'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎94] (227/458)

94
COMMANDER F. JONES.
the Yakeel is clouMless enjoying what is looked upon by all understrap.
pers as a God-send, in other terms an opening given whereby they can
enrich themselves at the expense of both parties, and in this respect,
so universal is the custom that but little shame is felt at such a pro
ceeding. It is in fact another link of the great chain of corruption
which surrounds all social relations, whether of state or otherwise in
this country, and is passively submitted to by the masters,—for servants,
as I have mentioned before, have either no salary at all, or it is so small
that this has become a sanctioned system of reimbursement during a
term of service.*
The Majummah were in raptures at the interest we took in the release
of the old sheikh, attributing our motives to a personal regard for the
tribe, which of course we did not deny—though we had more selfish
reasons for conciliating their favor, irrespective of the sympathy the
treatment of the blind patriarch called forth. In fact, the Dijeil
was to be crossed on the morrow, and without their aid we could not
effect it. After the messenger had been despatched, and the circula
tion of the coffee had tended to dispel the remembrance of their
wrongs, we inquired after the “ Chali, ,, as the ridge which has hitherto
been identified with the Median Wall of Xenophon is called. We are
informed that it is close on the other side of the Dijeil, and all par
ties agree in saying that “ it runs to the Euphrates across the Jezireh,’
or Mesopotamia. Here then one would think was evidence suffi
ciently conclusive, and accordingly a letter was despatched to Sheikh
Hassan, a Dellim chief, for an escort to accompany us along its course.
This tribe is encamped opposite Samara, having come from the bank
of the Euphrates,—which they usually do in the Spring for the sake of
rich pastures that, in this season, spontaneously shoot up on the high
grounds here bordering the Tigris to the West. After much cross ques-
* The system has doubtless prevailed, more or less, from the earliest ages. Tlie Scriptures
Indeed are not wanting in like instances of mal-appropriation, and the punishment of
Gehazi for a similar deception on Naaman the leper is familiar to every one. Ehsha, however,
was a more scrupulous master than the modern Turk, whose hands are red with deeds
such as Gehazi’s, and it is a consciousness of this defect in himself that allows the master to
connive at the acts of the servants throughout the East. Complaints made on this head
answer no good pu pose, for the judge, like the arbitrator in the fable, appropriates the
“oyster” to himself by way of setti ng the dispute. I was once condemning the laxity 'd
the law in this respect in an as emhly of these people, when one of the knowing ones retorted
by arguing that the speed with which decisions were arrived at in the East cid away
with the anxiety and expense attending law proceedings in England, wherein the end, both
parties were frequently ruined by the intern inable delay on a matter that had originally
been of but little value, if possessed by neither party. This was a rejoinder I little expected,
and confess took me aback for the time, for in many cases it was but too true.
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