BEFORE leaving home Elizabeth had been asked to buy stamps for one or two enthusiastic collectors, so they visited the different post offices, for there were many nationalities represented, in Tangier, and British, French, German and Spanish all had their separate offices.
En route they saw something of the place, but found the people themselves so fascinating that some of them almost forgot to look at the buildings.
Then their guide led them through narrow, cobbly streets to a shop, where they were invited to enter, mount the stairs and rest. And while they were sitting there in comfort, the owner brought forth the wares which he thought would interest them. One thing they bought was a curious little girdle which was fastened by slipping a miniature scimitar into its miniature sheath.
The room they were in had a pleasant balcony overhanging the street, and they stood for some time watching the busy scene below. They noticed one or two English ladies who were walking quite unattended, and concluded that it was only visitors like themselves who were apt to receive too much attention.
But in spite of the bright sunshine, and the novelty of it all, they saw very much to sadden them in Tangier. In our cities at home we have workhouses and hospitals where the very poor and the afflicted may find a refuge; but in Tangier misery openly displays itself by the wayside, and the beggars and "holy men" they saw were many of them most piteous objects.
And then, in one of the quieter streets, a familiar name caught the eye, it was British and Foreign Bible Society, and somehow it helped to comfort them, for it told that God's good news was offered there to all who would accept it, and the book which contains solace for all human woe was in their midst.
They would have been still more interested had they known in how very many languages the scriptures are stocked at that depot, and that quite a nice number are sold there every year. And besides this, colporteurs carry the precious book up and down the country.
Years ago, one of these brave men, Aisa Farah by name, had the joy of leading a Moorish ex-artillery officer to the Savior. His name has not come down to us, but he is always spoken of as El Kaid, which means the Captain. In gratitude to the Lord who had saved him, and in love to his fellow-men, he too became a colporteur.
He knew that souls all around him were perishing, and he longed that they should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and drink of the living water which had satisfied his own soul-thirst. And so he did not count his life dear to him, but went about among his countrymen until the day when he met his death at the hands of a fanatical mob at Larache. The suffering and ignominy have long been forgotten, and El Kaid waits with the Lord he loved for the day when he shall see the fruit of his labors and receive his reward.
It is never easy to be a Christian, but shall not the thought of El Kaid, one of the noble army of witnesses for Christ, encourage us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us," and "run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”