Huntsville gazette., 1884-04-26
A Moorish Abduction.

The following incident OF Moorish
life, which occurred few weeks ago,
thoroughly illustrates The state of inse-
curity to which the natives are sub ect
and which appears to be. the normal
condition OF their existence in Morocco.
One day an American and an English
officer were riding ong the beach. and
when about two milei from Tangier
per, cived a group of fishermen who ap-
peared to have some alteration with a
truculent-looking Moor, armed with the
usual long firelock. On seeing the
horsemen approach some four or five
men, ccomranied by pretty looking
Moorish girl of about seventeen years
of agA, separated from the crowd and
called out that the arm d Moor hal
been trying to carry off the girl by f rec,
threatening at the same time to kill her
if she resisted. While this explanation
was going on the man of whom the COM
plant was made had taken to his heels.
and, being good runner, fad gained
gentlemen rode after him.
Find ng himself pursued he made for
river, which he waded across up to
his middle. His pursuers plunged in
afterward, and on being hard pressed
the Moor again waded the river Three
times this maneuver was executed, but
at last the two gentlemen came up with
the fugitive, whom they captured and
disarmed. They then gave the fellow
in charge to the fishermen, who had
now arrived on the spot, having fol-
lowed the chase on foot, and sent him.
accompanied by the Moorish girl, to the
fort, where the khalifa administers JUS
tice. The girl, Rachma Halfsoutz by
name, stated that, about two months
ago, she was enticed by two women to
take walk with them on the beach.
When short distance from the town
two armed Moors suddenly made their
appearance and carried her off by force
to the village of FL Menaar. Here the
men were joined by third, and she
was detained by them, being continually
subjected to brutal outrages.
After about a fortnight she was taken
to the village ofImgoha, and from that
to Peni Hassan, near Tetuan, where
her captOrs met rarty Of mountain
GERS, and now the girl discovered from
a conversat on which she overheard
that an arrangement was being made
to sell her as slave to these men. The
bargain, however, not being completed
at once she was taken to a village near
Tore Blanquille, on the coast and not
far from Tangier During the temper
ary absence of two OF the Moors the tap-
tive contrived to elude the vigilance of
the third. and secured his pc niard, which
she concealed about her person, intend
ing to de end herself if driven to extrem
ity. She then slipped quietly out Of the
village, and. once clear, ran as fast as
she was able in the dire ton of Tapgier
After her departure sore tine elapsed
before the N an in whose cha ge the girl
had been left discovered that she had
made her escape; but then, having
armed himself with loaded gun he
started in hot pu suit, owe taking his
victim on the beach. whe she had en-
CO.. ntered some fishermen, who were
drawing in their nets, and from whom
she imp ored protection. Judging from
her account, she appea sto have received
the most brutal treatment while q pris-
oner, 8 she was constantly re ,uired to
20 through the Hative Moorish dances |;