The morning times., 1896-05-17
THEY CALL ON YOU TO HALT AND TAKE THEM ABOARD
Covering Crew with Knives and Guns They Loot Craft
Even the Shoes of the Sailors.
DREADED MoNARCHs OF THE SEAS FOR ALL TIME

had not the British interfered. John Bull
became jealous or the riches or The Morocco
1 coast and warned Spain 10 keep her hands
off a few months later The British ship
the Ylrgen de los Angeles was attacked
and completely looted Of all possessions
The crew escaped by Offering everything,
even 10 the shoes on their feet.
By the time England had sent her war
ships 10 the Mediterranean the Riffs had
apparently Withdrawn, and only a few
peaceful fishermen Were 70 be found.
The religion of the Riff pirates, for they
are a race Of Iong-estahIished ancestry.
is mixture OF MohammedaniSm and
Christianity. They are AiOOrs ana they are
the BarbaTy Rangers who were famed as
long ago as stories We're written. Water
devils, they We're called by the peaceful
dwelIers OF southern Europe and the citi-
zens of Morocco.
But there they have lived for hundreds
Of years. never adding to their number and
never intermarrying with other races until
now they have the most powerful savage
Kingdom on the globe. THpir worship is
partly fire worship. Yet they have q
reverence for the CruCifIx. and in their
rude homes there are church ornaments,
crosses and beads carefully treasured rom
the lootIng OF ships. Their business is. that
OF plunder, and 10 their barbarian way Of
looking a it, 1t is a legitimate means OF
livelihood.
The sway Of the Riff King is the most
absolute one 20 be ina gined. He carries
always in his hand club and is armed to
the teeth with knives and rifles. Insu-
bordination, any attempt TO usurp bis
power, any failure TO give up plumber is
punished by him with instant death He
hives in cave. low but of great depth, and
at roaring fire in front of it bis food is
prepared There are no women in his shore
household. and his slaves are Riff pirates
who are chosen by him 70 work for him.
Reports of him declare him 10 revel in
the bIOOdshed of his pirate slaves. Tales
of his cruelty fill the Barbdry coast. When
plCaGer is not brought in fast enough and
when attacks are made upon the pirate
band, the rage of the king is UngOvernable,
and with his great bone club he fells bis
slaves right and left who have the teInerity
20 approach him.
In cruelty the Riff pirate IS unique in
warfare. He admits Of no fighting back
II is a word and blow. and the blow
means death. once having resisted a
Riff. no man Is allowed to 1--we. not though
he ma hoist the white flag OF surrender
and beg on his knees for his life. He
has given the Riff too much trouble.
This is the kings order The king never
Stirs from his domain. In Justice TO the
Riff it ma be told that he has not always
taken the lives of the crew of the plum
dercd vessels. He is after Tie booty, not
after life. and il that is freely given up
To him he Will return In this hc differs
from the pirates Of the waters of Malay.
They plumber for both blood and booty.
In Southern Morocco. Algeria. TripoIi,
and Egypt there are large farm lands
belonging TO the Riff pirates. Near
Gibraltar there are other farms that are
unquestipuahly theirs The hills of the
Sierra Morena Mountains. IcoEing towards
Seville and Grenada and TO Cadiz on
the coast, overlook also rich farm country
In which the descendants Of the Riff
pirates now live The pretty dark
skinned daughters Of the savage MOOrs
Get tired Of the wildpess and beg piece
Of land in which to settle with the gentIest
OF the pirate band. Ia