RAISULI'S CAREER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11789, 13 February 1906, Page 2

RAISULI'S CAREER.

Notwithstanding all the reports which have been published in this country for some time past regarding the doings of Raisuli in Northern Morocco, very little appears to be known here of the man himself, or of his history. The full name of this redoubtable leader is Mulai Ahmad bin Mohammed bin Abd Allal' - ".isuli. and he is a shareef of Beni Aiuo, <onnected, therefore, with the Wazzan shareef s; but his prestige as such is low, both on account of his past career r.nd because of his acceptance of a civil post. His mother belonged to Anjera, near Tangier, where he was born about thirty-six years ago, at the village of Zeenat, being well educated, as education goes in Morocco. But, falling into bad company, he first took to cattle-lifting, afterwards turning highwayman, at which he was eventually caught by the Abd es-Sadok familyvarious members of which were kaids from Centa to Azila — and consigned to prison in Mogador. After three or four years his release was obtained by Haj Torres, the Foreign Commissioner in Tangier, but when he found that the Abd es-Sadoks had sequestrated his property, he vowed not to cut his hair till he had secured their disgrace. Hence, with locks that many a woman might envy, he has plotted and harassed till his present position has been achieved. But as this is only a means to an end, who can tell what may be?

Raisuli obtained redress for the wrongs of the tribes south of Tangier, and his own appointment as their Kaid, by the astute device of carrying off as hostages an American and an Englishman, so that the pressure certain to be brought to bear by their Governments would compel the Sultan to grant his demands. All turned out as he had hoped, and the condign punishment which he deserves is yet far off, though a struggle still continues between him and a small Imperial force, complicated by feuds between his sometimes supporters, who, however, fight half-hearted-ly, for fear of killing relatives pressed into service on the other side. Those who once looked upon Raisuli as a champion have found his little finger thicker than the Sultan's loins, and the country round Tangier is ruined by taxation, so that everyone is discontented, and the district is unsafe, a species of civil war raging. Raisuli is allowed on all hands to be a peculiarly able and well-bred man, full of resource and determination. Though his foes have succeeded in kidnapping even his mother, it will certainly be a miracle if he is taken alive. Should all fail him, he is prepared to blow his brains out, or make use of a small phial of poison always ready to hand.