Moorish Literature: Comprising Romantic Ballads, Tales of the Berbers, Stories of the Kabyles, Folk-Lore, and National Traditions
General
Moorish Literature: Comprising Romantic Ballads, Tales of the Berbers, Stories of the Kabyles, Folk-Lore, and National Traditions
Spanish literature -- Translations into English
The Mussulmans brought him bread, figs, and water, saying: "You must send
two of your men ashore while we go on board the ship with you."
"It is well," replied the Christian. Then he went to get two of his men
whom he brought ashore and said to the Mussulmans: "You must give me one of
your men."
They gave him a hostage to remain on board the Christian ship. Then they
filled a boat, and boarded the ship themselves to deliver what they had
sold. They ran all over the ship looking at everything. Then they said,
"Come with us to the spring and we will draw water." The Christians
accompanied them to the fountain to fill their water-casks. The other
natives, to the number of fifteen, got into a boat and went to the ship.
With the water-party and the hostages ashore there were only four
Christians on the ship when the Mussulmans boarded it.
"Don't come aboard till our men have come back," said the Christians.
"We will come aboard by force," he was answered, and the attack began. One
of the Christians killed a native with a gun. Then they fought until the
Christians were overcome. Two Christians were killed and the rest captured
and taken ashore and imprisoned with the others of the water-party. The
ship was sold for 180 mithkals. The Christians were all sold and dispersed
among the tribes. The news of this spread to Taccourt. The merchants there
sent to Ait-Bamouran and bought all the Christians at any price. They
secured seven. Three were missing, of whom two were in the country of
Ait-bou-Bekr with the chief of that tribe named Abd-Allah, son of Bou-Bekr.
The third, who was a boy, was with the sheik of Aglou, who said:
"I will not sell this one, for he has become as dear to me as a son." Then
addressing the young boy he said, "I wish to convert you; be a Mussulman."
The boy acquiesced and embraced Islamism. The day of his abjuration the
sheik killed in his honor an ox for a festival, and gave to the convert the
name of Mahomet. Then he sent to say to all his tribe:
"Come to my house. I have prepared a repast." The Mussulmans came and
diverted themselves with their horses and gunpowder. The chief told them,
"I have given a fourth of my possessions, a slave, and a servant to this
young man." He added, "He shall live with my son." They both occupied the
same room, and the master taught the young convert the whole Koran. The
Mussulmans called him Sidi Mahomet, son of AH. Seven Christians were
ransomed and sent back to their own country.
VI
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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