ASTONISHING THE NATIVES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2254, 19 May 1881, Page 3

ASTONISHING THE NATIVES.

Some sensation was caused in town recently, says the “Auckland Herald,” of a late date, by the odd and unaccustomed appearance of an Arab in flowing white turban and robe, who was leisurely perambulating Queen street, and whose strange “rig out” caused equal amazement and admiration to a crowd of about fifty young Aucklanders, who constituted themselves into a suite and guard of honor to the distinguished foreigner. The stranger’s history, we understand, is as follows Towards the end of the Franco-German war the Arabs, encouraged by Algeria being nearly denuded of troops through the exigency of French home affairs, rebelled, but were eventually subdued by overwhelming reinforcements from France, The Arab who so astonished the youth of Auckland on Saturday, was one of the leaders of the insurrection, was taken prisoner, and deported to New Caledonia. His time having expired, he took passage for Auckland in the schooner Policeman, arriving here on Saturday afternoon. He arrived in a sailor’s jumper, and, except by his remarkably fine manly appearance, did not attract special attention until, after a hearty meal in a Victoria street restaurant, he once more assumed the garments of freedom and of his race. He is here on route to Algeria.