PIPING RAID.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 65, 15 September 1908, Page 3

PIPING RAID.

THE SCOTSMAN \VHO KUjiBD IN morocco. ;

Kaid Maclean htls- spent a lifetime iv the wiirls£,-&¥ the Moors. Born in 1848""ahcf adopting a military career, he becaMe a subaltern in tho Warwickshire Begiment, but since 187fe ! he has been practically the righi-hand nian of the Sultan of Morocco.

Thirty-two years ago* when his regiment was a* Gibraltar, he went across to Tangier. There the Moors offered him the post of instructor to the Morocco army, and he accepted; the offer. He speedily became very popular with tho soldiers and their monarch, and was soon appointed commander-in-chief , receiving a salary of £7000 a year and a palace in Fez, where he has lived in Oriental magnificence. He has built another house for himself at Marakesh, excessively plain outside, but more beautiful than a fairy tale inside. DEATH OF MULAI EL HASAN. It was on a march from Marakesh amongst the turbulent tribes of: the Atlas that his master, Mulai el Hasan, died. of fatigue and worry. Maclean immediately concealed his death, and ordered the body to be carried along in its gorgeous gear and gold litter, as if nothing had happened, until he met the present Sultan ou£ i side Rabat. Then the- corpse was j smuggled into Rabat through a hole in the wall, and the young Sultan was proclaimed. In spite of many attempts by other nations to undermine his position, Maclean retains his hold on the affections of the army, who call him "Coronis," and tell many tales of his deeds of valour, for, though the climate has reprived him of the use of his right eye, ho is a splendid shot. One of his achievements was to drive a hansom cab from 1 the coast up to Fez, over mere apologies, for roads. The cab was for the Sultan. For his own pleasure he introduced some bagpiposj and formed a corps of bag-' pipers., most pleasing to the. Moors because of the similarity of the music to their own productions. -> .; ;

AS A D

IPLOMAT

Though he is a linlv between tho Sultan and the Legations at Tangier, Kaid Maclean never meddles in politics, confining his energies to the sphere of administrative reform. His present position is that of . Colonel of the Sultan's 'bodygiiard. In appearance Kaid Maclean is more Moorish than English. He is : an alert, grey-bearded man, with keen eyes

and a decisive manner. He wears a semi-Moorish costume, baggy trousers tucked into high boots, and a white turban. He was made a C.M.Gr. in 1898, and obtained his knighthood in 19ui for '-'services rendered to the British Government."

A pushful' interviewer once called upon the Kaid when he Avas paying a flying visit to England, and, wishing perhaps to impress Sir Harry with his linguistic abilities, commenced to talk in a mixture of the Cockney and -Moorish tongues. "Get away wi' ye, raou !"• said the Kaid. "Can't ye see Aw'm up to my eyes i' work?"