The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-26
entl,. houarer. the Yizier,, voice. orderins the

entity. however, the viziors voice. ordering the
table to be prepared. sent them flying.
The terrace adventure OF our inausitive 1tal-
ian Ia also worth recounting One day the chief
custodian Of the palace assigned to the Italian
embassy gave him secretly the key OF the ter
race or Nat roof, recommending him. however.
to be prudent because the terraces in Fee. as in
other cities OF Morocco. belong to the women.
and are considered almost as appendages Of the
harem. Mr.. De Amicis went UP to the roof,
which he found very spacious and completely
surrounded pya parapet higher than man,
having few loophoes for windows. Poering
through these loopholes. you seemed to see into
another world. On the terraces far and near
we're women q greater part OF whom. judged by
their dress we're in easy circumstances-ladies
indeed. so far as the title is at oil appropriate
in Morocco. few we're seated upon
the parapets. some walking about some
jumping with the agility Of squirrels from
one terrace TO the other. hiding. reappearing,
nnd throwing water in each others faces. laugh
ing merrily. There were ola women md young,
little girls of eight or ten. all dressed In gar
mcnts Of the strangest cut and Of the most
brilliant colors. Most Of them had their hair
falling over their shoulders. red or green silk
handkerchief tied round the head in a band. a
sort OF caftan Of different hues with wide
sleeves bound round the waist with blue or
crimson sash a velvet Jacket open at the breast.
wide trousers, yellow slippers. and large silver
rings above the ankle. The slaves and children
had nothing on but chemise; only one of
these ladies was near enough for Mr. De Amcis
to see her features She was woman Of about
thirty dressed in gala nttire and standing on
a terrace but cats lump below his own. She
was looking down into garden. leaning her
head upon her hand. We looked at
her" says our author. with o glass.
Heavens. what picture! Eyes dark
cned with anthony. cheeks painted red.
throat painted white. nails stained with henna.
but handsome despite her thirty years. with a
full face and almond-shaped eyes languld. and
yelled by long black lashes; the nose little
turned up a small round mouth, as the Moor
ish poet says. like ring; and sylph-like fig
urc. whose soft and curvng lines were revealed
by the diaphanous texture Of her dress" She
seemed sad. Perhaps some fourth bride OF
fourteen hud lately entered the harem and
stolen her husbands caresses From time to
time we are told she glanced at her hand. her
arm, II tress Of hair that fell over her bosom,
and sighed. The sound Of our travellers voice
speaking 10 a companion suddenly reused her
she looked up. saw they were observing her.
Jumped over the parapet Of the terrace with the
One word regarding the commerce and in
dustries Of Fec, and the possibility of their de-
velopment should the dominions Of the She
reef be one day opened to the Giaour. Mr. De
Amicis says that he met in Fee many mer-
chants who had been in Italy. 1t appears that
forty or fifty OF them so there every year and
not few have Moorish or Arab agents in the
cities of the peninsula. They resort particu-
larry to upper Italy. where they buy raw silks,
velvets Venice glass. Genoa playing cards.
and Leghorn muslin-in exchange for which
they carry nothing but wax and wool. for the
export trade Of Morocco is much restricted.
The native stuffs. arms. hides. and pottery we're
the only productions of the country which at
tracted our travellers attention. The stufIs it
seems. are made chiefly in Fez and Morocco.
There are caiIues for women. majestic tur-
bans. sashes foulards OF silk delicately
woven with gold and silver. very pretty
at first sight. but unequal when exam
ined full OF gum. and not wearing well. The
red caps, on the contrary. which take their
name from Fee. are very fine and durable. and
the carpets made at Rabat. Casa Blanca. Moroc-
CO, and Scania are admirable for solidity OF
texture and richness Of color. From Tetuan
come damascened muskets OF light and elegant
form, inad with ivory and silver carved and
set with precious stones while at Fee, Mechinez
and throughout the province OF Sus are made
swords and dagGers which are sometimes of
admirable workmanship Hides, the principal
source Of gain. are we'll prepared in various
provinces. and to this day the scarlet leather Of
Fez the yellow leather Of Morocco and the green
leather Of Tablet are worthy of their ancient
reputation. III Fee they boast particularly of
their enamelled pottery. but. according to our
author it is now rare to find the noble purity Of
form exhibited by the antique Saracenic vase.
At present the chief merit is brlliancy of color
and certain barbaric originality of design.
which attract the eye. but do not satisfy IL.
There are also in Fee a great number of jewel
lers and soldsmiths who make some simple
things in excellent taste. but such works of
minor art are not marked by much novelty or
variety because the Maekite tabsurdly called
in the English version of this book Amalechite)
rite proscribcs the display of precious orna-
ments as irreconciabe with Mohammcdan
austerity. More noteworthy than the jewelry
is the furniture which comes from Tetuan
book shelves. clothes pegs. and little rolyGonal
tea tables. arched. arabesqued. and painted in
many colors; copper vessels. also chased in
complicated designs and orramented with
green red, and blue enamel. and above all.
mosaics for pavements and walls. composed in
exquisite taste by clever workmen who piece
together the designs with marvellous precision,
There is no doubt that fez and the district
traversed by Mr.. De Amicis represent tho oarl-
est focus Of Arabic civilization in northwest
Africa and he did not fail to recognize that the
present inhabitants. Notwithstanding centu-
ries of deterioration have inherited admira-
bile apttudes for trade. manufactures. and art.
he could see that their industries would in
crease immensely, as also their agriculture.
which was once so nourishing. il commerce
were not hampercd BY a thousand monopoles
and restrictions. and if tillaGe were not dis
couraSed by the grievous insecurity Of the ru-
raj districts. NJ. W. Ii.
The Life OF John Quincy Adams.
It is scarcely to be hoped that nll succeed
ing numbers Of the new biographical series en-
tltlnl L.Inl.lrnn SLntcs,unn md rrn,nntnl La: