Connecticut western news., 1889-02-27
FORBIDDEN GROUND.
Wild and 1mpenetrable Hills of
 the Fanatical Berbers.
Thrilling Adventures of a Trav-
 eler in Their Businesses.

Almost within sight of Europe are the Riff Mountains, stretching along the northern coast of Morocco, and very i'm perfectly known, because the fanatical Berbers would kill any white man whom they caught among their wild hills. Even the watershed between the rivers flowing north and south Is not indicated on the maps, and only two or three adventure some whites, most notably MT. De Fou- cauld, have been able, in disguise, to make flying trips into the country. De Foucauld has supplied the best informa- tion we possess about these mountains and their warlike inhabitants. A while ago the Sultan of Morocco sent them a Governor, whom they promptly killed, and the Sultan has let them alone ever since.
 Last summer Mir. W. B. Harris ven tured upon this forbidden ground, particularly rash undertaking, as he was not we'll equipped to support the role of Moor. His acquaintance with Arabic was imperfect, and as he could not talk without exposing his real character, he played the deaf mute, and relied upon trusty Arab boy as his means of con- munication. In the garb of middle class Moor, with his bare legs and arms slightly stained, he started for Sheshouan, town of 5000 people which has lately made its fist appearance on the maps, sixty miles south of the Mediter- ranean.
 He and his comrade passed many na- tives without suspicion. Those who were inquisitive were informed by the boy that his master lived in Fez and was travelling to Sheshouan. Two men of the Beni- Hassan tribe, however, accused him of being Christian, and threatened him with death if he did not turn back. Harris pushed on in spite of them, and learned later that they let him go only that they might catch him when he had penetrated further into the country That evening the weary mules brought the travellers to Sheshouan, a rather hourishing community which makes death the penalty to be inflicted upon ThrIcf <o town.
 The parents of the Arab boy live there, and they bitterly upbraided their son for asking them to risk their lives by giving shelter to Christian. They were prevailed upon, however, by a large reward to entertain the stranger Thus assured of a nights shelter, and reasonably certain to escape notice in the indistinct light of evening, MT. liar ris sallied out to see the town and mingle with the crowds. Among thousands of bitt r enemies he sauntered very unob- trusively through the streets, but the novelty of his position and the unaccus- toned sights made the stroll most in- teresting.
 He was surprised to find bridge of solid masonry spanning the river, aque- ducts bringing water and distributing it to all the houses and gardens; mills grinding corn, their wheels turned by water from the aqueducts; streets paved with rough stones and bordered by gut ters in which fresh water constantly flows; red tiled roofs found nowhere else, and houses much superior to those in many easily accessible Moorish towns. The people dress like those in other parts of Morocco. They regard them selves as direct descendants of the Prophet.
 All next day Mir. Harris lay hidden in the home of his Arab boy. Toward evening, as he was preparing to start back to the coast, it was noised about that Christian was in town. The men who threatened him on the road had ar rived with the startling news that a white man in disguise had come to She shouan. His purpose had been to leave the town about dusk in the disguise of a woman, while his mules departed by an- other route. The excitement was grow ing, and it was decided he had no time to lose. Putting on mountaineer' s ga1b, he stole out of one of the five gates unnoticed, though every one in the streets was discuss ing the rumor about the Christian. Out side the walls he was joined by his Arab boy and friend of the faithful servant. Through the night they toiled along the mountain path to a distant village, which they reached before daybreak and the white fugitive, whose feet were bleeding from numerous cuts, was h:d- den during the day in the house of the friend in need who had accompanied him. Meanwhile his mules were brought from Sheshouan and at midnight the fugitive was once more on the road, and in thirteen hours he had safely reached the coast.-Neao York Sun.