Policy of the Servants of the Emperor.
The Bashaws, and others holding responsible situations in the empire, are continually purchasing a good name and good report at court, by courtesy to and by feeing the ministers of the Emperor to report favourably of them, whenever opportunity may offer. Incredible sums are sometimes expended in this way.
El [183] Wah El Grarbee, or the Western Oasis.
The prince, Muley Abd Salam, elder brother of the reigning Emperor, Muley Soliman, purchased, on his return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, a domain in (Santariah [184]) the Oasis of Ammon or Siwah, as a retreat; and being appointed by his father Seedi Muhamed, viceroy of the province of Suse [185], he was enabled to give succour to the Shelluhs, inhabitants of that province, on their pilgrimage to Mecca, and to entertain them with the comforts of hospitality on their passage through the Desert. This was the more agreeable to these Shelluhs, because, after passing a long journey of some thousands of miles through Sahara, they reached, at Santariah, not only a territory yielding every comfort and necessary of life, but a country wherein their own prince had authority, and wherein their own native language is spoken and understood.
Footnote 183:[ (return) ] In the Lybian Desert there are three Wahs (or Oasises, as we call them): the greater, called El Wah El Kabeer; the lesser, called El Wah Segrer; and the Oasis of Ammon, called El Wah El Grarbie, i. e. the Wah of the West.
Footnote 184:[ (return) ] The Wah of the West is also called by the Mograbines Santariah.
Footnote 185:[ (return) ] See the map of West Barbary.
When this prince's father, the emperor Seedi Muhamed died [186], the prince Abdsalam engaged Alkaid Hamed ben Abdsaddock, late governor of Mogodor, to go to Santariah, and sell this domain for him; which he accordingly did. It is more than probable that the Shelluhs of Siwah are an emigration from Suse.
Footnote 186:[ (return) ] About twenty-eight years since.
Prostration, the etiquette of the Court of Marocco.