Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-05
a.nanaent tribes ruled by Sheikhs,-wan.

dependent tribes ruled by Sheikhs,-wan-
derine restless, ignorant Sidi-Moluk tells
me they are peaceful but iudolent, only
oualreling when an adjoining QUAR- inter-
feres with their women. Sometimes an
Arab youth will be stricken by the charms
of a maiden in nearby QUAR-. Then some
night he dashes up 10 her tent. lifts her on
his horse. and scurrie5 away to his tribe. II
he escapes, well and good. If he is caught
nothing can save him He IS executed in
stantly.
And suppose" observed Bonaventure
Jones, who was listening to this explana-
ton, that year or TWO later when he is
walking the floor nights with the screaming
baby. he wishes TO Allah he had been
caught"
Needless Of this trivial interruption, Sidi-
Moluk tells ME Of the customs OF his coun-
try, and with charming sophistry defends
the shocking practice Of polygaIny. Yes"
said he, we have our hareuls. but we pro-
tect our women. They are jealousy cared
for, teuderly nourished, treated with great
kindness, loaded with presents. All the af-
lection ofour natures go out to them. We
look upon them as creatures given Us by
Allah to cherish and keep
ISvIOLATE FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
Do you, senior, do as much for your
wonen' Remember have been IN Europe,
in Paris True, you hive only one wife.
But are you satisfied Have you not de-
graded women kind generality What have
seen in European gardensI in the cafes,
the theaters, the streets' Full, al! fuIl OF
women, not wives. Not creatures devoted
modern civilization, Nineteenth century
Christianity. You attire yourselves in
tight-ftting, dismal black clothes; you
pinch your feet, grip your necks, cover
tightly your hands with singular fashions.
You build towering houses, one family living
above another, up up. up. You have prls-
ons filled to Overlooking, insane asylumS
crowded to the doors, ghaStly overpower-
ing poverty that tells OF the future OF your
institutions. And then you pity Us barba-
rians, and would convert Us to your
passions, your prejudices, your com
mercial dishonesties. You say we
are indolent. but are we not
conterti Is there nothing in life but toll
and worry2 Are you working men and
women in the ceaSeleSs struggle for exist
ence happier than we who breathe Goi's
free air, believe in the Koran, and praise
the Proyhet Tangiers, rccollect, is not 8
fair sample of Morocco. 1t is horrible and
deg raded Shall tell you whyl Because
it is being Europeanized. It is on the bor-
ders of the newer life, is tainted by your
civilization. All that Christianity touches
SIS UAlSLll5. w AL liILlA ) w Sc VIC 1ibASo
of Alkazar. Mechinez, ArLilla-"
And Fez" broke in Jones.
I've shall not see FeZ," answered the
Moor in his quiet, convincing tone. "Cdid,
Abd-el-Kasen will meet US at AikaZar. The
sultan is indisposed and cannot meet the
Nazarene. AT Alkazar and Mechinez we
will entertain you in our barbaric way and
you shall partake OF our Moorish hospital
ity. Is not the senior contentE' | was,
perfectly, but Jones was utterly cast down.
He had set his heart on chatting with the
sultan, for what he nysteriously called
business purposes" He also knew that
the reason for not going to Fee was dread
OF the American mannerisms. he quietly
CURSED ALL AFRICA,
and proceeded thereafter in q most de-
iected way. Toward sunset we rested, and
pitched our tents for the night. AS the
slaves were busily at work caravan jour
neying to Fee passed by. In front, was
venerable stately Moor; behind him rode
half @ dozen Arab soldiers, dressed in
gaudy robes and mounted on beautiful
horses. They carried long thin-barrelled
guns, wore carved and ieweled daggers at
their girdles, and altogether were most i'm
posing. Behind these, mounted on camels,
were u group OF women, one of whom was
partly unveiled, and whose exquisite feat
ures resemblcd one of Raphael's Madonuas
done in bronze. Then came dragomen and
servants, pack mules and negro drivers
Bonaventure Jones appeared much i'm
pressed by the Moorish maiden, who, not
withstanding her sad sweet face, wore her
fez with the iaunty air of u Partisan CO.
quette. He raved over her, but as he is
nothing if not gallant, little attention was
paid TO his rhapsodies.
That night there was commotion in our
camp. / was awakened about midnight by
Sidi-Moluk who said gravely: Your COM
panion has disappeared. He sent me word
by one of his servants that he thanked me
for my kindness, but as wouldn't take him
to Fee he was going alone. He would
catch the caravan which had moved on
during the early evening. l fear greatly
for the result. He left this letter for YOU
| read as follows:
On THE ROAD TO FEE Feb %, 1921
My DEAR WHITE-You must excuse this
abrupt departure, but l am going to Fez
1t is really necessary. l have to see the
sultan on business. The fact of the matter
is l am interested in q New England shoe
factory, and l want to get the sultan to or
der few pairs of our shoes for himself and
his women folks. The purpose is advertis-
ing. You can see what big thing it will
be for our Brockton establishment il | get
the sultan Of Morocco to indorSe. by order
ing, "Bagget's Celebrated 81 Shoe" for him
self and all the girls in his palace. 1t viii
catch custom, and the American press sure.
IL can see Tue Sullsii IL IN IT, never rear
And then again, Beyond the Alps is
Rome" In an hour shall be up with that
caravan, and shall try to get in with the
girl on the camel. You shall hear from me
at Tangiers or Malaga within q month.
But if anything unpleasant should happen,
and l get my head cut off, remember l am
simply victim Of business exigencies
Yours very truly, BoSASESTURE JONES.
And SO ended my day in Africa. l am
now at Tangiers, waiting like Micawber for
something to turn up. Those familiar with
the naughty and relentless character of the
sultan's surroundings; aware Of the intol-
erance and crafty cruelty of Mohammedan
venture Jones. Within me, however, is an
abiding faith in the kindly kismet Of the
daring American, and expect almost any
S1ef4essee him in the flesh.
FRED'K w. WHITE.