Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-07
CEUTA.

The name of this Spanish possession III
North Africa, has become quite familiar 10
the readers of American Newspapers since
the condemnation of the Lopez, caPtives'
and particularly since the exile OF Nr'
Thrasher to the chain gang in that Piace.m
Few, however, know exactly It's loPosfa-
phy and its relations to Spain:
Ceuta is on the cost of Africa, opposite
Gibraltar, and is one of the pillars OF Her-
cules. the Abyla, as known to the ancients'
as Gibralter Mons Calpe was the other.-
The two marked the western boundary OF Oh
the world, the gateway, beyond which all
was waste and darkness. Ihs town was
called Septa, from seven hlllocks, upon one
of which it was built, and, in the course OF
time, the Roman Septa has become the
Spanish Ceuta. II has been in the posses,
sion of Spain for more than two hundred
years having been acquired from the FOR
tuguese in 1910. The Portuguese had had 1t
then more than two hundre years, having
seized it from the Moors in l4l9. Inc
possession is yet ground OF resentment 10
the surrounding Moors. The City alone Is
under the Spanish Government. outside
the walls the Moors are strong and NAM
tain an attitude of hostility up to the gates
Yidetles and patrolling parties keep con-
slant watch upon each other, and assassin
atoms are frequent, whenever Spanish IN
habitant gets beyond the protection OF the
guns. 1t is a little curious that SPAN, Wllich
has mourred so long over the occupation OF
Gibraltcr, on her own coast, by the English.
should have compensated herself in some
degree by taking from the Empire OF Mo-
rocco. on the other side of the strait, the
corresponding African hill of Ceuta. Du-
ring the war of the Spanish succession,
Ceuta was placed, for safe keeping from
the French, in the hands Of the English,
and number of English establishments
grew up, of which the effects still continue:
At the close of the war, the Emperor OF
Morocco wanted England, in return for his
aid in furnishing them supplies to their ar
mics in SPAN, to assist him in recovering
this port for himself, England could not
we'll urge this without consentIng to give
up Gibralter.
Ccuta is town, according to McCulloch.
of about 9, ,237 inhabitants, exclusive OF the
garrison. 1t forms Spanish preside, and
IS cut off from communication with the IN
terror SO perfectly, that it receives supplies
from Spain, and gets its Morocco news by
the Madrid newspapers. 1t Is the Botany
Bay of the Spaniards. The convlcts OF
Spain are sent there to remain in depot un-
til drafted QUO work in the mines or some
public work in Spain. 1t is mistake, we
believe, that there are any quicksilver or
other mines at Ceuta, in which the con-
victs work. Ceuta is only place OF trans
portation, where the criminals OF Spain are
sent into exile and Imprisonment. There
may be a regulation, and we think there 49,
that they be sent to work the Spanish mines
of which there are several of considerable
extent in the Peninsula. OF these the prin.
ciple are the lead minds in Granada, and
the uuicksilves mines OF Almaden, IN La
Mancha. The destination Of prisoners 10
the mines is not absolutely fixed by their
condemnation to the chain gang in Ceuta,
though this usually follows.
Uruuhart, the British traveller. states
that in 1S4S, two thousand of the convicts
were sent off at once, to work on canal IN
CASTLE. He adds, that there are remarka
Bile facilities to escape, that the convicts
outnumber the population, the town is aci
cesslble at every side, the sea open ana
boats all round. He praises the good order
of the place; and gave the acting Governor
at that time high character for gentlrnsss
of character and humanity to the captlVes'