The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-09-18
RAISUu IS
MUCH NRONGED
AT LEAST THE BANDIT HAS A
LONG TALE OF WOE TO RE-
LATE.

LONDON, September 2.-Raisuli, the
outlaw and bandit, who captured Kaid
MacLean near Tangier and now thinks
that he held wolf by the ears, tells
a queer story in his own defense He
says:
Abdul Rahman, former Pasha OF
Tangier, was the cause of my first quar-
rel with government. He oppressed
me and seized my property and that Of
my relatives and friends | am OF
Shereefan birth, and lave in my pos
session letters addressed to my ances-
tors by sutans who owe their throne
to my people, comforting privileges up
on them and acknowledging their des-
cent from the prophet These royal
letters the present sultan renewed, ex-
empting my family from taxation ana
forbidding oppression of them. Rah-
man ignored these commands, and was
ever intriguing against me and seek
ing to deprive me of my liberty Final
ly he caused me to be arrested on a
charge of which l was innocent.
was taken to Magador and cast into
prison, where | remained five years
with head bowed before the will of
Allah. I lifted my eyes and besought
the Most Merciful to hear my prayer.
The days of man are numbered, and
even chains cannot bind for all time.
The Most Merciful heard my cry and
opened the prison door. went forth
to my village:
what did find? Not a vestige of
my possessions remained Even my
papers had been taken by the basha
and his people Meanwhile Rahman
had been appointed Basha of Fee, and
his place was taken at Tangier by
Sadick Bargash took no measure of
revenge, but put myself under the wing
of the government, hoping that it
would do justice. Bargash promised
restitution. That promise was never
fulfilled.
"Then did l shoulder my rife and
demand justice. Again the basha
silenced me with fair promises My
friends advised me to lay aside my
rifle l consented Still nothing was
done. l could not even recover my pri-
vate debts. Despairing of justice /
went to the tribe Gharbia, six hours
from Tangier, where l had a farm. My
intention was to collect a few cattle
and devote myself to agriculture.
desired to live in peace. But again
men spoke evil of me. Bargash sent
men to surround my farm, and when
came out they fired on me. But Allah
cast a shield before me. The men
of the village came to the rescue, and
drove off the soldiers whom the basha
had sent to STAY me. l complained to
Tangier and had no reply. Friends
wrote that the government was bent on
my destruction. / feared to go to Tan
gier, but went and saw Torres, then
minister of war and a man of great in
fluence.
Il told him l was just released from
prison at MogadOr, and that there had
been another attempt on my life. Tor
res replied: The man who has no fire
may borrow an ember from his neigh
Dor. Return to your village. To those
that are kind to you be kind; those
who are unkind repay in the same
coin l went back to my village and
after a short interval departed fol
Arzila, whose kaid, Absolam bin ABDUL
Sudack, cousin of Abdul Rahman, was
my greatest friend. He invited me tc
live at Arzila and escape the jurisdic-
ton of Bargash.
81 stayed two months at Arzila eat
ing out of the same dish as the gov
ernor. Then the pretender took tht
field and the basha of Fee was sent tC
Algiers. On the way he stopped al
Tangier, where he met his cousin from
Arzila, and poisoned his mind against
me. A hundred men were sent tC
seize me- By Gods mercy 1 was not al
Arzila, having gone to the country Of
Gharbia to look after my property
Letters from Fee, Tetuan and Tanglei
warned me that the governor of Arzilt
sought my life. ] did not believe It
for were we not the best of friends
Soon afterward l sent men to Arzila Il
buy provisions. Soldiers refused u
permit them to enter unless they LAID
aside their arms. Then men returnel
and told what had happened.
Il was amazed at the conduct of m!
friend. 1 received information that thu
governor was plotting with my cousin
to seize me, and sent men to intercept
the servants of the governor. search
ed them and found on them letters say
ing that they were only waiting for m,
to come to Arzila to lay me by thu
heels. In despair at my continued per
secution, lifted my eyes to HEAVIER
and exclaimed "Wallah haulah ullal
koowat-sain lila Belah' (there is nom
more sublime, powerful, just ana mer
osR,,I tbon nndA avap mon =