These Jews, In Dress And Appearance, Very Much Resemble
The Arabs; But Though They So Far Conform To The Religion
Of
Mohammed as to recite in public prayers from the Koran, they are but
little respected by the negroes; and
Even the Moors themselves
allowed that, though I was a Christian, I was a better man than a
Jew. They however insisted that, like the Jews, I must conform so
far as to repeat the Mohammedan prayers; and when I attempted to
waive the subject by telling them that I could not speak Arabic, one
of them, a shereef from Tuat, in the Great Desert, started up and
swore by the Prophet that if I refused to go to the mosque, he would
be one that would assist in carrying me thither; and there is no
doubt that this threat would have been immediately executed had not
my landlord interposed on my behalf. He told them that I was the
king's stranger, and he could not see me ill-treated whilst I was
under his protection. He therefore advised them to let me alone for
the night, assuring them that in the morning I should be sent about
my business. This somewhat appeased their clamour, but they
compelled me to ascend a high seat by the door of the mosque, in
order that everybody might see me, for the people had assembled in
such numbers as to be quite ungovernable, climbing upon the houses,
and squeezing each other, like the spectators at an execution.
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