icable among us; and what _you_ call rich, is a beggar. We
govern the world from east to west, and whosoever is worth any
thing is our prey; and we take every ship by force. Weigh therefore
what is fit to be done, and return us a speedy answer, before
_infidelity_[227] shall have kindled its fire, and scattered its
sparks among you, and destroy you all from off the face of the
earth. We have awakened you by sending to you: make haste with an
answer, lest punishment come upon you unawares.

[Footnote 225: A quotation from the Koran. The Tartar was a
deist, and quotes the Koran in derision.]

[Footnote 226: The Muhamedans, whose religion is a compound of
Judaism and Christianity, have borrowed many customs from
either, they abstain like the Jews from swine's flesh, &c.]

[Footnote 227: As the Muhamedans charge every nation that doth
not believe Muhamed to have been a prophet with infidelity, so
the Tartar (who was a Deist) returns it upon them.]
402

LETTER IX.

_Translation of a Letter from the Emperor Muley Yezzid, to Webster
Blount, Esq. Consul General to the Empire of Marocco, from their
High Mightinesses the States-General, of the Seven United
Provinces. Written soon after the Emperor's Proclamation, and
previous to the Negotiation for the opening of the Port of Agadeer,
to Dutch Commerce._

"Praise be to God alone; for there is neither beginning nor power
without God."

L.S.

Yezzid ben Muhamed, Sultan ben Sultan, (i.e. Emperor and Son of an
Emperor.)

"To the Consul Blount. Peace be with those who follow the right
way, or the way of the true God: and this being premised, know that
I have received your letter, and that we are with you, (the Dutch
nation,) in peace and amity and good faith, and peace be with you.
22 Ramadan, year of the Hejra 1204, (A.C. 1792.)"

Translated literally by the Author, from the original Arabic in his
possession.

LETTER X.

_Translation of a Letter from the Emperor Yezzid, to the Governor
of Mogodor, Aumer ben Daudy, to give the Port of Agadeer to the
Dutch, and to send there the Merchants of that Nation._

"Praise be to God alone; for there is neither beginning nor power
without God, the eternal God."
403
L.S.

Yezzid ben Muha