The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-18
AxoNo THIEVES IN MOROCCO.
Adventure Of IN English Correspondent
Who Penetrated TO S~hcshouan.

Gently attracted considerable attention
by his picturesque dispatches describing
the horrors Of the prisons in that country
4 and the ambition OF the Sultan to introduce
reforms. Mr.. Harris now illustrates in
his own person the evils that may befall
any traveller who happens to meet one OF
the numerous robber bands Of Morocco.
He has been despoiled OF his belongings
by road agents Of the Morocco type.
The incident is all the more interesting
because Harris Is one Of the leading au-
thorities on everything relating. to Mo-
rocco. He has explored that country in
several capacities. nov disguised as a poor
Moor and then In his proper person. once
as a member Of a diplomatic mission.
One OF his exploits. In particular. was a
daredevil achievement that exhibited
his nerve TO the best advantage and re-
vealed a district in Morocco that no eS-
plorer had ever seen before. It Ia the
irony Of fate that a man who has ged
unscathed from regions where the natives
would kill him on sight If they knew him
should at last fall a victim to common
highway plunderers on a road that was
supposed to he reasonably safe.
In the summer OF 1888 Mr.. Harris VEN
tured into the Riff Mountains among the
fanatical Berbers. who were certain to kill
any white man they might catch among
their wild hills. White men were not
their only prey. A little earlier the Sultan
Of Morocco had sent them a Governor
whom they killed, whcreupon the Sultan
decided 10 let them alone for a time.
Harris entered this forbidden ground
very poorly equipped to support the role
Of a Moor. His acquaintance with Arabic
-ua. L. -z,,1I - sa1l, "a
out ~betraying himself, he assumed the
character OF a deaf mute and relied upon
a trusty Arab boy, his only companion,
az a means Of communication with the
natives.
So Harris set out, In the earb Of a middle
class Moor, legs, arms and face stained
brown, and bestride a mule that had no
prejudices against Christians. The ex-
plorer was bound for Sheshouan, a town
Of 5000 inhabitants, which had only re-
Gently been heard Of. a few photographers
having just placed II on their a where
they supposed it to be. The town is sixty
miles from the Mediterranean The in
quisitive natives were informed by the
boy that his master lived in Fee and was
travelling to S~heshouan.
This satisfied nearly everybody, but
Two Incl u lut tlDt dCCustu
Harris of being a Christian and threatened
him with death IL he did not instantly turn
back. He managed TO elude them and
learned later that they probably did not
suspect his real character, but were merely
trying 10 pick a quarrel as a pretext for
robbing him. In the course OF a few days
the weary mules brought the travellers
to Sheshouan, quite a HouriAidng town,
-k,1l L-l --zAl.,,,l f-- "a I'D Ala,
death awaited any Christian who sAould
attempt to enter its gates.
The parents Of the Arab boy ived in tho
town and the plan was to spend the night
In their house. They discovered very soon
that Harris was not h he was repre-
scented to be, and bitterly upbraided their
son for asking them to risk their lives by
giving shelter to a Christian. Finally.
however. they were prevailed upon. by
the Offer Of a large reward. to entertain
the stranger for one night only.
Thus assured Of a nights shelter, and
reasonably certain TO escape notice in the
indistinct light of the evening. Harris
sailed forth to mingle with the crowd
and zee the sights. Everybody was out
Of doors. Among thousands Of bitter
enemies the stranger sauntered unobtru-
sively through the streets, the novelty
Of his position and the unaccustoned SIGH
making the stroll very Interesting
n. was much SURPRISED 10 find a bridge
Of solid masonr, ~spanning the river. anne
ducts bringing water and dist rbutinu
II To all the houses and ea rdcns mills Grind.
inc corn their wheels turned hv vater
from the soueduc.s s.ra-,s naved Nth
,olob STONES md bordered NV yu,,er
IN which fresh water constantly eow.
houses with peculiar red tiled roofs found
nowbere else m. buildinrs being much
.uperior 70 those In -one NOR, easily az.
c..sible Moroccan towns Tie peopl. re-
card tb.nsely,s A. direct descendspts
81 Noham.t. which probably accounts
for the fanaiicaI character OF their religion
All next dav Mr. Harris Law hidden in
an IN. home of his Arab how A. mo uas
urener,ng. toward evening 10 star, hack
Ia the coast Il, was no,-..d abou, that a
Christian Vas in town som. men had
arrival rith the startling new, that a..
day before they had seen A man vino uAs
undoubtedly white and ~as made up 90
l,ok Hk. A Moor
A. Was ON lbs va, 90 sh.rhouan md
We undoubtedly In a.. town uau,ss |