398 TRANSLATIONS OF prevent the extortion of the alkaid, who might, as has often happened before, throw impediments in the way for the purpose of extorting presents, &c.

Translation of a Firman of Departure literally translatedfrom the Original Arabic, hy James Grey Jackson, L.S.

Soliman ben Muhamed, ben Abdallah, ben Ismael Sultan, &c.

Praise be to God alone. Our servants El Hage Mohamed o Bryhim, and Seid Mohamed Bel Akkia, peace and the mercy of God be with you ! This premised, I command you to suffer the Christian merchant, Jackson, to embark for his own country, if it appears to you that no one pursues him in law [for debt,] as I wrote to you on this subject in my last letter : if no one claims of him any right by law, allow him to go, and do not impede him.

God protect you, and peace be with you. 3d day of SafFer, the good year 1220 of the Hejra, (A. C. 1805.)

Letter VIII. As a specimen of the lofty style of writing so much in use among the Eastern authors, I shall « This repetition of the principal subject in Arabic correspondence, is a mode of impressing on the mind more forcibly, the subject intended to be impressed, and is commonly practised by the best Arabian, and African writers ; it also frequently occurs in the inspired writings. See Psalms Ixxv. 1. Ixxvii. l.&c. '