administration
in amassing a great fortune. The guns imported into the provinces were
called merchandise of the taleb Calih. This officer revolted against the
Sultan, sent him no more money, and consulted him no longer in the
administration of affairs. When the prince ordered him to do such and such
a thing with the Christians, Mussulmans, or others, he replied:

"I shall do as I please, for all the people of Sous are under my hand. I
leave the rest to you." The Sultan sent much money to Sidi
Mahomet-ben-Abd-Allah, and ordered him with troops against the rebel. The
latter fought against the divan until he was captured and put in fetters
and chains. The partisans of the Emperor said to him:

"We have captured your khalifah Ettaleb Calih and his accomplices."

The prince responded: "Make him a bonnet of iron and a shirt of iron, and
give him but a loaf of bread a day." In a letter that he sent he said also:

"Collect all the goods you can find and let the Christian ships take them
all to Taccourt, leaving nothing whatever." Guns, sabres, powder, sulphur,
linens, cottons, everything was transported.

During the reign of Sidi Mouley Soliman he built the city as it is at
present. He increased it, and said to the Christians:

"You must bring me cannons, mortars, and powder, and I will give you in
exchange wheat, oil, wool, and whatever you desire."

The Christians answered: "Most willingly, we shall return with our
products." They brought him cannons, mortars, and powder. In return he
supplied them with woollens, wheat, oil, and whatever they desired.

The Ulmas reproached him, saying: "You are not fulfilling the law in giving
to the Christians wheat, oil, and woollens. You are weakening the
Mussulmans."

He answered them: "We must make sacrifices of these goods for two or three
years, until the Christians have stocked us with cannons, powder, and so
forth. These I will place in the coast towns to drive off the infidels when
they arrive."

IX

More words about guns: They only make them in three cities in the interior
of Sous. The workmen are very numerous. They make also gun-barrels,
pistols, gun-locks, and all such things. As for sabres and poniards, they
are made by Arab armorers. They make powder in every province, but only in
small quantities.

FIVE BERBER STORIES

[_Translated by G. Mercier and Chauncey C. Starkweather_]

DJOKHRANE AND THE JAYS

The ancestor of the grandfather of Mahomet Amo