"Get out, you Jew! God burn your father! Dogs, take off your slippers--Abd er-Rahman is coming!"Thus they were scolded and abused on every side, kicked, cuffed, jostled, and wedged together well-nigh to suffocation.
Their banners were torn out of their hands, their tambourines were broken, their voices were drowned, and finally they were driven back into their Mellah and shut up there, and forbidden to look upon the entry of the Sultan even from their roofs.
And the vagabonds and ragamuffins among the faithful in the streets, having got rid of the unbelievers had enough ado to keep peace among themselves.They pushed and struggled and stormed and cried and laughed and clamoured down this main artery of the town through which the Sultan's train must pass.Men and boys, women also and young girls, donkeys with packs, bony mules too, and at least one dirty and terrified old camel.It was a confused and uproarious babel.
Angry black faces thrust into white ones, flashing eyes and gleaming white teeth, and clenched fists uplifted.
Human voices barking like dogs, yelping like hyenas, shrill and guttural, piercing and grating.Prayings, beggings, quarrellings, cursings.
"Arrah! Arrah! Arrah!"
"O Merciful! O Giver of good to all!"