Rev A Brandram No.6
Tangier, 23rd November 1847
My Dear Friend,
I sit down to write you this in this, to me, new and strange land. In my letter of the 4th of October from Madrid, I hinted, in reference to Mr. Bourne's return from the Cape of Good Hope, that you might have again an agent in Africa sooner than you might think. This then is verified, and I am now on the Continent of Africa, and in the Empire of Morocco. This is a new quarter to me in my movements, and verily it is a strange land, compared to all I have heretofore seen. Though the distance from Europe is not great, yet the difference of all things here from there is immense, and the change seems to indicate the arrival, not in a new continent, but in a new planet. This town, its streets and houses, are most unlike all that is to be seen in Europe: and the people, in their aspect, dress, manners, language, and religion are most different from what is on the other side. One thing only, and that in a moderate degree, links the two continents to each other, and that is, that there are many Jews here. The great body of the population, as you are no doubt aware, are Moors, and all these are Mohammedans. The Moors speak Arabic, whilst all the Jews amongst themselves speak Spanish.
This wonderful people, the Jews, are in considerable number here, and I understand, over all this extensive empire. They enjoy a tolerable degree of liberty for a Mohammedan country, but are also subject to much contempt and oppression. One sign of their subjection is seen, in their being obliged to take off their shoes or slippers when passing a Mosque, and that is often enough as there are several mosques here, as you may suppose, and in different parts of the town. The number of Jews in this place is about 2000, and the Moors may amount to 6000, making in all 8000. This is rather over, I think, than under the true population.
My first business was with the Jews, and for two reasons: first, because we have a message to them which we expect them to listen to, namely, the offer to them of their own Sacred Scriptures, the Old Testament: and secondly, because I could directly communicate with them in the language they speak without an interpreter. My intercourse with them was providentially facilitated through the Supercargo of the vessel in which I came being a Jew, and of this place. Our being thus thrown together let me, in the first place, to find out that he was a Jew, and then led through our communications to my mentioning my Bible business to him, when he had once said, he would be my first customer, and would take one of my Bibles.
We landed, and now a word for the Moors, I came to the Custom House, often a troublesome place in most countries, but nowhere did I ever get through easier than here. My luggage they never examined at all, in my case of Bibles was just opened and glanced at, and let pass free of all duties. You see then how much reason I had to be pleased with these Barbary (for I will not say Barbarian) gentlemen, and to be reconciled to their turbans their beards, their cross-legged posture, their loose untidy garments, and their strange tongue.
Through my companion the supercargo I learned that there was an Inn here kept by a Jew, and I thought it my duty to come to it by way of facilitating my communication with the Jews; and I might say there was a little self and national denial in this as there is an Inn here kept by two worthy Scotch Ladies. I have had a Scotch men making their way everywhere, that I hardly expected to find Scotch Ladies here, and occupying such a prominent station. However I called on the Miss Duncans, and made an apology to them for my unnationality, and when I come back to Barbary I purpose to go to their house.
On the day after my arrival, as I was in the marketplace seeing what there was to be seen, I was accosted by two very respectable looking Jews, whom I found to be merchants, and I may say that all the merchant men of this place are Jews. They invited me to go to their house to see their merchandise. I went, and found it to consist, besides European goods, of a number of articles manufactured in the large city of Fez, the commercial and manufacturing capital of this empire. It is customary for foreigners who come here to see the country to buy some of these articles to take home as curiosities and specimens of the manufactures of Morocco. I must needs, according to custom, deal a little in this way also like other strangers. Of the things I bought were two cushions, one for you and one for Mr. Browne, to be placed on your official chairs, and which shall be forwarded by the earliest opportunity that may offer.
During my communications with these Jewish merchants, I told him that I also was a merchants man, and had goods of value to dispose of. I told them of the Hebrew Bibles I had brought; and I was pleased to find that they took much interest in this deservedly great concern of facilitating the Scriptures for the use of their countrymen. Since this first accidental, or providential interview, we have had frequent and length a communication with each other, sometimes in my visiting them, and sometimes in their calling on me at the Inn.
The result is, in the first instance, that I have disposed of my stock of Hebrew Bibles to them at a low price, that they may resell them on moderate terms to others, and thus commence and you, and it may be an extended Bible work in this dark country.
But the chief thing we have before us is a plan, a sort of arrangement for further and future sales over all this country. These two friends have agreed to sell our Books on commission as merchants, and as they have very extensive intercourse over this country generally, they will proof, I trust, able instruments for carrying on our work.
Some alterations in your printing and binding have been suggested by these friends, by way of promoting as extensive circulation as possible of the Scriptures among the Jews, and these recommendations are, I think, worthy of your attention, and, I trust, you will be able as well as willing to act upon them.
They suggest, in the first place, that the Bible should be bound up in four volumes instead of one, and because many might wish for one part, or volume, and could afford to pay for it, whilst they might not wish, at the time, the whole, or have the means to procure it. These volumes may be bound in roan without gilding the edges, or in a neat way in which most books are now issued in stamped or ornamented cloth, with the edges cut. Each volume should be sold, they suggest, at a price not exceeding Franc, and they are of the opinion that very probably a considerable sale would in this way be effected.
A second alteration, and in connexion with the preceding is suggested, and that is, that the size of the page should be reduced, in order to make volumes of a more suitable appearance in their thinner state. The size of Bagster's Hebrew Bible which you have sent us is what would suit well they say. But the type must be the same as the octavo Bible.
I'm afraid you will find some difficulty in this last mentioned alteration, as it would involve new plates and all the labour and expense of a most rigid correction at the press. But, it occurs to me that you may be able otherwise to meet our wishes. Probably there is published at Leipzic a Bible that would exactly suit the above suggestions as to size of page and type. In that case, you could manage the matter easily. But if you cannot so manage the business, my own opinion is, that it would be worthwhile to arrange for an edition to suit the case; and I say so, because, I believe, that what would suit us here, and probably effect an extensive sale, would be attended by the same advantage in all other places where anything can be done among the Jews, for the same taste or convenience indicated in the matter by the Jews here would be found most probably among the Jews everywhere.
There is one other thing in the shape of an alteration which has been brought before me, and which you could easily manage in the new edition, and that is that you do not print the roman X, because, what would you think? It is a cross. There can be no objection to the avoiding of this, and indeed that is an incongruity in using any latin or roman words or letters, the whole might and should be in Hebrew. Bagster's New Testament is a model in this, as every word and letter is Hebrew, including "in London" where it is printed, and "Samuel Bagster". Is Bible however is faulty to a considerable extent on this score. – The lettering on the back should also be in Hebrew, instead of in Latin as in Bagster's Bible, and in English in the New Testament. The lettering, and all else of this sort, is right in the Arabic Bibles.
In regard to the manner of dividing the Bible into four volumes, you will find no difficulty, as this is done to your hand, in the four usual divisions made in the Hebrew Scriptures, and which is attended to in Bagster's as you will see. These divisions are, The Pentateuch, The Anterior group Prophets, The Posterior prophets, and The Hagiography. The volumes, by this division, will be in bulk not much unlike each other. The contents to each volume should be given. Bagster has given for the three latter parts, but not for the first, supposing the general contents which he has given there would do.
The Jews have five synagogues here, in each of which on average that are five manuscript copies of the Pentateuch. The other parts of the Scriptures they read from printed books. I attended one of these last Saturday, and found the place filled, and many had books. These Jews seem more religious than many I have met with. There is a service in their synagogues three times every day, and on the Sabbath the portion of time in attendance is greater. The synagogues are small, being all private houses. They will contain from 100 to 150 each.
They have several schools, where the children are taught to read and understand Hebrew, and to write in the rabbinical characters, which is the alphabet they use in writing Spanish. In these schools there would be, I conceive, a considerable demand for our books.
In regard to the New Testament in Hebrew, I have not found so much favour, nor was it expected I should, but its time will come. Even my two friends, already several times mentioned, notwithstanding our intimacy, refuse conscientiously to read or take this new covenant volume. I have found others however who will, and among these is the supercargo, and a friend he brought me: and to these two I have committed a few copies to be used at their discretion.
I have sold two of the Arabic Bibles to these two last mentioned persons, and some other copies I leave with our merchants for sale or gift as they can manage.
Before I conclude, I may give you a brief notice of our religious occurrence which took place here the other day, which was The Great Festival Day of the Mohammedans. As sheep was killed, or rather I should say, mortally wounded, outside the gate. As soon as the wind was given, the sheep was put upon a man's shoulders, and off he hied with it at full speed through the streets, pelted and cursed as he ran along, till he got to the Great Mosque. Should the sheep be alive still on the man's getting there, it is a good sign. In the present case the sheep was dead, and hence the omen was bad. And there are better and surer signs than this, that this Mohammedan Power is near its end. But I must not touch upon these, as this would be politics, the only ground on which you forbid me to tread. I was at their copper mint year to day, a curious sight amongst the many such in this place. They were stamping their callings with the year of the Hegira 1263. Their Moon is therefore already on the wane by 3 years.
Tomorrow morning I intend to set out for Tetuan, which lies about 40 miles to the Eastward of this. Tetuan is more than twice as large as the city, and that are said to be 7000 Jews in it. I hope there to extend my knowledge of what lies in our line, and from thence I intend to sail for Gibraltar.
I have lying before me a Map of the "North Coast of Africa, including Marocco and Algiers," published by James Wild, 1844. If you would get this map it would facilitate the knowledge of the parts I am writing of. Marocco seems now to be spelled always by persons who know it, with an a instead of an o as formerly, as you will see in this map and elsewhere.
I send this letter from hence to Gibraltar, to go by the Packet or through Spain, that you may have the earliest notices of what we require in this quarter. What may occur in Tetuan will be afterwards communicated.
Please to remember in your prayers,
besides Spain, Morocco, and Barbary,
and Africa: – and me.
Believe me Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. After finishing this letter, my two merchants friends came in. They said they had seen their Chief Rabbi, to whom they had mentioned the division of the Bible in two volumes as above noticed. They said, the Rabbi stated, that the having each of the five books of the Pentateuch in a volume by itself would also be desirable, and our friends agreed with this. Please therefore to let us have a portion in this way to try them. For the schools at least they will do well.