The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-01

GIBRALTAR, Feb. 2S.-A queer con-
trast is that between Sultan Abdul
AZiz and Fee, the ancient capital of
his dOminions
The sultans crime is that of being
too progressive and 1t is on account
Of his insistence on introducing inno-
vations into the old city that the Aides
dynasty may end after an existence
of about 500 years.
To the untamed Berbers and others
who make up the population of Moroc-
co, the Introduction of a bicycle upon
the streets Of Fee by the Sultan was
the first evidence Of his having yield
ed to the infldei, but when he started
building railway the evidence Of his
heresy was complete.
Had 1t not been for the fact
that the person of the Prince Of True
Believers Is sacred this caprice would
have cost the sultan his life long ago.
Others who aided him in his innova-
lions, however, were less fortunate,
and many paid the penalty with q
short shrift
To shield the sultan his holy men
proclaimed that he was bewitched by
the infidel and spread the story afar
through the mosques in order that
some maddened Moslem might not for
get himself and Stay the offender.
Careless of the perturbation of his
SuOJcCIS, lHc yOuIS Indn COnllnueu III
his infamieS. He completed this rail-
road and in spite of the warning hand
Of fate introduced automobiles, motor
cars, breech-loading guns, telegraphs
and telephones.
These innovations, as they were one
by one introduced successfully, reused
| the Ire of his fanatical subjects, bring
ing matters to the point of a rebel
lion.
The climax was yet to come, how
ever. Either a developing humane
ness of disposition or a fear that a
| large indemnity would be asked of him
for q crime committed upon a for
eign resident led him to break the most
| sacred Of all Moslem rules.
A Mr.. Cooper, a resident of Fee, was
shot and killed in the main street Of
the city by a Moroccan. The muir
| derer, closely pursued, sought refuge
| in the tomb of Muda Idris. the patron
| saint of Fee, thinking that he must
be safe from arrest. He had not
| tons, who had him arrested and with
out delay, executed.
When he first became sultan Abdul
| Az1Z was by no means the being that
| he Is now, but was notable for the
cruelties that he perpetrated. Tales of
the novel surprises he gave his sub
jects In the way of executions show
/ SAAe~I hO "co d POSL III tie
| art Of cruelty.
g. As q proof of this at the age of
fourteen or Whereabouts when he sue
ceeded his father as sultan he was not
troubled with qualms about a small
| thing like a, trio of murderers. A
few hours after mutterings of rebellion
were heard over his succession, the
Grand vizier was poisoned, the min
| lister Of war stabbed to death and Mu-
ley Mahammed, his brother, cast into
a prison, which meant death by tor
| ture In few days. He escaped by
some mysterious means and has been
| a thorn In the Sultan's side ever since.
Then things kept quiet for few min
utes, the other culprits thinking it
wise to stifle their aspirations for a
| time at least.
| Since then there have been two or three
unsuccessful attempts to GUST the young
| Sultan, but none have appeared to be SC
menced about two years ago.
But the country has been seething with
| a rebellion ever since the bicycle arrived.
| and 1t only needed leader to arise who
had the courage and audacity to tackle
| the situation. He appeared in the person
| of Blu Hamara, the present pretender.
| who Is a typical imposter of Moorish
| mould.
| This gentleman has advertised himself
into popularity by preaching among the
most fanatical tribes a holy war against
the. Christians and their Satanic acces-
sories. such as the telephone He Is a
mountebank Of the craftiest order. as
SumeS the most humble mien and rides
about on a donkey. He claims to have
a divine mission.
One may imagine how dangerous an
opponent this fellow is when It Is remem-
| bered that an old tradition exists in Mo-
rocco to the effect that the mahdis fore
runner will appear in the east of the
country, and with a devoted band Of fol-
lowers march on Fee. guarded by super
natural powers to assure his safety. Hav-
ing reached Fee he will proceed to the
great mosque and call upon the mahdi
to appear. Somewhere inside the mosque
is concealed the mandfs sword. armed
with which the Messiah will set out to
| conquer the world and bring all infdels
to the true faith. Ridiculous as this
dream must be. 1t appeals to every true
Moroccan.
Fee, the city where the sultan has been
beleaguered in his palace. is one of the
quaintest of Oriental cities.
Mature and art wrote Purchase two
centuries ago., have played the wan
fruit of their dalliance." Much has been
written in praise of Fee and its river,
whereof the waters, drunk fasting" are
reputed to render the senses sharper"
The history of the town. says Mr.. Bud
| gett Meakin. has been checkered. as no
! less than eight times during the first 500
! years of its existence it was besieged sue
cessfully; yet once only has it known
! foreign masters. when during the strug-
gle between Benz Marin and the Sa'adi
shareefs in 1854 the Turks took posses
sion of the old city without Siege"
On arriving ct Fee. DR.. Leared rested
in a garden. of which he gave these i'm
pressions: AS far as concerned the lux
uriant Verdure. irrigation the gift Of the
adjoining river made the place paradise.
The orange groves were magnificent, but
what struck US in particular was a row
of myrtles In full bloom. having trunks
The jassamines We're also gigantic. The
toWn- ha continued was divided by the