Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-05
MOHAMMEDAN MOORS
Dark Picture of the Situation in
Morocco.
A HOLY WAR IMMINENT
Raisuli, the Kidnaper of Perdicaris,
Holds Tangier.
HOMAGE TO THE TRUE SULTAN
Manner of Instruction in the Schools
"A Look at the Mosques
and the Markets.
Copyright, 1906. by Frank C. Carpenter)

Copyright, 1906. by Frank G.. Carpenter)
TANGIER
am in the wild and turbulent land Of
Morocco country which contains ten
million Mohammedans and six thousand
Christians Five thousand of the Christians
live here in Tangier but there are ten
Mohammedans to every one of them, and
the man who would laugh or sheer at the
prophet in public place would be in dan
ger of death. The town is surrounded by
walls and guarded by soldiers. The coun-
try outside is filled with bandits and
brigands. Rumors of a holy war against
the Christians are now current; and 1t is
said that in the oasis of Tablet, from
where the family of the sultan comes,
the troops are preparing to invade Algeria
and slaughter the French.
The Algeciras conference. so far from
settling things has stirred up the people,
and the force of twenty-five hundred police
men under foreign officers. which 1t pro-
yided for the eight ports of Morocco. is in
efficient. There is already trouble a many
of the ports. Since l landed one Of the
mountain tribes has besieged Mogador. on
the Atlantic, and has assaulted the French
Jews there reign of terror exists in
Merrakech. the southern capital of the
sultan. and his majesty cannot control any
part of his dominions outside of Fee.
The Brigands of the North.
Right here in Tangier. within a short
distance of the fortifications of Gibraltar,
and just over the way from Spain and
south France. the country is full of wild
and warning tribes, the most of whom are
fast losing their fear of the foreigner.
AS I write this 1t is impossible to go five
miles east of the city without soldiers to
guard one The Berbers of that region are
up In arms. The governor of Tangier
fuses to take any risks. and he will not
send an escort of soldiers with me to the
town of Tetuan, which is only two days
away. | can look out of my hotel window
and see the villa of Walter B. Harris. the
London Times correspondent, which Is
situated near here on the shore. 1t is not
more than an hours walk from where /
am writing, but It's owner does not dare
TO remain in IL over night for fear that he
may be kidnapped and taken off into the
mountains and held there for ransom
was Perdicaris. Mr.. Harris himself has
already been captured and it was only the
fcar Of the English gunboats that brought
about his liberation. He was taken by
Raisul some time before the capture of
Pardicarts. and was kept twenty-three
days in the mountains During that time
he was thirty-sIx hours without food, and
his treatment by Raisuli was such that he
will not risk being kidnapped again. He
talked with me about the situation In his
rather bitterly of the fact that he has to
live In the town, and at the same time
keep large corps of servants to protect
his property on the edge of TanGier. AS 1t
daytime. and that by riding along the
beach. The governor of Tangier has
force of fifty soldiers watching this villa,
but even with them it is unsafe after
dark.
How a Robber Keeps Order.
'It takes thief to catch a thief" This
il an old rule. but II is one which holds
good here in Morocco. At present the
country west of Tangier is quiet. because
the sultan has bribed Raisuli to take
care OF it. This same brgand. who cap
tured an American citizen and made the
sultan pay a ransom of $4,000 before he
would let him go. has been appointed by
the sultan the governor Of the Tangier
district his soldiers are now the only
guard of Tangier itself.
l find them ia every street and they are
patrolling the chief roads outside the
town. l took donkeys yesterday and rode
out over the hills TO the villa where Mr.
Perdicaris lived when he was captured.
was accompanied by my son Jack and my
turbaned guide. HadJ Mohammed Breck.
We found sentries at every few feet and
passed through an encompment OF troops
at the edge OF the city. The soldiers wore
red Fee caps and gay Moroccan uniforms.
Most of them were bare legged and bare
footed. They were armed with Mauser
rifles and their fierce eyes looked out of
their bearded faces at us without smiling.
They Were not at all friendly. and when
they objected TO being photographed l did
not insist.
There are soldiers like these all along
tai Of Morocco. That city lies about 10
miles in the interior and the road from
Tangier 10 II Is one OF the most Travelled
OF all In Morocco Nevertheless, every for
clgner who goes over It has TO take a
guard, furnished by Raisuli, and to pay
for his support on the way.
Raisuli Afraid of Assassination.
In the meantime, Raisuli holds a peculiar
position in Moroccan politics. He has
bluffed the sultan and his officials. and has,
as II were, held up the government and the
army He has made the nominal rulers of
the country give up a lot of hard cash, and
also one OF the latest of the fat jobs He
knows that he has many enemies and that
the sultan would welcome his assassina-
tion. AS a result he Is badly frightened,
and is trying to guard against accident.
These Moors are wonderfully friendly with
one another. They are about the most
polite people on earth. When two of them
meet each kisses the hands and head of
he other They embrace and 20 through