The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-26

VINO mas not considered it amiss TO inaugu-
rate u Alseria dromedsry races, with all
the usual accompaniment of bookmakers.
professional bettoPs and other analogous
iungi OF the turf, for the purpose of Gre
atlng an incentive toward the Improvement
OF the animal known as the ship Of the
desert.s
One of the principal features of the cere-
mony OF the administering the VOWS to the
MONKS consisted In the solemn blessing by
the cardinal of their arms, of their eouip-
ment, and OF their attire or uniform. The
last consists OF long white tunio, descend
ing below the knee, belted at the waist and
VIII a large red Maltese cross on the breast
Inc pantaloons are loose and baggy, such as
those affected by the Turks of the old school /.
a volumlnous white burnoose hangs from the
shoulders, and on the head Is a white pirh or
straw helmet, surmounted on grand occa-
slons by white plume. and embellished In
'front.' with a red Maltese cross. The entire
costume bears some analogy to that with
"nicn Daudet invested the ecclesiastics who
accompanied the famous expedition of the
immortal Tartarln de Tarascon. 1t should
be added that, except when on the move or
when fighting, they viii invariably wear the
ven OF white or black cloth, covering both
the nose and the mouth, which ia in use
among the TuareZ tribes These wells,
which are tied loosely at the back of the
head, protect the mouths and nostrils from
the terrible glare, and from the sand during
the desert storms.
Ii Is among these Tuaregs, the most
ferce, blood-thirsty, fanatic and untamable
or all Moorish races in Africa, that their
lot is to be cast They proceed among them
with the knowledge that every one OF the
unarmed missionary priests who have gone
before during the last three decades have
been cruelty put to death. They profess the
most lntoieran9, bigoted and fanatical No
hammedanism. and hold all intercourse or
contact with a Christian as sinful in the
sight Of tie prophet 1t is their
lrreconcllahle hostility which renders
all projects for the construction
of the great trans-Saharan railroad i'm
possible; and it is worthy of note that the
GASES which it is proposed that the Warrior
monks should occupy, hold and develop are
precisely those situated along the route of
the contemplated line OF railroad. The
Tuaregs are ell members of the Senousi
fraternity, sect which not only holds that
1t Is wicked to salute, speak or trade with
unbelievers /. but also that it Is lawful and
even godly to rob or kill every Christian
they meet
There seems to be no lack of volunteers,
or, to speak more correctly, of postulants
for admission to the new order of the War
rier Monks of the Sahara. Over 131 have
already arrived at Biskra, and have COM
menced their novitiate, which is destined to
insure them TO the hardships of desert life.
Few OF them are without a more or less
romantic history, and there is more than
one who has been led to take the vows OF
tue order by circumstances as tragical as
those which impelied the brilliant Marquis
de Brecourt, who died q couple of wesks
ago, 60 assume the habit Of friar, and to
become the humble night porter of the
monastery at the Grande Chartreuse. ID.
de Brecourt, coming homo one day from q
shooting expedition, and finding himself un-
able to extract the cartridge from his gun,
discharged it into a thicket. His only
daughter happened to be standing behind it.
and was killed on the spot. Curiously
enough, the day porter Of the Grand Char
treuse, who died within few days of the
Marquis de Brecourt, was a man who in
secular life had been still more widely
known, and whose name figures prominently
in modern European history; for, prior to
bis conversion to Catholicism by Bishop
Dupanloup, he was one of the most famous
generals in the Russian army, and was
commander-in-chief during the Caucasian
campaign which resulted In the subjugation
and overthrow Of Sohamyl.
Two days after prononneing their vows,
which, instead or being taken for life, are
limited TO term Of Eve years, renewable at
will, Ave Of the warrior monks started out
for Wargla, an important oasis about 300
miles to the south OF Biskra, 1t is there that
the frat Of the armed stations projected by
Cardinal Lavigeric is to be established d. 1t is
entirely surrounded by sand, a green island
in an ocean Of fire. The second station will
be at the oasis of Mes Jonah, near the
Morocco frontier, which is traversed by all
the great slave caravans coming from the
south, and which has acquired peculiarly
evil name, owing to the fact of its being the
place where lads are mutilated to
to render them fit for service
as guardians of the various
harems throughout the Mohammedan
world. More than so per cent. perish from
loss Of blood, which is stanched In the most
for the space of four-and-twenty hours up to
their neoks in the burning hot sand, leaving
only their heads exposed to the torturing
bites of the insects, and to the scorching
rays of the sun. 1t is here where the military
trainiog of the Warrior Monks will be
brought into full play. For the slaye deal-
ers are sure to make hard fight to prevent
the establishment within the narrow limits
of the oasis OF a fortified station where
every slave who Is able TO eject MS or her
escape from their cruel hands is certain to
find a refuge and protection.
The slave dealers, however, extend their
activity even to the very doors of Biskra,
which, as stated above, is built on an oasis,
and one of the most dramatic features Of
the ceremony of the conservation of the
monks was when Cardinal Lavigerie led TO
the altar little brown girl barely years
old, who had succeeded in concealing her.
self, and In effecting her escape from O
slave caravan passing through the desert a
few miles to the south Of Biskra. A sudden
movement of the child caused her to drop
something that she was holding concealed
beneath the folds of her djebba.
The venerable prelate bent down
and raised 1t from the ground. 1t was
a small dusky hand-the hand Of the little
girl who stood beside him, and which in
sheer wnnton cruelty had been cut off by
her captors. Holding il aloft, and pointing
IL southwark toward the great Sahara.
while with his own hand he raised the child's
arm, 80 that all prescott could see the man
gled stump, the cardinal exclaimed. in
tones which seemed to ring forth as ciar-
ion: ~ would to God that all Europe could
see this little handl May it serve TO direct
your line of march. En- dUant for God, for
France, and for humanity
cum nTnn IN OR=OnPTTY