The Contra Costa Gazette Martinez, Contra Costa County, California Saturday, 13 November 1875 ************************************* BORN - RODGERS - Near Martinez, Nov. 8th, to Mr.&Mrs. Edward RODGERS, a daughter. MARRIED - HEALD-NORTON - At Oak Vale Cottage, near St. Helena, on the 9th inst., by Rev. C.W. Dewes; Loring S. HELAD, and Miss Adaline NORTON, both of St. Helena. DIED - PACHECO - At her late residence, near Concord, Mrs. Pacuala PACHECO, wife of Fernanado PACHECO, aged 63 years. LECTURE on JAPAN - Rev. G.M. DEXTER of Vallejo, lately returned from a residence in Japan, is to deliver a lecture at Pacheco next Tuesday evening, the 16th instant, concerning Japanese characteristics and institutions, their form of government, social life and customs, education, morals and religion; with a sketch of the progress of Christianity among them. The lecture has been commended as highly interesting where it has been delivered, and should command a good attendance at Pacheco. RETURNED - Messrs. B.A. DOWNEY and John McKENNEY, of former local musical fame and popularity, after a 2 years� absence in the southern portion of the State, have returned to Contra Costa to remain, and declare that they find no place abroad that they have visited to compare with it. FELIX AMONG THE ARABS - Our whilom friend and fellow citizen, Felix A. MATTHEWS, formerly our County Assessor, but for the past 6 or 7 years United States Consul General for the Empire of Morocco, resident at Tangier, opposite Gibraltar, on the African Coast, knows pretty well how to deal with the Arabs, from his early acquaintance with their language and characteristics, and a correspondent of one of the New York papers gives the following report of the way in which he brought the New Basha to a recognition of American property rights: Public attention in Tangier Morocco has lately been excited by a decided action on the part of the United States Counsel General, which almost recalls Commodore Rodgers� lively times with the Basha of Tunis in 1805. Tangier has lately been blest with a new Basha Kaid Jilaly ben Hamoo, an old man who had been used to Moorish intrigue and oppression all his life, and has never before been brought into contact with Christians. Some goods for the Sultan lately arrived at Tangier, and Kaid Jilaly proceeded to �attach� all the camels in the port to convey the packages to Fez. Among others, he appropriated some camels belonging to citizens of different Christian nations. The Italian Consul was the 1st who applied for the restoration of 2 camels belonging to an Italian subject, and the request was granted. This was followed by application of a similar character from the British and American representatives. The Basha refused these applications and on being reminded that he had already granted the same request to the Italian Consul, he exclaimed, �Why, you Consuls are like so many monkeys! Whatever one does all the rest must do!� Col. F.A. MATTHEWS, our Consul General, immediately called on Mr. WHITE, the British Consul to ask if he would join in resenting the language used by the Basha. Mr. WHITE declined, saying that he would let the insult pass unnoticed; so Colonel MATTHEWS decided to exact satisfaction singly. In pursuance of this resolution he sent word to Sid Mohamed Bargash, the Sultan�s Minister for Foreign Affairs, informing him that if the Basha did not come personally to the United States Consulate, by 12 o�clock that day and make a full apology, he (Col. MATTHEWS) should haul down his flagstaff and cross to Gibraltar, there to await the orders of his government. In reply to MATTHEWS, the Minister begged for an extension of time to 3 p.m., as the day was Friday - the Musselman Sabbath - and the Basha was due at the mosque at 12. Col. MATTHEWS granted this extension and at 3 o�clock the Basha and the Minister for Foreign Affairs arrived in state, with a numerous retinue. Col. MATHEWS [spelled 2 ways] received them seated, and when the Basha had fully apologized for the expression of which he had been guilty, rose and shook hands with his contrite visitors. The rejoicings and congratulations in Tangier were loud, as the Basha, in order we suppose to avoid any further complications, immediately afterward released all the camels he had attached. Transcribed by Dee Sardoch To see more old newspapers, visit www.newspaperabstracts.com/