Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-20
A SHORT Stretch ny ONE OF HIS
CAPTIVES.
(From London Sketch.)

Naisuh, 10 me, is a man of fine
character. who has been driven by
outrageous injustice into the posi-
ton he now occupies. He has been
lspoiled by the evil conditions In
which his life has been passed since
his fathers death. The old Shereef.
i his father. who traced his ancestry
back through Mulai-ed-Dris. the
founder of Fee in 1900. and through
him to Fatima. the daughter of Mo-
manned. the Prophet-this Is also
the genealogy of 'e sultan OF Mo
rocco. but not SO satisfactorily es-
tablished as in Raisuli's case--the
old Shereef. his father. was the
trusted councillor OF Mulaiel-Hassan.
the late sultan. who was one of the
most magnificent types Of manhood
/ ever seen.
Raisuli himself Is n man OF com
handing presence. extremely courte-
Gus in his manner and never raising
his voice even in issuing orders to
his followers. was greatly struck
with this last fact for, as he had
been sort Of DOGGY for years. ono
imagined him a rough. truculent fell
low.
II would appear, some four hun
dred-odd years ago. one of his an
cestors received from the sultan a
concession of territory in the Beni-
Aros Mountains Since that time the
family. now become clan inhabit-
ing seven villages. has thrown in
its lot with the Berber Benz
Aros Kahyles. II was TO one OF these
villages. calldd Tsaraddan. that
was taken with my stepson. Crom-
well Marley by Raisuli This vii
lage is situated on the shoulder Of a
mountain known TO the natives as
Mount Nazul For It's appearance
imagine a huge camels back with
great masses of rock on each bump.
! looking from distance like FORTH
cations laid out by a military engi-
neer. on the farther slope OF this
mountain was magnificent forest
OF green oak. On one occasion Raj
suli, having frequently pressed mo
to accompany him, took me mp to
the crest of the mountain to show
me the view, which was one Of the
finest on which ! have ever gazed-
and l know something about noun
/ tain scenery, having been In the Pyr
enees, the Alps, and the Greek
mountains. was amazed at the
view over the land and the sea. and
Raislui, pointing to the park-like
| depression just beneath the crest.
! dotted here and there with great
trees, above which rose the fantastic
peaks Of the rocks, said to me: you
who are so fond OF lovely sites. how
would you like TO build a residence
here?' This subject was often re
ferred 10 by his followers, as II moth
ing would please them better than
to have me live among them.
had heard a story, which took
to be merely a legend, that on his re-
lease from a terrible prisonment OF
four years Raisull had taken a sol
emn, and TO the Arabs an irrevocable
vow. never to allow scissors or razor
TO touch his hair until he had been
revenged on his enemy The chief
object Raisuli had I'm view when he
captured me was 20 realize his pur-
pose and the seventy thousand
Spanish dollars received by him prl-
or to my release was never consid-
cred or spoken Of by him as ransom
but as an indemnity TO be extracted
from this government. or the mem
bers Of his family. the Abdel Saduk
! family. It IS one OF Raisulis griev-
ances now that this sum was not
collected from Abdel Saduk a2 he
had intended but was pats by the
Sultan. Another Of the Abdul Sa-
| duks was deprived Of his post prior
| to my release. which was condition
al upon the dismissal Of this gov
ernor
/ one day ! asked Raisuli whether
there was any truth I'm the popular
belief about his oath All who know
the Arabs are aware that the head
+ IS kept closely shaved for which
reason they never remove their fur
bans For answer Raisuli lifted the
Zap Of his turban showing me
Tong lock OF silky hair. plated like
q woman's you see. said the
iusurgcnt chieftau "thaf tho story
was true There was nothing mel
odramaHc i'm his manner or tragic in
The tones Of his voice. and yet ] felt
immeasurably pleased that ] myself
was not in the position of Abdul
8a1uk
These incidents which 7 have re-
lated viii give some idea of my es-