he Emperor's son, Muley El Mamune, was master of the
audience, and ordered the commerce to advance into the imperial
presence; and standing barefooted, as is the custom before the
Emperor, he requested the merchants to take off their shoes, as
_he_ had done; but they expostulated, and said it was not their
custom. The Prince, however, stopped them, and would not allow them
to approach the imperial presence without first submitting to this
ceremony. Seedi Muhamed, observing the impediment, and knowing the
311 cause, but willing at the same time to initiate the young prince in
the custom of foreign countries, called his son to him, and said,
"What do muselmen do, when they enter the _Jamaa_?"[196] "Revere
the holy ground, by entering barefooted," replied the prince.--"And
what do the Christians, when they enter their church?"--"They take
off their hats," rejoined the Prince. (_Allah e berk Amer
Seedi_,[197]) "God bless your Majesty's life."--"Then, what would
you more of these my merchants, than that they pay me, even the
same respect that they pay when they pray to _Allah_. Let them
approach uncovered, with their shoes on, which they never take off,
but to go to bed to rest".

[Footnote 196: An Arabic or Korannick word, signifying, the
congregation of prayer, or mosque.]

[Footnote 197: A term invariably used at court, in addressing
the Emperor.]

* * * * *

The province of Ait Atter, or the Atterites, in Lower Suse, is
considered as an independent province, and it pays no tribute. They
have a great dislike to _kadis_[198], _talbs_, and attornies,
alleging that they only increase disputes between man and man,
which is not at all necessary; all disputes are, therefore, decided
by the sheik, who is not a logical wrangler, but decides according
312 to the simplest manner. The following decree of their sheik is on
record:--

"Four men conjointly bought a mule, which for elucidation, we will
call A, B, C, and D: each claimed a leg. D's leg was the off-hind
one. In a few days this leg began to swell: it was agreed to cure
it by (_el keeh_) burning it with a hot iron, (a common remedy in
this country.) This done, the mule was turned out, and went into a
field of barley. Some spark was attached to the hoof, a