He is sometimes an educated man, but it is not the general rule, and one often finds the _imam_ attending classes held by the _taleb_ to learn how to write and speak literary Arabic. (Literary Arabic in opposition to the bastard tongue spoken in North Africa.) [Illustration: An Arab Barber] [Illustration: Roasting the Lamb Whole] [Illustration: Children Bathing in a Southern Oasis] Then there is the _muezzin_, who is the verger of the mosque, and whose chief duty is to call the faithful to prayer. There is no special costume for these different officials, but they usually wear somber or white burnouses, and one can always tell a learned man by the delicacy of his hands. What strikes one most in all this Mohammedan administration is that it has not altered since the beginning of its creation, and that it has not been in the least degree influenced by contact with laws or customs of other countries. Even in matters where the application of modern laws would be beneficial, such as in the question of inheritance which causes the greatest muddle imaginable, the old system of twelve hundred years ago is adhered to. Now previously we noticed the apparent contradiction in the French administration of Algeria, which seemed to be rather overgoverned, and here we have another contradiction in the fact that these native functionaries are allowed to act with complete independence in all matters affecting their own laws. This is one of France’s wisest policies in Algeria, and it is of comparatively recent date. At first the French did not realize the enormous importance of Islam in North Africa, but now that they have grasped it, they use their knowledge sagaciously. The French administration of Algeria is complex, but it achieves its end, as the traveler will realize if, on marvelous roads, he traverses this immense country unmolested by the masses of wild men who live there. I repeat again it is not the duty of a foreigner to criticize the government of another country, but merely to examine it and judge of the results. CHAPTER VIII MARABOUTS Standing alone and quite apart from the native officials just mentioned are the _marabouts_. The name is derived from the Arab word _marabet_, which originally meant one who served as a soldier in a _rebat_ or fortress built on the frontier of Mohammedan countries as defense against the infidel, and which became a base of attack against Christian neighbors. In the forts the moslem soldiers gave themselves over to acts of piety. When the days of holy war had passed the _rebats_ were converted into religious buildings, and a _marabet_ was, therefore, a holy man, an apostle of Mohammed.