A MOORISH ABDUCTION CASE.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1214, 1 April 1884, Page 4

A MOORISH ABDUCTION CASE.

The following incident of Mooish life, which occurred a few days ago, thoroughly illustrates the state of insecurity to which the natives are subject, and which appears to be the normal condition of the existence in this country. Two gentleman, one an American, and the other an English officer, were riding along the beach, and, when about two miles from the town, perceived a group of fishermen who appeared to have some altercation with a truculent-looking Moor armed with the usual long firelock. On seeing the horsemen approach, some four or five men, accompanied by a pretty-looking Moorish girl of about seventeen years of age, separated from the crowd, and called out that the armed Moor had been trying to carry off the girl by force, threatening at the same time to kill her if she resisted. While this explanation wes going on, the man of whom the coinplant was made had taken to his heels, and being a good runner, had gained considerable distance when the two gentlemen rode after him. Finding himself pursued, he made for a river, which he waded across up to his middle ; his pursuers plunged in and on being hard pressed the Moor again waded the river. Three times this manoeuvre was executed, but at last the two gentleman came up with the fugitive, whom they captured and disarmed. They gave the fellow in charge to the Jishermen, who had now arrived on the spot, having followed the chase on foot, and sent him, accompanied by the Moorish girl, to the fort, where the Khalifa administers justice. The girl, Raclima Halfsoutz by name, state that about one month ago she was enticed by two women to take a walk with them on the beach. When a short distance from the town two armed Moors suddenly made their appearance, and carried her ofT by force to the village of El Menaar. Here the men were joined by a third, and she was detained by them, being continually subjected to brutal outrages. After about a fortnight she was taken to the village of Imgogha, and from that to Beni Jrlassan, near Tetuan, where her captors met a party of mountaineers, and now the girl discovered from a conversation which she overheard that an arrangement was being made to sell her as a slave to these men; the bargain, however, not being compelled at once, she was taken to a village near Torre Blauquille, on the coast, and not far Tangier. After some more days’ detention, she had reason to believe that a definite agreement bad been made to sell her to the mountaineers above mentioned, who were probably Riffians, and knowing that once in a remote mountain village in the Rifl country she must renounce all hope of escape, she determined on making a desperate effort to regain her liberty. With this view, during the temporary absence of two of the Moors, the captive contrived to elude the vigilance of the third, and secured his poniard, which she concealed about her person, intending to defend herself if driven to extremity. She then slipped quietly out of die village, and, once clear, ran as fast as she was able in the direction of Tangier. After her departure some time elapsed before the man in whose charged the girl had been left discovered that she had made her escape ; but then, having armed himself with a loaded gun, he started in hot pursuit, overtaking his victim on the beach, where she had encountered some fishermen, who wore drawing in their nets, and from whom she implored protection. The armed Moor, however, seized her by the arm, and attempted to drag her away, threatening at the same time to murder her if she resisted, and to shoot anyone who dared to protect her, While the dispute was going on the lwe gentlemen on horseback were seen approaching,and the fellow, feeling the consequence of their interference, made off as before mentioned. He has been impiisonod, after bavin been well (logged, and the Khalifa lias given orders for the arrest of the other two men, as well as the women who induced the girl Rachvna to walk with them on the evening of her rdbuction. Judging from her account, she appears to have received the most brutal treatment while a prisoner, as she was ..constantly required to go through the native Moorish dances ; but not always being able to perform these 'to the satisfaction of her persecutors, they used, she affirms,to switch her severely, and certainly the condition of the girl’s legs bear testimony to their having undergone very harsh treatment.