The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-23
IT. B. Aldrich in Harpers Magazine.l
Tangier as Seen From a House


1t was Sunday do not know whose Sun
day it was, for there are three to the week in
Tangier the Mohammedan, the Jew, and the
Christian having each his own. 1t was Sun
day; but what was more to the purpose, it was
also market day. had caught the town in
one of its spasms of business. Between these
spasms, and when the Aissawa are not over
running it, or no fete is going on, the place is
said to be as dull and silent as plague-smitten
city. 1t being my last as well as my first day
In Africa,I did not wait for the Hadji to call
me that morning. l was an early bird, astir
even before the slightest worm of breakfast
was practicable. Having completed my toilet,
Wandered out on the platform in front Of my
bedroom to kill the intervening hour. Dis
covering stone staircase leading still higher,
1 mounted the steps, and found myself on the
roof of the hotel. The Kasba on the height
had all its windows illuminated by the day.
break, but the rest of tho town lay in cool
shadow. AT my feet stretched confused mass
of square-cut white houses, reaching to the
seas edge on one side, and ending in drifts on
the slant of hill at my left-a town of snow
that had seemingly dropped fake by fake
from the clouds during the night. There were
figures moving on several OF the neighbOrng
house-tops All the roofs were perfectly fiat,
and most of them surrounded by low battle
ments. Yonder was young negress IN sulphur
hued caftan and green girdle, shaking striped
rug over parapet, and looking consciously
picturesque. On terrace further off Moor
ish washerwoman and little girl were spread
ing out their harcks and embroidered Ekins
ON the flag stones; the sun would reach them
by and by. At my right was man indolently
lifting himself off piece of carpet laid danger
ously near the unprotected roof-edge-possibly
| a summer boarder who had chosen that airy
bed chamber. He was rubbing his eyes, and
| had evidently slept there over night. In this
| climate where the thermometer seldom rises
| above 800, and rarely falls below 400, the house
| top would be preferable to an inside room to a
| summer boarder. On many of the roofs was
evidence of pretty attempts at gardening, ole
| anders, acacias, palms, and dwarf almond trees
| being set out in ornamental jars and tubs.
| There, 70 doubt, was the family resort after
| nightfall, the scene Of ceremonious or social
| visits, and, l imagine, of much starry love
making. Behind the hotel, in desolate va
| cant lot checkered by small yats half filled
| with dye-Stuffs, was an Arab tanner at work
| Standing in the midst of his colored squares
| he resembled a solitary chessman. l could
| look directly down on his smooth bare skull
which seemed cast of gilt-bronze or bell metal
| He wore nothing but breech-cloth. The
| Moorish tanners are very expert, and employ
| arts not known to the trade elsewhere. They
have process by which lion and panther skins
| are rendered as pliable as satin, and of creamy
| whiteness. The green leather of Tablet, the
red of Fee, and the yellow of Morocco arr
highly esteemed.