The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09

The Adventures OF = Youth VIE mas
Lived Three Years Among the BerHers

rarely been equalled. He rushed In where brave
and more discreet men have feared TO tread, and
has lived to tell the tale In the bulletin OF the
Paris Geographical Society, which devotes
twenty-cight pages OF Its valuable space TO his
hairbrendth escapes and his geographical Oh,
servntlons. Gabriel Delbrel was eighteen years
old when he left France TO become an African
explorer. Ee was twenty-one years and four
months old when, early this year, he shook the
dust OF Morocco OF his feet. As his vessel
steamedo out OF the port Of Mazasan he was able
20 snap his fingers a. the Sui ans cavalry, who
had arrived in hot pursuit. They failed to rec
ognizo the dappcr young man in European attire
who passed them on the way TO the landing.
The young fellow they had been chasing wore
native clothing.
Young Dclbrel desired to visit thcse parts Of
Morocco which are still little known because tho
wild Berber tribes have made their mountains
dangerous ground for explorers. lie could not
afford to buy an equipment nor to hire nm escort.
lie had pllck, ambition, and au original idea.
and that was about all he took across the sea.
Before he could test the value OF his idea hc
needed 20 attain proficiency IN Arabic, and a
few days after he left France tho boy took
lodgings in Tlcincea, Algeria. on the border Of
Morocco, and was hs:d at work acquiring the
tongue most useful to travellers IN North Africa.
Ills original idea was that he might win the
friendship Of some influential person on the
border who could secure for him n kind recep-
ton In one OF tho. neighboring Moroccan tribes;
there he would angle in his most winsome fash
ion for the sympathy and helpfulnesso OF the Ca1d,
In tho belief that that official would exert his
good offices to pass him on with a favorable word
to the next tribe. In this way he hoped to got
through the country. He was a firm believer
in the efficacy of good lntroductions. No other
explorer had looked upon Moroccan exploitation
from his DDint of view. They prpoCtpd IN meet
enemies and to be treated as enemies. The
boy proposed. however. 10 be the guest OF the
country, and to travel through II at the expense
OF the mountainecrs. lie was shrewd and
tactful, had a happy faculty for making friends,
and II was this, undoubtedly. that suggested his
highly original plan for explorations In Morocco.
Ills youth was IA large factor In his favor. He
was looked upon by most as a mere boy who
could have no serious mission, and whose pres
encc In the country was of no Importance.
A rich old merchant, El-Hadj -hen-Ali-Mo-
manned, lives In Tlemcon. Young Dclbrel put
his best foot foremost, cultivated the old gentle
mnn assiduously. and they were soon on the best
Of terms. The boy told him all his plans. and
when, after six months digging Mt Arabic and
inccssant practice In speaking II. he crossed over
into the forbidden land. he was dressed as an
Arab and had the very best of letters from his
Algerian friend to somo of the CaIds in north
W NNNNAa' - 80
however, to disguise his quality as a Frenchman
and n Christian. 1t was enough for the CaIds of
Angad that he was the friend OF the big mer-
chant Of Tlemcen. They welcomed the boy.
gave him their best, and he wandered from one
chief to another In that northeastern corner OF
Morocco which long ago Duveyrier had de-
scribed. Many of the friends he made were
later camped on the hills around Melilla, fight
Ing the spanlards.
Ono dav hnUaycr ma neihrol was nm The -au
to the plains of the Beni-Snassen. q native raised
the cry that an infdel was In the land, and
headed a mob against him. 1t was fortunate
for the boy that he had familiarlzed himself
with the rites of tho Prophets faith and had
committed to memory many passages from the
Koran. He gave out that he was n Turkish Mus
sulman on n visit to his co-religionists. The
story was believed, and thereafter the young fell
low steadily maintained the role OF a Turkish
traveller and was most fervent and ostentatious
in his observances OF tho Mohammedan religion.
Thus three months were spent in regions that
were fairly well known, and then camo Delbrel's
first great opportunity.
He was visiting the Benz TO whose
CaId he had brought the most favorable recon-.
mendations. As luck would have 1t. the chief
was about to start. with a large escort, for the
capital OF Morocco. and. to the boys great Joy,
CaId Hameda consented to take him along. In
~N'@s sHNy s" wa Aho
route took him over the mountains. two-thirds
Of the way across Morocco, through a region Of
which We had very little information. Most Of
tho way was virgin ground, as far as explorers
are concerned. and for the first time a Caucasian
entered the city OF the Sultan without special
permission. As a member Of the CaId's suite he
attracted no special scrutiny. He lived In Fee
in a house that Sultan Muley Hassan assigned
to the CaId's brothers, and his protector ordered
that, for fear of accident, he should not be per-
mitted to leave the house alone. He had, how
ever, abundant opportunity to study the people
and their city, and when the Caid was sum
moned to the palace to meet his august master
and pay into Muley Hassan's treasure box the
annual tribute required OF him the boy, unin-
vited, slipped into the chiefs encourage, made
himself rs inconspicuous as possible. and was
uslered into his serene Highness's presence
with the rest Of the party. Delbrel was stih
keenly alive to the value OF acquaintances. His
nrotector madA him known IN two CaYds who