DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0230
THE BASTINADO.
219
returned to my hotel ready to set out, and found
the dromedaries, camels, and guides, and expected
to find the letter for the governor of Akaba, which,
at the suggestion of Mr. Linant, I had requested
Mr. Gliddon to procure for me. I now learned,
however, from that gentleman, that to avoid delay
it would be better to go myself, first sending my
caravan outside the gate, and representing to the
minister that 1 was actually waiting for the letter,
in which case he would probably give it to me
immediately. I accordingly sent Paul with my
little caravan to wait for me at the tombs of the
califs, and, attended by the consul's janizary, rode
up to the citadel, and stopped at the door of the
governor's palace. The reader may remember
that on my first visit to his excellency I saw a
man whipped—this time I saw one bastinadoed.
I had heard much of this, a punishment existing, I
believe, only in the East, but I had never seen it
inflicted before, and hope I never shall see it again.
As on the former occasion, I found the little gov-
ernor standing at one end of the large hall of en-
trance, munching, and trying causes. A crowd
was gathered around, and before him was a poor
Arab, pleading and beseeching most piteously,
while the big tears were rolling down his cheeks :
near him was a man whose resolute and somewhat
angry expression marked him as the accuser,
seeking vengeance rather than justice. Suddenly
the governor made a gentle movement with his
hand ; all noise ceased; all stretched their necks
and turned their eager eyes towards him; the ac-
219
returned to my hotel ready to set out, and found
the dromedaries, camels, and guides, and expected
to find the letter for the governor of Akaba, which,
at the suggestion of Mr. Linant, I had requested
Mr. Gliddon to procure for me. I now learned,
however, from that gentleman, that to avoid delay
it would be better to go myself, first sending my
caravan outside the gate, and representing to the
minister that 1 was actually waiting for the letter,
in which case he would probably give it to me
immediately. I accordingly sent Paul with my
little caravan to wait for me at the tombs of the
califs, and, attended by the consul's janizary, rode
up to the citadel, and stopped at the door of the
governor's palace. The reader may remember
that on my first visit to his excellency I saw a
man whipped—this time I saw one bastinadoed.
I had heard much of this, a punishment existing, I
believe, only in the East, but I had never seen it
inflicted before, and hope I never shall see it again.
As on the former occasion, I found the little gov-
ernor standing at one end of the large hall of en-
trance, munching, and trying causes. A crowd
was gathered around, and before him was a poor
Arab, pleading and beseeching most piteously,
while the big tears were rolling down his cheeks :
near him was a man whose resolute and somewhat
angry expression marked him as the accuser,
seeking vengeance rather than justice. Suddenly
the governor made a gentle movement with his
hand ; all noise ceased; all stretched their necks
and turned their eager eyes towards him; the ac-