Biographies of distinguished scientific men. By François Arago ... Tr. by Admiral W.H. Smyth ... the Rev. Baden Powell ... and Robert Grant ...

EXECUTION OF THE DEY OF ALGIERS. 65
with much gentleness, occupying himself with little but
his harem. This disgusted those who had raised him to
this eminent post, and they resolved upon getting rid of
him. We became aware of the danger which menaced
him, by seeing the courts and vestibules of the consular
house full, according to the custom under such circumstances, of Jews, carrying with them whatever they had
of most value. It was a rule at Algiers, that all that
happened in the interval comprised between the death of
a Dey and the installation of his successor, could not be
followed up by justice, and must remain unpunished.
One can imagine, then, why the children of Moses
should seek safety in the consular houses, the European
inhabitants of which had the courage to arm themselves
for self-defence as soon as the danger was apparent, and
who, moreover, had a janissary to guard them.
Whilst the unfortunate Dey " epileur" was being conducted towards the place where he was to be strangled,
he heard the cannon which announced his death and the
installation of his successor. "They are in great haste,"
said he; "what will you gain by carrying matters to extremities? Send me to the Levant; I promise you never
to return. What have you to reproach me with?"
"With nothing," answered his escort, "but your insignificance. However, a man cannot live as a mere private man, after having been Dey of Algiers." And the
unfortunate man perished by the rope.
The communication by sea between Bougie and Algiers was not so difficult, even with the "sandalas," as
the Caid of the former town wished to assure me. Captain Spiro had the cases landed, which belonged to me.
The Caid sought to discover what they contained; and,
having perceived through a chink something yellowish,