THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 31

THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS

IN MOROCCO.

Benaboo was the best governor I have known during the 4O.years I was at Tangier. He ruled with an iron but just hand. Murder, robbery, and even theft became unknown after the first year of his government. He made terrible examples of all criminals.

Cattle-lifting was, aad still is, a common practice throughout Morocco. On his first appointment as Basha he sent the public crier, on the market day, when the mountaineers and peasantry flocked in to make their purchases, to proclaim that the severest punishment would be inflicted on robbers or other criminals.

He kept his word, for the next market day two cattle-lifters, caught red-handed, were brought before him. After hearing the evidence, they were severely bastinadoed. Benaboo had caused an iron brand to be prepared with the letter " S," the first of the word " Sarak," meaning robber. On the forehead, just above and between the eyebrows, these robbers were marked with the hot brand.

Their property was seized and confiscated, and after issuing a fresh proclamation that any criminal who had been branded would on a second conviction of crime have his hand or foot amputated, or both, according to circumstances, Benaboo liberated the robbers, and reported his proceedings to the Sultan, making known to H.I.M. that he had found on his appointment murders, robberies, and crime of all kinds prevailed, and that there was no security for life and property outside the walls of Tangier, and he iequested the Sultan's authority to cut off the hand or foot of any person branded with the "S" who was again convicted of a murder or robbery with violence.'

The Sultan approved of his conduct, and complkd with the request. Six months after the branding of two robbers, one of them was caught, having robbed some cattle, and wounded the shepherd in charge.

The delinquent, stripped to the waist, was mounted on the back of a donkey. The animal was led through the principal streets and market place ; two soldiers fallowed with the bastinado, which is a rope of twisted leather about 4ft long. The lash was applied every 20 paces to the back of the prisoner, who was compelled to proclaim his crimes in a loud voice. He was then taken off the donkey in the middle of the market place, where a fire was lit, and on it an earthen pot stood with boiling pitch.

A butcher, the first the soldiers could lay hands on, was seized, and ordered to sever a right hand and left foot.

The unfortunate butcher remonstrated in vain. The condemned man was laid on the ground, his hands were untied and the right was taken off at the joint, and the stump plunged into the pot of pitch to stop hemorrhage and prevent gangrene. The foot was amputated in the same manner. Charitable bystanders carried off the victim to a small house in the town called "Mareslan," where paupers seek shelter at night. There he was provided with food and water" for some months. He recovered, and could be seen crawling about the' streets or sitting at the gate of the town, begging.

■ Murder, robbery, and cattle-lifting ceased throughout the Tangier province. • Life and property were safe. Thus this cruel and barbarous mutilation of one ruffian saved hundreds of innocent ,men from murder, and women and helpless Jews from outrage. On a shooting excursion to a district about eight miles from Tangier, I found in a sheltered spot about 40 beehives. There was no village within a mile of the hives, and there was no hut even for a guard. Passing a cowherd attending some oxen, not far from the hives, I inquired to whom they belonged. He said they were the property of the village of Zeenats. I asked whether there was no guard to watch the property, which could easily be carried off at night. Pointing towards Tangier, he exclaimed " Benaboo."— Sir J. H, Drummond Hay, in " Murray's Magaaine."