HAREM TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1017, 9 March 1912, Page 4

HAREM TRAGEDY.

PRINCESS HAS HER RIVAL

MURDERED

Abesher, the wild chieftainy in the Wadai, which a year ago caused general horror by the massacre of French officers and soldiers, has now been the scene of a strange harem tragedy. Princess Sherfia, niece of the Sultan Acyl and wife of the Said Gaoud, had her rival Toma, whom she lured to her harem, slain in her presence by one of her slaves. The young woman, who was the wile of a native sergeant of the tirailleurs in the service of the French, died on the spot, and her body was thrown ignominiously to the dogs in the desert. The body of the unfortunate young woman was carried by comrades to the headquarters of the French commander, and they look a fierce oath to avenge her death. The French officers had to make an inquiry to appease the anger of the natives, and suspicion finally fell on Princess Sherfia and her four slaves, Abdallah, Diertna, Roudia and Bilali, and all five were taken prisoners. After two days : e'.mtiou, the Princess declared tier willingness to speak. She then said proudly that she was Sheilia, the niece of Acyl, and that the handsome Gaoud was her husband. He married her when she was a mere girl, and when “her foot was so light that no lettered scribe could have read its imprint on the sand.” She sent ner slaves to Toma one Suuday night, and told her that Gaound wanted to see her. Three times Toma, who was suspicious of something, re-

fused to come. At last, when Sherfia’s slave arrived with a palanquin, she consented to come, fhe slaves carried her to Sherfia’s quarter instead of to Gaoud. Sherfia appeared, and she said, “Perhaps Toma then understood the fate that I bad reserved for her.’’ One of her slaves stabbed Toma in the heart in the presence of Sherfia. Toma uttered a piercing cry and died. The Princess ordered her corpse to be washed, and then thrown into the desert. After this Sherfia said haughtily to the French officer, “Now, white chief, if you must have my life, be quick about it, and take it. Have no remorse ; I am a Princess of Wadai, and the law gives me the right to punish my rival.” The French officer, Commandant Hilaire, says the Telegraph, had some trouble to prevent the tirailleurs from applying the law of lynch to the Princess of the Desert.