MOORISH PRISONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10483, 30 October 1901, Page 3

MOORISH PRISONS.

- The condition of the prisons has long been'the "greatest scandal of the Moorish Empire. Within their walls every sentiment of humanity is outraged. Many - are underground dungeons, where -in tropical summers^ tho victims aro herded together as in. so many Black .Holes. Until lately tho only means of getting food or drink was by paying for them or accepting the charity of friends or strangers, even of the gaolers. Flogging, torture, and mutilation, especially putting out one or both eyes, have- been common modus of punishment. Freqiicntly the prisoners are perfectly innocent men, and it is_ the judges who are the criminals. Imprisonment is not thought of so much as a means of. restraining crime as if extorting land or money. When the Consular Courts were first established, it was hoped they would do some good by protecting all who were not of Moorish birth, but tho Consular agents were generally unscrupulous foreigners, who vied'witn the Sultan and his head men in "the abuse of power. They extorted money on false pretences or as compensation for injuries that had never been done. For example, a late Consul accused a -Moor of stealing a choice collection of coins. The Moor and his family were imprisoned, and_ their goods were seized to refund the indemnity paid by tho Moorish Government. Five of the family were beaten to death. And yet, alter 'the Consul's death, those coinß'were sold at his auction sale. Consulates' and Legations brought, only worse misery on the land. After the Tourmaline episode the European -capti.es had some experience of Moorish prisons, and the narrative published by one of them helped to stir up "a. desire for substantial, relief. Reforms' have recently been made in tho Consulates and Legations. Even the prisonß in Tangiers were improved, and the Powers insisted on food being supplied, though up to the present time this has not been done at Fez, Mequinez, Mogador, or Rabat. Several European' visitors have made efforts to diminish the misery of the prisoners. Miss Charlotte Hanbnry gave up years of her life to this work, travelling through Morocco, accompanied by a Syrian, and visiting and relieving wherever; she could. Some members of tho North African Mission lent their assistance, and the Howard Association drew the attention of the British Government to the subject. In last Junes Nineteenth Century, Lady Meath, describing as "a land of woo," gave a detailed account of the horrors permitted by tho Sultan. Ihe result of the agitation was that a memorial was drawn up by all the foreign diplomatists in Tangiers, and sent to the' Sultan, who, as tho cablegram last week informed , us, has decided on the thorough reform of the prisons. .Probably his resolution is caused- partly in consequence of his recent amicable embassy to King Edward and partly by the personal influence of his trusted military commander, the Scotchman Kaid Maclean.