The Lambertville record., 1888-08-08
TRAVELLING IN MOROCCO.
Crossing the sbou River--Arab Stupidity.
Praying and Cursing.

Crossing the sbou River--Arab Stupidity.
Praying and Cursing.
For ages this spot has been tho crossing
place Of all the caravans which come from
the desert. and yet all the means of getting
over is upon an abominable cross between a
raft and fatboat, with sides built high to
keep fractions animals from jumping out
during the passage, as any animal of sense
would be tempted to do. I should say the
sides Of these RATS were three feet high and
there is not now nor has there ever been any
sort of plank or gangway upon which the
animals could walk aboard. The men conn
menced to pray before they got in sight of
the boats, and by the time they arrived along
side there was nothing to be heard above q
fearful howl for Mooley Indrees and Allah
to come down from their high place and give
the mules boost into the boat
The river, the praying and boats got the
mules into aproper state of frighteven before
the time came to embark them, and the men
had to change from prayers TO oatbs, which
seemed to have better effect. The mules
were unpacked led to the boats and invited
to jump in, which, Of course, on the slippery
bank OF the river, was impossible. Then all
hands would stop coaxing and swear awhile,
interlarding each remark with a shower of
blows for the animal, until exhausted, after
which they would turn upon each other,
shake their fists, call bad names, and finally
quiet down and go to praying again, until
seeking a change, two of them would go
down, lift the forelegs Of the mule into the
boat, and then twist his tail until he kicked,
when at the moment his heels were high in
the air they would give him such a shove
that he either would fall into the boat or into
the mud on the bank, when they would have
to start all over again.
1t took just two hours TO load ten mules
into the boat, where they stood huddled to-
gether, with bruised legs and evil glances,
watching for the moment to come when they
could get even with the man who got them
into the scrape. Then came the fun Of cross
ing, and as contemplated the crowd of ami
mails, looking as il at moments notice they
might commence to kick and plunge at each
other, edged toward the bow and centered
my affections on pack saddle which con-
tanned charcoal, for the others had Mooley
lndrees ogive them a life preserver il neces-
Hary, while felt more drawn to something
tangible, and SO seated myself on the char
coal with a firm clutch at the ropes. There
was something charming and at the same
time Interestingly exciting about that trip
across, for of course the current was too
swift to admit of landing anywhere but
where chance took us, as the sweeps in the
boat were too clumsy to do more than keep
headway ON the raft. When we got almost
across, the men would see some spot on the
bank where they wished to land, and implore
Mooley lndrees to land them there, and as
soon as they saw they would be carried by,
commence to curse him in most outrageous
manner, and turn their attentions to Allah.
forget whether 1t was Allah or Indrees who
finally landed US, but in the course of time
we grounded on the other bank, almost a
mile below where we started. Morocco Cor
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