Puslapio vaizdai
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kief. Much wandering in an uncertain way brought us at last to the tent of the Minister of War, near which, after unloading the animals, we spread our own.

Sleep was relieving drowsiness as I lay in my tent, gratified that no one had in duced the Sultan to countermand his request that I journey with him, when suddenly, from not far distant, a voice called: Circle the "

Close to my ears a discordant "Circled!" bellowed from a dozen throats in response. I listened, now wide awake. Again came the challenge; again the "Circled!" from near my tent-ropes, which were now being disturbed. At a signal were they to pull up the stakes and, with me inclosed, drag the outfit back to the city?

"Circle the animals!" I now made it out. But why call throughout the night? Sleep was impossible.

Objections in the morning were of no avail: it was the only safeguard against mule robbery, I was told. Each night my animals and tents were to be guarded by soldiers, challenged by an officer to prevent them from sleeping. Strange to say, after the first night this clamor had no effect on my rest.

At dawn, my tent showing signs of collapse, resulting from the efforts of the restive guardsmen, I emerged, and was amused to see all tents down save the Sultan's and my own. Starting early, to avoid the heat of the sun, already most of the court were on their way to the next encampment, about four hours distant, which was the average daily journey.

It was extremely cold, and as I mounted in the gray of the morning nothing was to be seen but vague white specters moving in faint outline against the sky. These were the great mass of self-directing court-followers, who pursued no regular road, but kept to a general direction, spreading loosely to the width of a mile.

Soon we wound through a very sandy stretch, dotted with huge bushes. The effect was not unlike countless numbers of monster serpents squirming slowly between the shrubs, one moment bursting into view, hidden again the next.

Suddenly there was a shout, guns and pistols were fired, and clubs were hurled. A little streak seen dodging for life was finally brought down-a rabbit! The enthusiasm and excitement suggested an elephant

hunt.

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Beckoning my soldier to come along, we hurried to an abrupt hill some distance ahead for a better view. Upon mounting to the summit, we turned our eyes upon a vast, shimmering sky bending over an equally vast earth, which, as far as the eye could pierce, was dotted with many atoms -thirty thousand human beings, as many camels, mules, and the like. What a revelation to see them at a distance in that clear, tropical atmosphere!

In the distance could be seen a toy tent, and at once, as if by magic, hundreds of still more diminutive ones seemed to spring from the earth all about it. We rode toward them. Two hours later we beheld the Sultan's great camp, a veritable city of canvas, while the endless plains peeped timidly here and there over the shoulders of the tents.

Where the earth was uneven the highest spot was chosen for the Sultan's tent. This was raised by his tent-pitchers, while a few hundred soldiers radiated with the guyand tent-ropes. The huge canvas at once bulged and swayed like a gigantic balloon. Surely, if the soldiers loosened their hold, it must soar away to the sky. Could this airy monster, trying to burst its bands, be

the same which I saw later weighing so heavily on the mules?

No tents were allowed to be pitched until the Sultan's was in position, although the Sultan's might be the last to arrive; and to insure absolute privacy a circular canvas wall was speedily staked around it.

The tents of his ministers were put up in close proximity, and no doubt those mulebaskets and -bags which were strewn about in such reckless fashion before the Amin's tent, just like so much coal, really did contain gold and silver. The tents of other court officials, slaves, and servants were strewn all over the grounds, but always in the same relative position day after day; so that it was easy finding one's way about after having once mastered the plan.

All this court circle was then surrounded by the tents of soldiers, pitched very close together, forming a sort of barrier. The tent in which the Sultan held court was placed close outside the canvas wall, which had an opening on that side, which he alone used. In front of the tent was a large open space, which was always kept clear by the guards, and the farther end was taken up by the artillery, the guns being stretched out in a broad line. As the front

of the court tent was entirely open and his Majesty sat close to the opening, it enabled him to see the greater part of his camp while holding court.

My tents were always pitched between the artillery and the infantry. A campbed, a table, two chairs, and two rugs were the furniture of the largest tent. Another was used as a kitchen, while a third was occupied by the servants; and although piled with baggage, the six men found room in it to eat, to sleep, and to pray.

A fearful hissing sip, like tearing pieces of new linen, invariably made by the Arabs while drinking tea, issued day and night from this region.

At the broadest end of this irregular triangle of tents the animals were tethered, being fastened by their fore feet to ropes, which were again fastened to a long rope staked in the ground. In the center of all this were the water-skins, hung on a tripod. The first duty of all drivers upon arriving at camp was to take their animals to the nearest watering-place, good or bad, and at times an hour's distance.

All horses, even the best of the Sultan's, are without shelter during the entire journey, and when covered with mud and clay are dismal sights.

The royal stables were tethered close to one side of the protecting canvas wall, about twenty horses in all, and most of them, too, well fed. Although his Majesty never used them when once in camp, three were always saddled, ready to carry their master to battle or to a place of safety. His favorite en route was a rather small, black horse, which traveled very smoothly at an exceedingly rapid pace; while for entering cities he used a wonderful horse"golden, with silver mane and tail," as I have heard it called.

In the morning, at four o'clock, the bugle sounded to break camp; the foot-soldiers arose, pulled up their tent-pegs, and were away in the darkness. Gradually the remaining tents came down, and the throng of Arabs were on the move. The Sultan's tent remained. A little to one side his ministers and kaids patiently waited, the latter forming a large, hollow square, at one end of which stood the ministers, while in front of them a spacious blue-and-gold chair awaited its sacred occupant.

Presently the wall opened and he ap

peared, his mask-like visage turning neither right nor left. With garments swaying rhythmically, he walked to the chair and seated himself. A slave at his side fanned him with a white silken cloth, to defend his sacred master from imaginary insects. He whispered to the slave, who called to one of the ministers. Hurriedly he appeared, lowering his hood; then, after removing his slippers just back of his Majesty, presented himself, and after a short conversation was dismissed. Presently five gorgeously saddled horses were brought before their royal master, who, with a motion of his hand, chose one, the others being taken away, while he rose with great solemnity, and mounting, rode to all sides of the square, to be thrice saluted by each body of soldiers. This ceremony completed, the musicians, armed with oboes and tom-toms, disturbed the atmosphere with a doleful, prehistoric dirge, and the procession was under way. It was nothing but an entanglement of artillery, infantry, flags, horsemen, and court officials in a mad riot, but, as in a threshingmachine tearing its insides furiously, the wheat, straw, and chaff found their channels at once, and left the ignorant beholder spellbound. Behold! they were moving with military precision, a brother of the Sultan at the head, followed by an extremely wide row of mounted soldiers carrying silken standards of all colors.

Then came the artillery, rattling and bumping, and coming to grief often where the roads were bad. Next followed mounted soldiers and a score of government officials, a sort of police. After a short space, riding alone, came the kaid of the mishwa (master of ceremonies), very straight and very black, picturesquely hugging his gun close to him.

After him followed four led horses abreast, all richly saddled, for the Sultan's use should he tire of his mount. Then, with some distance intervening, came the Sultan, alone, save for six black slaves, who kept up a continual wafting of white cloths in the direction of his face.

A palanquin containing the blue chair then appeared, carried between two mules, just in front of another row of mounted standard-bearers, followed by the Minister of War and the important members of the court. All were obliged to turn aside and make way for this cavalcade.

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Two other detachments also traveled in this way-the Sultan's tent and his harem. Astride of as many mules, six favorites of unknown color and beauty, together with forty-two mysterious, squatting creatures, riding in pairs on pack-mules, composed the royal collection of ladies chosen for this journey. Even a sultan must make some sacrifices when he journeys. How ever, he could look forward to a full household awaiting him at Fez.

The forty-eight favored ones rode very closely bunched, looking like so many cones of sugar, each one being enveloped in white, with just a narrow slit for the eyes. They were guarded by formidablelooking soldiers, while flags, carried far in advance, cleared the way far more effectively than clubs clear Broadway.

The Sultan's tent was carried along on the strongest of mules in the center of a very noisy and vociferous crowd of soldiers and tent-pitchers. When traveling was bad they were compelled to change the mules every ten or fifteen minutes, and often this mighty bundle of canvas and ropes, which required eight men to place it upon the

mule, immediately crushed the animal to the earth. Frequent occurrences of this kind caused the tent to fall far behind his Majesty, and those in charge were frenzied in their endeavors to hurry it along, lest it should be unprepared for their ruler in time.

Perched upon a saddle intended for a full-grown man, and riding a large horse, the Sultan's youngest brother (Sidi Mohammed) looked a perfect elf-a picturesque little fellow as he rode along quietly in the safe escort of his black body-guard.

Bareheaded slaves and eunuchs were scattered about, scampering hither and thither upon fiery barbs.

When the cavalcade was about to pass through a fresh district, the governor who controlled it, with his standard unfurled beside him, and many of his tribesmen, awaited its arrival on the border-line. At the instant of the Sultan's coming abreast and halting, the kaid of the mishwa cried aloud:

"Saith my lord, you are welcome."

Bowing low in their saddles, they devoutly mumbled in chorus:

Allah preserve our Lord." Hurriedly dismounting and prostrating himself at the feet of his master, the governor kissed the earth and then the royal robe. Without being recognized, he at once vaulted into his saddle and sought the Minister of War, while the imperial pageant moved onward. By this time his tribesmen had galloped some distance in advance and to one side. Whirling about, they came tearing back, fifteen or twenty abreast, amid clouds of dust or buckets of mud, according to conditions. With faces of fiends, they rode like devils, silken garments gnarling and shimmering, glistening flint-locks held high in air. A loud yellbang, bang!-and horses and riders emerged from a cloud of smoke. Executing this wild riding and shouting, -the powder play,-row after row plunged forward, in startling contrast to the stately court pageant, slowly and unconcernedly moving on.

When the demons had tired, they jogged along with us, dignified and quiet, not only to the next encampment, but to the border of the succeeding district.

So enthusiastic were the poor country Arabs along the line of march that they were totally oblivious of the blows and rough treatment to which many were subjected by the soldiers in order to keep them from blockading the path of their ruler. What would our farmers say to thousands of horsemen, although commanded by the President, kicking up and dooming to perdition all of their fields? But the Moorish farmer looks upon the thousands of horsemen trampling his crops, and says: "Praise God for his favor and kindness! From this time forth shall my crops bear twofold. The Sultan hath blessed my soil; to God be the glory!"

The sherifian umbrella was never unfolded until well within sight of the camp, when, simultaneously with the playing of plaintive music, its shadow enveloped the royal horseman.

Extending toward us for about a mile from each proposed encampment were two rows, one composed of foot-soldiers, who left early every morning for this purpose, and the other of mounted soldiers and tribesmen. Between this wide channel the pageant passed.

His Majesty continued searching the plain right and left for a suitable spot to

rest until his quarters were prepared. This found, his chair was quickly placed, whereupon he dismounted and seated himself. His ministers took up their stations in the rear, while his soldiers cleared a great space before him, at the border of which the villagers, or people of the neighborhood, congregated and shouted aloud for joy. Provisions had been stored by these people for years for no other than court use, and now they could be squeezed no more on that

score.

The sign given that all was in readiness, the Sultan again mounted, and with the umbrella surmounting his head like a gigantic crown, he rode through another channel of soldiers into an opening in the canvas wall. After having eaten and rested, he emerged alone, and with swaying garments walked slowly to the court tent, where he called his ministers by turn to discuss matters pertaining to court. The same routine was followed day after day.

In the open space before him horses presented to the royal stable were led for his approval. Frequently, in the midst of court matters, some man with a grievance, who had stolen to the edge of the clearing, raised himself, and, with arms extended for recognition, shouted wildly:

"Mulai Abd-ul-Aziz, have mercy, in the name of God!"

Two soldiers conveyed him to an official, who attended to his case.

At five o'clock in the afternoon a body of four hundred soldiers marched from their quarters and formed a cordon about the imperial tent, remaining there until bugle-call for a general exodus on the following morning, when they arose sleepily and stretched their limbs, thus completing their toilet for the day. Without shelter of any kind, these guards sat throughout the night, sometimes in a torrent of rain, and, should the wind blow, hanging to the guyropes to quiet the unruly canvas and allow the sherifian dreamer to sleep undisturbed.

On the fifth day we came to a wide river with a treacherous current, and although the great tent was already being erected, his Majesty decided, on account of the probability of rain during the night, to cross at once. The ford was indicated by Arabs standing breast-high in deep. places. A shelving of rock at the entrance forced all animals to plunge at once into

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