letters-第85章
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f turbans of all dyes； white； green and red； of Jewish skull…caps with here and there an Andalusian hat； of haiks and gaberdines； of arrogant Moors； indifferent Europeans and cringing Hebrews； the latter walking barefooted in the place where the corn is sold； which the Moor says is sacred and unfit to be pressed by the sandals of the dog…Jew。 What a hubbub of sounds： the unearthly cry of the enormous camels and the neighing； braying； and bleating of other quadrupeds； mingled with the discordant jabber of various and strange tongues。 I have been in many singular places in the course of my existence； but certainly in none more so than the SOC DE BARRA of Tangiers。
There is much Spanish spoken in this place； especially amongst the Jews； it is also generally understood by the Europeans。 The prevalent language however is the Arabic； or rather a dialect of it called by some Mograbbin。 I was glad to find that I could make myself very well understood with the Arabic of the East； notwithstanding that it differs in many points from the Mograbbin； or language of the West。 One thing has particularly struck me； namely that the wild people； who arrive from the far interior and who perhaps have never before seen a European； invariably understand me best； and frequently in conversation designate objects with the same words as myself； which however are not intelligible to the Moors of the coast。 I am by this time exceedingly well known at Tangiers； indeed I take the best means of being so by entering into discourse with every person。 I believe I am liked by the Moors and am certainly treated with much respect by the Jews amongst whom a report prevails that I am a Polish rabbi。 Shortly after my arrival I was visited by the most wealthy Jewish merchant of Tangiers； who pressed me in the strongest manner to take up my abode at his house； assuring me ＇that I should live＇ at free cost； and be provided with all the comforts and luxuries which could be procured。
I will now proceed to relate what has been accomplished in the cause of the Gospel since my arrival at Tangiers。 I will endeavour to be as concise as possible； reserving some particulars until a future occasion。 For the first fortnight I accomplished nothing； and indeed attempted nothing in the way of distribution； being occupied in making myself acquainted with the place and studying the character of its inhabitants。 I occasionally spoke to the Christians； who are principally Genoese and Spanish sailors and their families； on the subject of religion； but with the greatest caution； being unwilling to alarm the two or three friars who reside in what is called the Spanish convent； who are the only officiating Christian priests of the place； and who might have warned their flock against the heretic intruder。 I found； as I had anticipated； great ignorance among these poor people respecting the most important points of the religion which they profess； and the Gospel of God they had never seen nor heard of。 At the end of the above…mentioned period I employed a Jewish youth to carry the Testament to their houses and to offer it to them for sale。 It is with humble gratitude to the Lord that I am able to state that considerable success crowned our efforts。 The blessed Book is now in the hands of most of the Christians of Tangiers； from the lowest to the highest； from the fisherman to the consul。 One dozen and a half were carried to Tetuan on speculation； a town about six leagues from hence； they will be offered to the Christians who reside there。 Other two dozen are on their way to distant Mogadore。 One individual； a tavern…keeper； has purchased Testaments to the number of thirty； which he says he has no doubt he can dispose of to the foreign sailors； who stop occasionally at his house。 You will be surprised to hear that several amongst the Jews have purchased copies of the New Testament； with the intention as they state of improving themselves in Spanish； but I believe from curiosity。 Whatever their motive be； let them but once read this holy Book and I have no fear of their remaining enemies of the Lamb whom their fathers crucified。 I regret that only few can read the Spanish language； their law forbidding them to read or write any characters but the Hebrew。 Had I the New Testament to offer them in the latter tongue； I believe that I could dispose of thousands of copies in Barbary。 My work being completed here for the present； I now hasten back to Seville； pray write to me speedily directing to the usual place。
I remain； Revd and dear Sir；
Truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 21st September； 1839
To the Rev。 G。 Browne （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 7； 1839） CADIZ； SEPR。 21 ＇1839＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR AND EXCELLENT FRIEND； … I arrived at Cadiz this morning by a small coasting…vessel； after undergoing a quarantine of four days at Tarifa。 On calling at Mr。 Brackenbury's I received your kind communication of the 29th July； acquainting me with the resolution of the Committee。
Had I been aware of that resolution before my departure for Tangiers； I certainly should not have gone。 My expedition； however； was the result of much reflection。 I wished to carry the Gospel to the Christians of the Barbary shore who were much in want of it； and I had one hundred and thirty Testaments at San Lucar which I could only make available by exportation。 The success which it has pleased the Lord to yield me in my humble efforts at distribution in Barbary will； I believe； prove the best criterion as to the fitness of the enterprise。
I stated in my last communication to Mr。 Brandram the plan which I conceived to be the best for circulating that portion of the edition of the New Testament which remains unsold at Madrid； and I scarcely needed a stimulant in the execution of my duty。 At present however I know not what to do； I am sorrowful； disappointed； and unstrung。
I wish to return to England as soon as possible； but I have books and papers at Madrid which are of much importance to me and which I cannot abandon。 This perhaps alone prevents me embarking in the next packet。 I have moreover brought with me from Tangiers the Jewish youth who so powerfully assisted me in that place in the work of distribution。 I had hoped to have made him of service in Spain； he is virtuous and clever。 My servant Antonio I was compelled to send back to Madrid ere my departure from Seville on account of his many irregularities。
I am almost tempted to ask whether some strange； some unaccountable delusion does not exist。 What should induce me to stay in Spain； as you appear to suppose I intend？ I may； however； have misunderstood you。 I wish to receive a fresh communication as soon as possible either from yourself or Mr。 Brandram； in the meantime I shall go to Seville； to which place and to the usual number pray direct。
I enclose the last letter which I received from the firm of O'Shea； from which it will appear that I received ＇word missing＇ thirty of the fifty pounds drawn for： the residue covers the expenses at Madrid； of which I defray one…half； the books being deposited at my lodgings。 I shall shortly send in my account for the last four months。 Pray present my kind remembrances to Mrs。 B。 and believe me to remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Ever truly yours；
G。 B。
P。S。 … Best regards also to Messrs。 Brandram and Jowett。
I have this moment received a letter from Seville； which was awaiting my arrival at the post office。 The British consul states that the Bibles in embargo there are at the disposal of the Society； this is the work of my friend Mr。 Southern at Madrid； for had he not exerted his powerful interest in the matter they were lost； and could not even have been exported。 To whom shall I send them？ To Gibraltar； or to England？
LETTER： 29th September； 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （Private） （ENDORSED： recd。 Octr。 14； 1839） SEVILLE； PLAZUELA DE LA PILA SECA No。 7； 29TH SEPR。 1839。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I beg leave to return you my best thanks for your kind communication of the 27th Aug。 which I found awaiting me on my return from Tangiers； and
