THE KAID'S' RELATIVES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 28

THE KAID'S' RELATIVES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, February 10. Kaid Sir Harry Mac Lean has three cousins in New Zealand — Dr Napier Mac2«ean and Mr Stuart Mac Lean (of Wellington) and Miss Hester Mac Lean (who recently took Mrs Grace Neill's position <W Assistant Inspector of Hospitals in the Dominion). Dr Mac Lean and his brother, who are talented musicians, are very well ■known in Dunedin. Wellington, and Auckland. Miss Mac Lean, who is a recent arrival, is the daughter of the late In-spector-general of Prisons in New South iWales. As anything regarding Sir Harry is of particular interest just now, I made «. call upon Dr Mac Lean to-day with a view to learning what manner of" man the former is. Sir Harry, his cousin informed me, is the son. of General Mac Lean, who caw service in India. Sir Harry was originally in the British army, but being imbued with the roving nature and the spirit of adventure that are characteristic of these soldier Mac Leans, he took service in Morocoo. Dr Mac Lean only once had the pleasure of meeting the Kaid, and, curiously enough, it was q. chance encounter in Bond street, London. _ As a matter of fact, they met in the fitting-room of their London tailor. Dr Macbean on noticing 3bim was struck with his great likeness to ftTarold Mac Lean, late Controller-general of Prisons in New South Wales, and going to him he eaid, "You're -c, Mac Lean."' >■ Yes. I am," replied the stranger. " I \V)k you for Harold Mac Lean's brother," the doctor. " No : I'm the fellow "liey call Kaid Sir Harry." was the reply, .l^he doctor then disclosed his identity, and 3§ two found that the^ were second

cousins. Dr Mac Lean was en route to New Zealand, and the Kaid was on hi 6 way back to Morocco. Dr Mac Lean describes his cousin as a man of medium height and wiry build, with a strong but kindly face. He gave one the idea of having a great deal of reserve power. When in conversation with him you were alway6 expecting him to make a joke, but, on the contrary, he would usually cay something deliberate. He had lc«t his right eye, and in its place there was a glass one, but he seemed to look you through and through with his left eye. To use the doctor's words, he fixed you with it as if it were a gimlet. Neverthe'ess, he is a man of a very kindly nature, as has been evinced by his interest in British sailors who have been shipwrecked or who have otherwise been in trouble in Morocco. He has been the means of saving many a sailor's life in that turbulent country, and has often himself gone into the dungeons in order to procure some ill-fated seaman's release. If the sailor happened to be a Scotsman the Raid's kindness was all the more noticeable. Sir Harry Mac Lean must have many 6tirring tales to tell of his adventures in Morocco, and not the least interesting should be his story of his captivity in the mountain fastnesses of the Borber chieftain Raisuli. The latter is described in some quarters as a true patriot, and there are those who think that one day he may be ruler of Morocco. It is not altogether beyond the bounds of probability that Kaid Sir Harry may one day take service under the banner of his late captor.

The captivity of Kaid Mac Lean dates back to the beginning of July. Sir Harry Mac Lean, who is 60 years of age, had command of the army of the Sultan of Morocco. The brigand, Raisuli, had assumed a Governorship, and had defied the Sultan for a long time. Sir Harry Mac Lean was at length sent to negotiate with him. With extraordinary duplicity Raisuli refused to receive the Sultan's letter unless Sir Harry MaeLean delivered it personally without an escort of troops. Mac Lean, with four attendants, visited Raisuli's camp, where he was informed that he would be detained until Raisuli's demands were granted. Raisuli then added insult to injury, and threatened to kill his caprne, alleging that he had embittered the Sultan against him. An expedition sent to release him failed in its object. After a month's captivity, Mac Lean was handed over by Raisuli to the Khama tribe, which was taking him to Fez under escort with the object of releasing him, when the bombardment of Cassablanca caused them to alter their intentions. The news threw them into such a state of fury that Raisuli thought it advisable to rescue Sir Harry Mac Lean, whom he again placed under his " protection." Negotiations were opened for his release, and he promised to hand over his captive if the British and French Governments would guarantee his own life. Early in October Raisuli reconsidered his terms, and boldly asked for £80,000 and the Governorship of Tangier, with another Governorship for an adherent. The offer was rejected, and shortly afterwards the captive escaped, but was recaptured. The difficulty with regard to the ransom was the poverty of the Moorish Government, but a proposal was made by the Maghzen that the British Government should advance the funds upon tf>i Sultan guaranteeing repayment.