Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-05
ADVENTURES IN MOROCCO.
Curious Experiences Of a Traveller
Large Risks for Small Returns.

| From the New York Sun.
mountains. stretching along the northern coas,
OF Morocco, and very imperfectly known, be-
cause 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 adventuresome
whites, most notably Mr.. De Foucauld, have
been able, in disguise, to make flying trips into
the country. De Foucauld has supplied the
best information we possess about these noun
| tains and their warlike inhabitants. A while
ago the sultan of Morocco sent them gov
ernor, whom they promptly killed, and the sui
tan has let them alone ever since.
Last summer Mr.. w. B. Harris ventured
upon this forbidden ground, particularly rash
undertaking, as he was not well equipped to
support the role OF a 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 communion
ton. In the garb Of middle-class Moor, with
his bare legs and arms slightly stained, he
started for Sheshouan, a town Of 5000 people
which has lately made its first appearance on
the maps, sixty miles south Of the MedIter-
ranean.
He and his comrades passed many natives
without exciting suspicion. Those who were
inquisitive were informed by the boy that his
master lived in Fee and was travelling to She
shouan. 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 their
weary mules brought the travellers to Sheshouan,
a rat har rich,n bee
death the penalty to be inflicted upon any
Christian who dares visit the town.
The parents of the Arab boy live there, and
they bitterly upraided their son for asking
them to risk their lives by giving shelter to a
Christian. They were prevailed upon, how
ever, by large reward to entertain the
stranger. Thus assured of nights shelter,
and reasonably certain to escape notice in the
indistinct light of evening, Mr.. Harris sailed
out to see the town and mingle with the crowds.
Among thousands of bitter enemies he saun-
tered very unobtrusively through the streets,
but the novelty of his position and the unac-
custoned sights made the stroll most inter
esting.
He was surprised to find bridge of solid
masonry spanning the river, aqueducts bring
ing 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
tiers In which fresh water constantly flows: red
tueu rOOIs lounQ nowhere else, and houses
much superior to those in many easily accessi-
Bile Moorish towns. The people dress like
those i'll other parts of Morocco. They regard
themselves as direct descendants of the
Prophet.
All next day Mr.. Harris lay hidden in the
home OF his Arab boy. Toward evening, as he
was preparing to start back to the coast, it was
nolsed about that Christian was in town.
The men who threatened him on the road had
arrived with the startling news that white
man in disguise had come to Sheshouan. His
purpose had been to leave the town about dusk
In the disguise of woman, while his mules de-
parted by another route. The excitement was
growing, and it was decided he had no time to
lose. Putting on a mountaineer's garb, he
stole out of one of the five gates unnoticed,
though every one in the streets was discussing
| the rumor about the Christian. Outside the
walls he was joined by his Arab boy and a
friend of the faithful servant Through the
night they toiled along the mountain path to a
distant village, which they reached before day
break, and the white fugitive, whose feet were
bleeding from numerous cuts, was hidden dur
| ing the day in the house of the friend in need
who had accompanied him. Meanwhile his
| mules were brought from Sheshouan, and al
midnight the fugitive was once more on the
road, and in thirteen hours he had safely
reached the coast.