ORIGINAL TALE. THE MOUCHAID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 227, 11 September 1862, Page 6

ORIGINAL TALE. THE MOUCHAID

CH4.PTEB I,

It was one of those beautiful summer evenings so often seen in Algeria The bright orb of day had just closed itsxliurnnl career, but, jis it set, had illuminated "the horizon with every varied tint of the rainbow, fantastic figures of all shapes and forms were designated.on the firmumtnt in azure and gold. From the point where it had sunk below the horizon, stream? of light emerged, concentrating on that point —gradually they blended with the clouds around, and floated in masses, some appearing like a canopy, whose fringes were go!d and purple, others assuming as i have before stated every shape and form. The camp of Abd-el-Kader was placed on the platform which formed part of a spur of the mountains which surround the town of Oran. The Tisns rolled its golden sands at the foot of the hill, whilst- m the back ground were the : snow-capped'mountain* —it -was the month of "December. On the platform before .mentioned was pitched a small tent, in. front of which there had been placed a high poTe. and from near its summit a horsetail, the hairs of which" wore tied together, denoted that "-.there was the tsulta.i of the Arabs, and that for the present the alarms of war were at rest; let. however, tint horse tail be loosed to the wind, 'tis the signal of battle i or danger near; for fit the foot r.f the pole arc i a guard and two bugler.'; the blast of who-^e-i horn, as-the loosenodlmrii iloit on tho Imvzo, will arouse from their slumWrs Iho sleeping host. But their slumbers are .safe; they aiv j guarded by picquets all round, whose duty it is to watch-and protect thair conrul.'s and beloved Sultan from- sudden surprise. A youth, who might ba some one or two am! ■twenty years old, 'approached otic of .the:-'? outer guards stationed on the Ilc:nccen rfuid He was on f00t,.. leading by the bridle rein a coal-black steed of the ."'true Kochiani breed; but boil) steed and rider a^p-.":irod fatigued, as if they had. performed a long journey, and * that, too, at", no ordinary pace. The young msn was dressed in the usual Arab cloak of bU.-.k. cloth, but it was of the finest texture,.and his hi»ii red cap shewed that h- did nut belong to the | Arab tribe?, but was from the sunny clime-- \ of Fez. As he drew near the sentry challenged 'him..—the mn^ic word '■' Humehaia" was suriicient to pass him without further enquiry. The reader will wonder what the word : "Mouc]jaid,"-.vhichposse^sedsuchata!iim:i-.iic effect could import, bat that worsder wiii ce:i«o when informed thit '-jMnuchaid1' si^nif-os one who has come to elk', for tho cause til" tl;.; Prophet. . With tiie"K-iief that to whoever Mailed fighting against the Christhns, not only is the bridge of El Knrik rendered passable, but is not required, win it be wondered at, that many who profess the creed of Mahomet, should j offer up their lives on battle's crimson field, ! to secure admittance to the seventh heaven, not by crossing on the narrow bridge of a single camel's hair, but by the more easy and pleasant way of being borne in a litter b'v four bright honris, the birds of -Paradise." who, dressed in green, are ever ready to receive the soul of him who falls in fight against."'the Christians, and to convey him to -their bright abode where rivers flowing with milk and "honey, the most delicious fruits, and their bright "charms reward him for dangers and perils past. O ! Mahomet! well didst thou. know the liquid fire which flows through the veins of youth in the climes of the sunny East, and well didst thou lay the plan to lead them on to the valley of the dark shadows of death, which thy bright brides rendered but a happy release from the world and its cares. To return to the youth whom we have thus introduced to the reader as a "MouchaTd." We have said that he was dressed in the usual Arab dress, yet of superior manufacture. The rest of his 'equipment corresponded. By his side hurran ataghan, suspended "by silken baldric slung over the shoulder, his sa^hier or s:«s!i wasofnd silk, mixed with golden threads. and the handles "of his long pistols wen: so disposed in it. as to be ready for-instant u?o; their barrels were under the sashier, but from the costly manner in which the bandies were inlaid with gold, it might be surmised that they were of no common manufacture. Red Morocco boots,", such -as worn by the rich Moors and Arabs, completed the dress. In person he was tall—five feet eight or nine iaches; his complexion was what we term in the ladies that of a brunette ; and in his dark ferown eye at times—but "tVas but for "a"" moment—a. bright flash would illumine them; then with a sigh, his mind appeared to return to someone ail absorbing thought," by which he appeared ever to be engrossed. Having passed the sentry, he-drew near towards the'hor^ tail hung heavily alongside the pole; he had approached within about one yard of it, when a tall, handsome Arab, in whose hand was a Marshal's baton, appeared at the tent doorit was Bouhaumdi, Abd-el-Kader's brother-in-law, and Bey of Ilemecca. He gave the word "To Axma !" Quick at the' ■ summons. blast'the-horse tail being loosed floated to the breeze, the shrill note of the trumpets sent forth their summons; an officer drew the pole from the ground, and held it in his hand; the guard of twenty of the '^Mouchaids" having formed up, in rear ol t heSal tan's banner, which they were all sworn to defend till death, and the bright bnJes for whom they longed, should call them hence. Strange it may appear, yet not more strange than true, it was with difficulty that Abd-el Kader could prevent this sacred band, from seeking death in every encounter, but such was the ascendency he possessed over them, -and in fact over all his followers, that" his will was law. The "Moucha'uls," he never detached unless on some expedition, when there was the greatest danger, and he inculcated as a maxim that death was their sure doom, but that to die as might best serve the Prophet's cause, would duly enhance their bliss, as brighter and more lovely brides would be° allotted them. Bouhaumdi cast his eyes around to" see if the soldiers who were bivouacing on the mountains and the river's banks, spran"- to their arms with that alacrity which the° general likes to see in his troops. A smile passed over his handsome features, as the first blast of the bugle was responded to by the Allah ! hu! or war cry of the men, 'who hastened to their respective post?, that is, the infantry; the cavalry, whose horses were all piquetted in line, were ready in an instant by their ' horses "skits, prepared to mount. A few mo- I ments back all seemed so still, that the sound of the river falling over a small declivity some six feet high, was the only sound to be heard; now all was in motion, the bugles ofthe ivlouchauls were echoed by those of the infantry and the kettle drums ofßouhaumdi's cavalry. For a moment the Mouchaid, or as the reader of this ta4e will doubtless have recognised who the MouchaTd." was, we may give him ■" his name,- twas Abdallah ! gazed around him,lib eye lighted up with a warrior's fire, then .-heaving, a deep sigh as the thoughts of his last love came over him a melancholy shade passed over his countenance. Binihaiindi who had seen him coming up, saw at once that he was no common volun-; teer; but, imagining from the ;dress- that -he was some officer of the Emperor, in all-proba-bility come with letters from the Emperor, he responded to "Salum Aleikum Sedi," of

Abdallah, with the utmost courtesy—asking I at the same time what news from the Court I of the Great Muley, Abd Herramann ? I •'I corns from the Court, but not from the Emperor," replied .the youth, "if I mistake not ] from what I have heard, I address the Bey of liemecca ?" j "Even so," replied Bouhaumdi, "if from the I Court, and not. iroai the Emperor, why seek you our camp ?"' i '•1 come," replied'.Abdallah, "to fight the j Infidel, and die a Mouchaid.My father is the governor of Fez, and by the side of the Commander of the Army of the Faith 1.," mean to remain and place my life, at his disposal if ho wishes my services, if not the'Kafer (or Infidel) is not far off, and my good sword shall send some few of them to dark Eblis—ere I go to the bright bride?, who wait for me to join them in their lovely bowers." " Welcome, brave youth"!" exclaimed the Chief, extending his hand, which Abdallah having slightly pressed, placed his own hand j on. his. heart,'-and made a low salaam. "We are-aaxiouV' continued liunhauindi, I ."to see more of our brethren from Muley I And llerram inn's territory ; "..join oar ranks, and hail your earning a3 the harbinger of future succour.* from the warriors of Fez and jNesquiucz; they were not wont of old, when' the -M«>sehu: m binds poured their legions j over the Straits into the Christian laud, and took their Kingdom from them, to be so slack in defending and supporting the banner of the holy Prophet. You' liavu co;ne in time-to-day j to meet the dogs; for my'scouts -inform me i their columns have left Oran, and are making this way,—fo-mor.rovv's sun will rise on scenes of blood, and, with the will of Allah, the cro.vs will fee.l on many of them, ere it sees. Come into the tmt, for the suHau himself is here, and you can at once make your intentions, kuown to him."