Rahman and several dozen berber nobles walked out of Uster's Governor's Mansion in high spirits.
On the first day the Governor reappeared in Mitija after "disappearing" for more than three months, he summoned Algiers' great nobles, officials, and tribal chiefs. In the King's name, he announced the establishment of the French Algiers Province and issued a series of new decrees.
The contents of those decrees sent Rahman and the others into ecstasy.
"How much did you get?" Razzaz asked the tribal chief beside him in a delighted whisper. "I got over 6,000 Riyals." The other man was related to him by marriage and did not hide it either. "I got 4,000 Riyals."
Yes, Uster had just announced that each tribe could keep one-third of the property confiscated from the Guard Corps and the Naval Power, while the remainder would be turned over to the provincial treasury for the construction of towns, irrigation facilities, roads, and the like.
Though this reduced the tribes' income somewhat, it also laundered money that had once been unfit to see the light of day, so no one objected.
Besides, the Governor could hardly investigate the exact sums so precisely. They could still skim off a little extra.
Several tribal chiefs nearby discussed it loudly. "I just calculated it. Under the new tax system, our tribe will pay more than 200 Riyals less every year."
"No more damned Tax Farmers collecting taxes however they please!"
Someone shouted in halting French, "Long live His Majesty the King!"
"Faisal, I really envy you for knowing French. Now you might be able to become an official in Mitija."
"Listen to me, it isn't hard to learn. Now that there's no Navy, buy a ship and go to Europe for trade. You'll learn French in two years." "I can't do