A MOORISH MISSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7154, 19 July 1901, Page 2

A MOORISH MISSION.

DIFFICULTY ABOUT TlOr

LADIES.

HIDDEN. FKOM MEN'S EYES.

The Special Mission from fche- Sultan.. of Morocco to convey congratulations to King Edward VII. on his< acqession to the Throne arrived at Portsmouth on board the British cruiser Diadem. On disembarking, the Embassy, was received with naval honours and was officially welcomed by Admiral Pelham Aldrich and General Sir Baker Russell.

The ladies were the causa of an amusjng break in the reception ceremonies. Everybody was suddenly ordered to get out of sight. Even Admiral Aldrich had to hide belhid the brake- van of the special train that had drawn up on thejdockyard siding. The guard of honour was marched round a corner; in fact, every male had to make himself scarce for a time. When the jetty and the decks ', of "the Diadfite' had beeai; thoroughly cleared the two : ladies were brought from the casemate in which they had 'been secluded during the- voyage and taken to "the train, where they were put in a* saloon- liat had all the windows ciosely curtained.' " ; [ '-■" '• " ••■•'■; The chief of the mission is "th» Moorish Minister of War, arid the entire deputation, consists of twenty -.nine, including the two ladies.

The second saloon carriage t>f the special train was set apart for th& two ladies and ■had the blinds drawn, and "they were not allowed to leave the train until the gentlemen of the party had left the station.'' Strict orders were given for the platform to 'be ''cleared before they descended, aaid other precautions taken to secure ' the strictest privacy. The carriage attendants and other males who could not withdraw turned their ba<?ks to the saloon, and two closely-draped and veiled figures alighted. The veiled ladies are the wives of the Ambassador,. Cid el Mthedy. He 'has brought as presents .to the King a. couple of xwmfßxm, ox Atlas Mountain sheep, and. twenty Arab, horses. Twenty mules are to follow, in a freight s^p.