GREED AND CRUELTY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 25 November 1911, Page 7

GREED AND CRUELTY

LIFE IN MOROCCO. Mr. Alan Ostler, the special correspondent of the Daily Express in Morocco, has been taking vengeance upon Kaid nhillouli. who recently expelled Mr. Ostler and a colleague from Agadir, by describing that official's system of oppression and cruelty. The Kaid and bis brother-in-law, who is in charge of a neighboring province, arc said to share 'the worst reputation for cruelty in Southern Morocco, and Mr. Ostler thinks they have earned it. Kaid Ghillouli lives in a fortified castle, consisting of his own house,'with a prison and fortress, and the dwellings of his attendants. In times of peace he maintains some tweny or thirty armed retainers, but when trouble is anticipated the number is increased to two hundred. The Kaid's first care, Mr. Ostler says, is to guard himself against possible rivals. "Any lesser kaid," writes tho correspondent, "nnv sheikh, even any village elder, who may show signs of becoming too powerM, too wealth or, above all, too popular, is ruthlessly put to death." Mr. Ostler tells of a sheikh and his two-sons, •vrtio were invited to visit Kaid Ghillouli a few months ago, and after being treated with the customary hospitality they were treacherously shot. Two small chiefs who were becoming popular were inveigled into the castle recently and strangled, and other prominent men have disappeared under similar circumstances. The Kaid seems to be always thinking out new ways of despoiling his subjects and disposing of his enemies. He taxes the people as he pleases, and sometimes he regulates all their buying and selling for his own advantage. Frequently his method of enriching himself simple confiscation. Ghillouli's brother-in-law has been building a house, and his soldiers have levied on the whole countryside for materials. Mr. Ostler describes th(> experience of a man who appeared at the gate of the town one day driving a mule laden with lime. The soldiers seized him. "Pig," they shouted, "whither takest thou this lime?" The unfortunate pig explained that he was taking the lime to market. "Pig, and son of a pig," was the reply, "thou darest to Bell this lime when our lord has need of it!" Then the poor man was forced to carry the lime to the Raid's house. For such treatment the Moors can secure no redress.