of magic which continually exerts its influence every hour of every day and is always openly or secretly acknowledged as all-powerful?
It is perhaps easier to appreciate some of these difficulties, if one has a concrete example to refer to. I had one such from a French firm that was interested in purchasing wool in the southern districts of Morocco. Their representative enjoyed friendly and profitable relations with the population of many Berber villages, as he had known them for a long time and was at home in their language.
Once, when he turned up at one of the large settlements just before the shearing time, he found an Arab merchant from Algiers installed before him and learned from native friends that the man had come to buy the village wool.
"But I have an agreement with you for two more years," the agent protested to the Berbers.
"Yes," they replied, "you are quite right and may rest assured that we shall keep our bargain."
Satisfied with their answer, the agent returned to Casablanca but waited in vain on the appointed day for the arrival of the caravan that was to bring him the wool. When it had not arrived after a week, a messenger was despatched to tire village and brought back word that the Berbers did not wish to transport the wool but that the merchant must come for it himself. On returning to the place and inquiring the reason for their change of heart, the foreigner had this response:
"You cast a spell over Ali's son and made him deathly ill. The hakim told us that it was the work of the evil
