RAISULI, THE MOORISH REBEL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 3 August 1907, Page 4

RAISULI, THE MOORISH REBEL.

THE CAPTURER OF KAI1) McLEAX. INTERESTING SKETCH. Tin! interesting experiences of one of "Sketches of Life in Morocco," by Kathleen Mansell Pleydell. 'J'here is a great deal of interest just now in Morocco, and a woman's book, "Sketches of Life in Morocco," by Kathleen Mansell Pleydell, just published, gives by far the best account of that country, its people, life, customs that we have seen. The accounts, however, by the author of the experiences of a British friend of hers, Mr Walters, who was captured by Raisuli, the famous Moorish rebel, and whose name lias been prominent in the newspapers for months, affords some idea of the entertaining matter, which its three hundred pages contain. Here is the story as told by Walters to the author:— Mr Walters paid us a visit, and we induced him to give us an account of his experiences. He was very goodnatured about it, for I am sure he was sick of telling the same story and answering questions. He said the Moor who halloed him, waving his jellab, knew him perfectly, calling him by name. Before he had time to speak, on reaching the clump of oleanders the mounted men galloped out, and the Moors on foot surrounded him, pointing their guns and crying: are our prisoner!" It was then he called to us to flee, but immediately afterwards the Moors assured him they would not touch us, it was him the.v wanted, and no one el«e. When Mr Walters asked why he was made-captive, they replied they only obeyed Rafsuli's orders, adding that he would not be Harmed if lie came quietly to Zeenuts, the village just lieyond. Reassured on our account, Mr Walters I could not but comply; it was liaisuli we had seen ride out from the village to meet him. He greeted his prisoner courteously, saving he. would do him no hurt, but required liim as a hostage in order to obtain the release of some of his men who lm(J been incarcerated in the Tangier prison. .But on reaching and entering the village, a horde of angry looking armed men flocked round, trying to force their way to the prisoner, yelling and gesticulating, and although Raisuli endeavored to control them he.seemed powerless, Therefore, giving rapid orders to his men, Mr Walters was helped to dismount and hurried up a steep pathway to a white house, a door was opened, and he was pushed in to hear it securely locked behind him, somewhat to his relief, for the angry voices were becoming louder, and he was glad to have a barrier between him and their owners. Reason and his natural courage came to his aid, however; he argued with himself that the Moor? must know lie was a most valuable commodity living, but dead might get them into a pack of trouble. Asking the Moors how things were proceeding, Mr Walters was told that a quar\el was going on betyeen Raisuli and the tribesmen, as the latter wished to kill the captive, but they thought Raisuli, would succeed in saving his life, though if other tribesmen came, as was possible, he, might be unable to do so. With this comforting news onr friend was again left to his reflections. Some rough and most unappetising food was brought him, and a mat to sleep upon, but as the room was infested with vermin, and the noise without seemed unabated, it is not wonderful the poor man did not close his eyes until dawn, when [ lie snatched a few moments' repose. The next day he was summoned before Raisuli, and was taken to a room above in the house where he was confined. The I brigand was seated upon a mattress surrounded by fierce-looking men, each carrying a gun. He was a tall handsome man of about thirty, viith a short, hlack lieard. Ife told Mr Walters that the Sheerif of Wazan had already come from Tangier with a message from the British Minister, which had apparently put him out. He was indignant because that official had dared to threaten him, Raisuli, but he had instructed the Sheerif to say in reply that he would send the captive's head to the British Legation unless the terms were accepted within a given date. Mr Walters assured his captor that 110 doubt they would come to terms, and indeed he. had every reason to devoutly hope so! After a good deal of palaver the prisoner was taken back to bis solitary apartment. On the following day he heard a great commotion outside, the noise of horses

trampling and screaming, and a hum of voices invaded the air of his stifling prison. Presently the door was thrown open, and a crowd of armed men pushed their way in. After being roughly handled, Mr Walters was dragged Out and inarched along among a tribe of angry fanatics through the village. What a terrible ordeal it must have been, not knowing if he were liting led lo execution, to some awful form of torture, or to what! As thev went the crowd increased in numbers, villagers |toined in, women's shrill voices shrieking, "Death to the XV/.rani" jarred upon his ears, fierce, angry faces glared into his, their eyes alight with the lust of blood. Clear of the village thev hastened him down a greasy slope to where a stream ran murmuring amongst the rocks; little clumps of maidenhair fern peeped out under the shadow of the 'argest bould-

ers. In the agony of hlj mind Mr Walters' eyes seemed to take in the smallest details. Half in the water was lying the corpse of a Moorish soldier. As they approached a cloud of flies rose buzzing from the ghastly object, which lay almost at their feet. The fierce-rays of the sun had swollen the dead ninii'B features to abnormal slue adding to the horrors of mutilation they had already undergone. "Look there!" cried a Moor who held his prisoner by the arm, "as that man is so slmlt thou be ere many days pass!" "Let ns kill him here, dog of a Christian," howled a burly fanatic, striking Mr Walters in the face with his slipi per. "Death to all Christians! kill Win! kill him!" came from all around, and the ■ wretched victim felt indeed I|ib hour hat) • come. 1 "Baraks! Baraka!" (Enough! Enough!) A deep, loud voice spoke • these words, and a sudden hush fell Up- ' on all; the fierce men, shrieking and : clamoring for blood, dropped their oufcand turned their heads whom the words man jitrode

soner, and inquired in Arabic by whose orders he had been taken from his prison. Ilis accents were low and deadly, the men cringed and shrank from them and from the glance of that basilisk eye.

(living rapid orders to the guards accompanying him, the Moors surrounding Jlr Walters were seized and led away to be beaten; then Itaisuli, putting one hand on the shoulder of the man lie had rescued, walked by bis side back to the bouse. This time he took the captive into his own apartment, apologising in lordly fashion for the outrages he had undergone. ".Alas," said the brigand; "these men are wicked and lawless; they fear neither man nor Allah when bent on mis-" chief, but the whip will teach them obedience," and he smiled grimly. "I fear for thy safety," lie continued, knitting his brows, his eyes lixed upon the lloor.

"Kach day more tribesmen arrive demanding vengeance upon thee; all sorts of lies they have been told. Amongst others, that thou beaded the Sultan's troops, and marched out to kill our countrymen. Another tale I have heard is that thou incited the Sultan to murder his ministers and take Christians in their stead. Many of our people believe these things; it makes it very difficult for me to protect thee. But thou art in the hands of Allah, even as we. And it be Ilis- will that thou art slain, so be it!" Not much comforted by this philosophy, his captive replied that they had just had forcible proof that Allah did not desire his death, for had He not sent Raisuli to rescue him? j

"Knowing this, oh, Sidi," lie wrni oil cleverly, "thou wilt now lie unremitting in Uiv care of me; of a surety Allali lias chosen thee as the instrument of my safety." The Moor looked up dubiously; lie {Raisuli's British prisoners. From was not prepared to admit, that the Almighty could set such store upon a Christian, tmt his captive did not give liim time to reply. That, night he was again aroused by sounds of a commotion without. A babel of voices disturbed the still Rir, men were ascending the stairs to rooms above him, horses were pawing and neighing. He now heard men descending the stairs, coming nearer, and a. moment later the key turned in the lock, tiie door opened and Eaisuli stood on the threshold with a group of Moors behind him. The light from a lantern dazzled bis eyes so that Mr Walters could not distinguish from their faces whether they came as friends or foes,, brought life or death. But in a moment a big stout Moor, in flowing sitlham, thrust himself forward with outstretched hand. To his joy the prisoner recognised an Angcra Kaid, a man whom he had rendered a signal some year or more ago.

His old friend shook him warmly by the hand, rapidly explaining that Raisuli had consented to Mr Walters returning with him till terms were arranged for his exchange with the prisoners in Tangier. Mr Walters must give his word not to seek to escape, but to remain in their village until the specified time. Overjoyed to do this and to escape the awful misery he was enduring, the captive soon satisfied the brigand of his trustworthiness, and was allowed to depart with his friends in need to where his horse stood ready. Mounting, he shook Raisuli warmly by the hand, then rode off with the Angera Kaid, surround' ed by his retainers, down the slopes of the village into the plains lie feared never to see again. The ride was long, and Mr Walters, overcome with mental and physical exhaustion, nodded and swayed in his saddle ere they climbed the sheer face of a rock leading £0 the summit, where the little village perched itself. Only half awoke, he tumbled from his horse, and; following his host, entered a low, narrow doorway into a little whitewashed room, where, flinging himself upon a goat-skin mg, he lay and slept far Into tho following day. He regained health and spirits, news reached him at intervals from the town, he learnt that matters were proceeding satisfactorily, and it was expected that his release would be speedily effected. Tndced, it was not many days later when a messenger arrived from Raisuli, appointing the following morning for the captive to he taken to an arranged place to meet the British Consul and the exchange would be effected.