Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/70

54 farthest oases and up into the Atlas ranges, during the days when Spain with fire and sword began to persecute and torture them, finally leaving to them the single choice of immigration from the peninsula or death. On African soil they often faced a new persecution, no less terrible, perishing in thousands at the hands of warring Berbers, or from sickness and from the killing rays of the sun.

Centuries passed, during which they gained the silent acknowledgment of the right of existence and work, forming strongly knit local units and becoming rich, loyal citizens of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and even of those desert expanses whose real masters and owners are not clearly defined, since the spahis of the sultan or of the bey, as well as the French officials, have not yet established themselves there. Unquestionably these past centuries of slavery, fear and torture have left deep traces on the faces of these African Jews.

Once through the Jewish quarter, we soon passed the Meshwar and the great mosque of Jama el-Kebir, near which we visited the tombs of the holy men of the Ben Zeiyan dynasty, upon whom were conferred special honor by the natives of tire Beni-Snous tribe, these purest of Hadars. These masters were the holy Ahmed Bel-Hasen el-Ghomari and Mohammed ben Merzug. We were everywhere struck by the great quantity of kubbas, barakkas and tabouts, that is, chapels and tombs for the ashes of saints and local patrons, to whom the crowds of the pious come for miraculous help. Mullahs and professors from the medersas told me that they are greatly opposed to the practices at these sacred shrines, as such a state of affairs works against the unity of Islam and