Travels in the Atlas and Southern Morocco, a narrative of exploration . He nowasked to be allowed to go back to Dukalla to borrowthe remainder from his friends. Afraid, however, tolose sight of his prey, the Jew demanded to be paid onthe spot. With difficulty his victim contrived to raise$25, leaving still $5 unpaid. But even yet he was notpermitted to escape. The Kaid was hand and glovewith the money-lender, and to prison the Moor musthave gone, but that at the last moment the remainingdollars were scraped together, and the unfortunate wasfree. The Jew had thus received I475 in a year forthe
Travels in the Atlas and Southern Morocco, a narrative of exploration . He nowasked to be allowed to go back to Dukalla to borrowthe remainder from his friends. Afraid, however, tolose sight of his prey, the Jew demanded to be paid onthe spot. With difficulty his victim contrived to raise$25, leaving still $5 unpaid. But even yet he was notpermitted to escape. The Kaid was hand and glovewith the money-lender, and to prison the Moor musthave gone, but that at the last moment the remainingdollars were scraped together, and the unfortunate wasfree. The Jew had thus received I475 in a year forthe use of $300. In the towns, on the very best security, the lowestrate of interest taken is 30 per cent., but morecommonly it rises to 120 per cent., or higher. Topeople who have to raise money at once to satisfy theravenous maw of a Kaid, the common way is to lend$100 at an interest of $50 for three months. Ofcourse, at the end of that time it is rarely paid, andthe Jew gladly adds the $50 to the $100, and lets theaccumulated amount go on at the same rate of THE JEWS. 421 It must be admitted, however, that whatever maybe our disgust at discoveries such as these, the Jewsare not altogether an unmitigated evil to the countryof their adoption, or rather, to put it more correctly,they are of no small value to the merchants of othercountries. Their keen mercantile spirit makes them acapital medium of commercial intercourse, and doesmuch to keep the country open in some measure tothe trade of Europe. Before saying more about the general position ofthe Jew, it may not be out of place to pay a visit tohim in his own quarters. Thither, however, I wouldnot advise any of my readers who are easily upset bysights and smells to follow me. In going to the Mellah, we have to pass through aconsiderable part of the Medinah, in which we our-selves are located. We shall not, however, waste timeover the scenes which meet us en route, beyond re-marking, for the purposes of comparison, the
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