River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-06-25

prepared by the National Geographic So.
ciety. Washington. d. c.
1t Is not the Moors In general with
whom the French and Spanish are hav.
Ing their troubles. Those fighting the
two European countries are the Riffian
highlanders-the Berber "hill billies'
of the mountains along the northern
edge Of Morocco.
By far the greater part Of the French
sphere Of influence in Morocco Is I'M
der orderly government and has been
the recipient of valuable development
by the French: highways, railroads,
port facilities, public buildings and ir-
rigation works. But the northern fringe
of this huge French zone, beginning
some fifty miles north Of Fee, is in
reach Of raids from the Riff noun
tains, ostensibly Spanish territory, but
In reality controlled by the Riffian
elansmen. 1t is in the region just south
of the Spanish border that the French
troops have been fighting the forces of
the highlanders.
From Algeria, long virtually a part
of France, the French have built rail-
way and highway paralleling the
French Moroccan and the Spanish Mo-
roccan boundary, passing through Fee,
the greatest city and ancient capital
of Morocco, and reaching the Atlantic
at Rabat, the government headquarters
of today. This route connects with the
Algerian railway system at the border
town of Ujda, forming a direct line
between Rabat on the Atlantic and
Oran, chief western Mediterranean
port Of Algeria, which has been dubbed
that country's Chicago"
Passing into the present turbulent
zone of Morocco over this route from
Oran, one finds himself crossing new
ly conquered country. Between the
border and Fee only narrow gauge
railway has been constructed so far
and 1t is restricted to the use of the
military; but civilian travellers can
make use of an automobile line which
traverses the highway. The road par
allels the railway which brings the
soldiers to the forts along the line.
These little white forts, guarding high
way and railroad, are placed at regu
lar intervals, with larger garrisons be-
tween.
Between Riff and Berber.
Some three miles to the north is the
land of the rebellious Riff tribesmen ;
some 30 miles to the south are the re-
naming Berber tribesmen, not yet on
good terms with the French; yet
through this narrow lane, between
enemy lines, the traveller could go in
safety until recently.
1t is not the type of wilderness one
pictures, Of sand dune and mirage. This
lies beyond the Atlas. Here are cacti
and a scanty vegetation on which
gaunt camels Craze.
These single-humped Arabian camels
are not the "oldest residents" of Moroc-
co. They followed the Arab invasion
westward twelve centuries ago. Be-
fore their coming, the domestlcated ass
was the Berber's only beast Of burden.
Long years before the birth of the
great camel driver who gave to the
Moslem world It's faith, long years be-
fore the Three Wise Men journeyed to
Bethlehem, Berber farmers here drove
their asses to market and Berber shep-
herds here tended their flocks.
One sees along the road natives chief
~ of Berber stock, primitive people of
the plateau. Most of these seen are
poor shepherds, dressed in brown home
spun robes, ragged and soiled. Although
nominally Moslems, wearing the usual
prescribed head-covering, their women
are unveiled. The faces and ankles of
these Berber women are tattooed. They
are taller and leaner than their harem-
bred sisters met in the cities where
Moorish beauty runs to avoirdupois.
The heads of the young shepherd
boys are uncovered, showing a long
strand Of hair on the otherwise shaver
head. by means of this strand. the
gossip of the road has it, the faithful
are jerked up to heaven.
Near the road are the homes of these
shepherds-low black cloth tents Of
woven camels' hair surrounded by
thorny brush walls. At night the sheep.