A MOORISH BRIGAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 219, 13 September 1923, Page 5

A MOORISH BRIGAND.

RAISULI AT HOME. ENGLISHWOMAN AS GUEST. LONDON , , September 12. I Mr*. Rosita Korbes, who in the intervals of exploration and adventure i> [acknowledged to lie one of the most beautiful and bost-dressed women in ; London, returned this evening from hrr I latest exploit, boarding Raisuli, -the Moorish brigand, in his den. In an interview, Mrs. Forbes said: "I nm the first, white woman to bo received by Raisuli. When I arrived at Tetuan, 1 was met by his agents who intended that I should ride to the hills in a rod i box strapped to a mule. but. when they ! saw ray riding boots they became impressed awl mounted !iie on an Arab steed which, 1 should think, had never had a bit in his mouth. "It was night-time when I arrival! :;t the village where Kaisuli lives in » wonderful pa luce. I hud never seen ftuull ;i man. He is almost aa broad us lonfr, vet he carrion not an ounce of fat: all .is solid muscle. He bus an enormous idi|uare-cut beard dyed red with henna. I"I lived six weeks'in a tent in Raisuli's j garden served by two slaves, men who always go into battle with Rainuli. Eor three days in every week Raisuli observes a complete fast, and attributes his perfect health to this abstinence.. His men regard him almost as a deity. When he had a tooth extracted it was split into minute fragments for a number of his followers to wear as amulets. They believe that he is immune from :,he dangers of ordinary mortal*, and will only be killed if shot with a golden bullet, fall it a coincidence if you like, the fart remains that Raisuli has never taken precautions for his personal safety. Although men have been killed jand wounded at his side lie lias never been harmed. "He never boast-s. but he fold '-lie most appalling atoriee of his own brutality without a trace' of emotion. It ira« intended that Raisuli's son should have met mc, Raisuli had just taken another wife, aged 14. Tn the meantime, the son had been neglecting , his studies, so Rateuli, in order to keep the lad to liis books, had him put. in chains. "KaißUli, who claims a pedigree that goes bark to Noah, told mc the story of his life, which is like the Arabian Nights up to date.. The punishment to which he is partial is putting out men's evos with red hot coins. He is now tired of war. and believes that civilisation is ini-1 Hi, He. "Raisuli said: 'Civilisation is Bight, and sight is greater than blindness. I have [made many people blind, but the Spaniards make many see. If any eouqticr Morocco they will be Spanish doctors ■with, their hospitals."—(A. and N.Z.)