Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/351

Rh "It is not easy to manage all this, for, in addition to hundreds of kanouns, or local laws, we have had here to deal with an anarchistic commune. From the original seven distinct factions there afterwards remained, owing to certain economic considerations, only four parties. Following the adoption of a resolution by the council a committee of four, consisting of one member from each of these parties, comes to me and announces the action taken, and through a similar committee I send to the council the expression of my wishes, the text of new laws or regulations and my opposition to, or approval of, their resolutions.

"Once, when I received an official communication from Rabat concerning a new tax, I summoned a meeting of the council and asked that some one should come for a copy of the document forwarded by the government. When four delegates, one from each of the four parties, arrived, I read them the document and sought to hand it to one of them to carry to the council.

"'I cannot take it,' he said, retreating.

"'But why?' I asked.

"'Because for me to carry this paper would imply that I am more important than the others, and we are all equal in the council,'

"'Yes, Ali Haddar is right,' came as a supporting affirmation from the others.

"'Then what am I to do?'

"'Make four copies of the paper and give one to each of us.'

"It immediately occurred to me," continued the Colonel, "that, if all the official documents for the council