ll in the upper part of the thigh,
286 which the surgeons could not extract. The Emperor, in a fit of
frenzy, from pain or passion, took his (_kumaya_) dagger, cut open
the wound to the ball, and expired soon after. Thus were the
merchants of Mogodor saved providentially from an untimely death.

_The Emperor Muley Yezzid's Body disinterred_.

When the united armies of Abda and Duquella were vanquished and
dispersed by the Imperial troops, in the neighbourhood of Marocco,
the report became general that the Emperor was wounded. It is
asserted that several men in ambush had orders to wait their
opportunity to fire at the Emperor, when he should approach; and
when the Emperor did approach the bush wherein these men lay
concealed, they all fired. It appears, however, that only one shot
had effect. The Emperor finding himself wounded, instead of being
discouraged, was reanimated to the combat, and entered into the
midst of it; a soldier by his side observed to him, that he was
wounded, and whilst expressing his hope that it was not dangerous,
the Emperor, with one stroke of his sabre, cut off his head! Even
after the death of this redoubted warrior, the people trembled,
doubting the truth of his decease. Abdrahaman went personally to
Marocco and had the body disinterred to ascertain the fact,
suspecting that the report of his death might be a stratagem; but
287 having ascertained it, he returned to Saffy, and his brother Muley
Esslemmah was immediately proclaimed by Abdrahaman. Doubts of the
Emperor's death still pervaded the minds of men: it was reported
that he had been seen in the Atlas Mountains, in Draha, in Suse. At
length a person somewhat resembling him in person, appeared between
Wedinoon and Ait Bamaran (see the map): the panic took; and men
from all parts of the country, who had known the Emperor, hastened
to Wedinoon to ascertain the fact. Many who were too curious were
shot by order of this pretender, to prevent the possibility of
their returning to give notice of the imposture. The immense number
of persons who now believed him to be Yezzid was incalculable; his
party increased and multiplied, and he soon had thousands of
followers who supported his cause. The infatuation of the vulgar
and the bulk of the community was astounding; for the renowned