The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12
PLAN or MELELA

| Plan Or nc L/LLA
| this forms the outer edge extends back to the
mountains and is dotted with the forts OF the
Spanish possessors In a little inlet to the
south is the narrow harbor where ships
| ride at anchor. safely sheltered from the
| Mediterranean breezes. Meiila's only COM
mercial i'm portance arises from the frequent
need OF rcvictualling the garrison. For all
that, Spain regards the town as a most deslr-
able possession. The neiShborng coaat Is
treacherous. and Moilla now and then sends
relief to shipwrecked mariners. Then tho
town. besides being q convict station. is a
convenient centre from which to admonish
the coast natives whose appetite for piracy
and tho despolment o. ships cast away on
their shores. is never satiated. Furthermore
several European powers have their eye in
tently fixed upon Morocco. in the hope that
somo day she may fall to them as particular
ly rich plum: and Spain is not giving up any
point OF vantage she has secured.
A little while ago Spain decided to improve
her position at MelIla. Her garrisons have
never been on brotherly terms with the wild
mountainous around them. When these ma.
tives had nothing else to do they cultivated
the bad habit OF crouching behind some con-
venient rock on the m ountain side and pepper:
ing the Spanish sentinels as they walk ed to
grew more and moro irksome and Spain at
last decided to advance her lines OF fortihca-
ton some way up the slopes Of the mountains.
q proceeding that was not approved by the
bold and free mountaineers: and when
Spain added injury to insult by disturbing
the tomb of a holy man. dear to the men,
DRY ofthe natives. while digging the founda-
sscam. suddenly stlame. Many tribe u from
far around contr ibuted its quota OF riilemen.
the mountain sides burst into tire; and the
Of tho forts below and leave the enemy in full
possession OF the holes that had been dug on
ments she has hurried to tho scene. Spain has
done little more than hGld her , pwn and she
teaching tho natives better manners
- Nobody envies Srain the work before her.
The monntains are wild and the natives are
wilder. This tangle OF great hills. known as the
kif Mountains. almost overlook, the shores Of
Esr9pe and yet they are to-day among the
among whom Spain now drops an occasional
sheil. nave nearly succeeded In KEEPING every
many a year they have deiicd their non,ina
ruler. the Snltnn OF Morocco. 70 levy upon them
9, cent Of taxes. Nohody blames impotent
fu subjects in order. The poor Sultan has as
much Influence over them as he has over he
Sultan hal the temerity to send them Il Gov,
s ,r they cpt of the gsntleman,s head and
that II he wanted a W@I they would give lin
plenty Of powder and ball.
S06pdy . ss0Ts blow nss hs S
tribes Of them. all Of Berber origin. and all
aga9st the NERD q" nrse The
geogrnp pliers have long called tho people who
t fs% w tia 1T "Hzf Sss a G"GHsy
"rEn for ri is th same az 'n1 II"
Mountains are in other words. the mountains
Of the coast. Here. nesting among the erra;;
people. who are none the less skilled in aCri-
culture and have learned the art also OF
water mills to Srnh tnsr ssap hoys
penetrate ed the forbidden land. have told us all |
We know about them. "
Moorish armies could net pcne,rHhte; and,
this region ana It's people, Then IN 1888 Dc |
Foucauld. disguised as 1t Moorish Jew. made |
ms TSn1a Il" a IL "na
emerged from them at last TO mako the most
brilliant contribution eyer mnu" To- oHr geo
Duveyrer. who Killed himself two years ago, |
long harrlships he bad undergone in Afr!ca. |
He travt led IA native doctor IN tho train OF |
Wi E,,ei one nee "xpectei to sec him alive again
but he cnTe back nnscathed. 700,
Fnay WGtcr B. iar so in ST PIT on the
mute nut Tor he could mol SPEAK Arabe we'll enough
to avoid detection he attempted 70 convcrss
his, mouthpiece The pluck Of tho explorer
safely through: but he escaped death by, the
Ak in OF his tcctn and before Ito gor back to
the coast he had to flee in womnn's attire from
decided that he was not what no seemed
Only one Of these ,exp,lorcrs hns clambbcred
McilIr, and that was Duysy:irr: Tho, story
"d 6" tho ma WHO ,hsEy people me
region. il calculated to convince Spain that
he work of subduing these htnyo and inso.
ent frcemen Is no chlld's rlay. Ne ma reason
miles OF NIeIilla had over 5000 guns. and their
armament in, other respects surprised him
pnesr ' Of cannon. though they we're With With
f FL. are sEilfu biacSksmhs and armorsra.
"G World for mot Sowsr and 3 ss
make very fair article OF powder. and they
produce tho bullets they use both by forging
and by running The me'ai into 0iI m3GldS n phe
Many Of their guns are comparatively recent
md Improved weapons. ana arc OF spanish.
,ontra Uand goods but the natives have never
lad any trouble about smuggling into their
mountains all tho guns they need. they OBJ
ain them from smuggers on the coast. who
ire tempted by tho enormous profits to run
serious risks of capture;
What most surprised the explorer was to
,pprobriS u ANN unition, which he ssystho
n the very town a Melilla, IrIs'ing with
Die to keep the natives from drawing upon her
,wn stronghold for the material with which to
'hoot her soldiers down.
he natives preyed upon com merce as the chief
business VI lie; and though day they can