No. 353.
Mr. Heap
to Mr. Hunter.
Tunis, May 29, 1877. (Received June 18.)
Sir: Nothing has as yet occurred in connection with the war in the East to disturb the tranquillity of this country.
The government acts wisely in doing nothing and allowing nothing to be done which might tend to excite the fanatical feelings of the population.
Some Turks who came here to enlist recruits were shipped off to Malta before they had time to accomplish anything, and even a marabout, or religious maniac, who paraded the streets waving a green flag and calling upon the Moslems to arise against the infidels, was promptly picked up by the police and placed where he would do the least harm.
The Bash-Mufti, of whom I spoke in dispatch No. 237, has objected strongly to money being sent to Constantinople, and told the Bey that, rather than use the resources of the country in this way, he should endeavor to alleviate the sufferings of his own people, many of whom were in jail for debts contracted to buy bread for their starving families. The Bey has permitted the “war party” to call for a voluntary subscription to send to the Sultan, and contributed liberally to the fund, but only 150,000 piasters ($18,750) was subscribed.
It is too soon yet to judge of the effect of the war on this population. Should the Moslems suffer severe and continued reverses, I apprehend that the fire of religious enthusiasm, which is now smoldering, will be fanned into a conflagration which will embrace every Mohammedan nation.
I am, &c.,