Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-28
A NATION OF PIRATES.
THE RIFFS HAVE PLUNpEREp VESSELS
FOR CENTURIES.

Out. and Incidentally to Change tn
Map OF Africa.
1t Is generally supposed that pirate,
no longer exist, except In the lurit
literature sold to small boys. This Il
n mistake. France has just fitted on
three warships for the purpose Of wip
ing out nation OF pirates, and Spair
stands ready to help France II any
help be needed.
The pirates are the Riffs Of Morocco
Long before the dawn of the Chris
tan era these people were pirates, ant
they are just as much In the business
to-day as ever. Century after cen
fury they have plundered on sea and
land, and none of the great powers
have been ambitious to declare war up
on them and bring them to terms.
This Is all the more strange for the
reason that the great modern guns OF
the English mounted on the rock OF
Gibraltar could almost throw a pro
jectile across the strait and into the
country inhabited by the pirates.
Riff means ''the coast in the native
language. and while the Riffians are
nomlnally the subjects of the sultan of
Morocco, he has as much control over
them as he has over the Indians of
Alaska. All of the resources Of Moor
ish ferocity, cruelty, craft and powes
have been employed to bring the Riff
fans to terms, but without success.
The sultan of Morocco Is not a peace
full gentleman by any means, ana
deeds of gross inhumanity are Of
common occurrence with him, but he
is not the equal of the Riff pirate in
these matters.
The Riff country is not extensive, be-
ing but SO miles wide and 210 miles in
length, but If the sultan could control
1t 1t would yield rich returns to his tax
gatherers. Moreover, 1t could be made
or immense commercial value, as 1t
includes all that part of Morocco front
ing upon the Mediterranean sea, run
ming from the city of Ceuta, which is
directly opposite Gibraltar, to the
boundary line dividing Morocco and
Algeria.
A few weeks ago swarm Of Riff pi-
rates in their peculiar little boats
called feluccas sailed out to the French
ship Corinte, overpOwered the crew
and plundered her. While they were
mt work the Spanish steamship Sevilla
came to the rescue of the Frenchmen,
but the pirates swarmed up on the
M It'll
gathered up lot of booty and then dis
appeared.
I When the news Of this outrageous
act reached the French people they
were angry, but the statesmen of
France were nightly pleased. The
outrage has given them an excuse for
descending upon the Riff country, con-
quering it and adding 1t to their n
ready large possessions in Algeria.
There would be no use in appealing
to the sultan Of Morocco for redress,
for, as has been sttaed, he is power
less to punish the Riffians. He could
he made to pay immense damages for
the depredatiOns of his nominal sub
own vengeance and collect her own
damages. These latter will probably
take the form of the whole Of the Rif
country, and, IL this be accomplished,
Ii will be the first step on the part of
q European power to break into the
territory Of the sultinate Of Morocco.
! Morocco is classed, with other small
portions Of Africa, under the sinister
head Of 'unappropriated." But If the
plans Of the French succeed this will
have to be changed. as well as the
map Of Africa. If the Sultan of Mo-
rocco should show fight against the
French he would be i'm danger of los
ing the whole of his kingdom, as other
European nations would not be likely
to interfere in his behalf while France
and Russia are SO closely attached.
Not the least curious thing about the
Riifians is that nothing, or compare
lively nothing, is known about them.
although their country is nearer 10
Southern Europe than any other in
Northern Africa. The reason of this
Is their barbarOus cruelty and hostility
to all strangers. The most venture
some tourists never travel into their
territory, as such n venture would l,c
certain death. Two or three men by
Disgusting themselves as Moors have
within the past twenty years succeed
ell In making some investigation of the
country, but nothing Of certain and
extensive character has been CLEANED.
1t Is estimated that the population
of the Riff country is about 10000.
They are not Moors, but come OF
Berber, or aboriginal stock. They are
Mohammedans, but they would MUIR
der one of their own religious belief as
soon as they would kill Christian.
They are divided into countless little
tribes, and when they have nothing
better to do fight among themselves.
But on a threatened invasion by the
regular forces Of the sultan they flock
together and present a united front
to the enemy.
The Riffs are well armed, and know
how to use the modern munitions of
war with considerable skill. Within
the past year they have plundercd
about a dozen vessels, and the crews
Of these have reported that the pirayes
had rifles Of recent make. They wear
body sashes holding many knives and
pistols, and in boarding vessels always
use short swords, or daggers, in pref
erence to firearms.
The last venturesome explorer to sue
coed in getting a partial glimpse of