Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-03

arc IA Morocco some days IN each week
| when the lowest and most humble o. the
| Emperor's subjects may step before the
despot and demand from him justice against
his ncighbors or against Government OH
| c,als. These public receptions are the most
interesting sight In the capital Of Morocco,
for they are always attended by the en-.
tire court, the army, and crowds OF
people. The army--seyeral thousand
rugged, beggarly fellows with crooked
| old guns and broken swords-is paraded
I'm three lines In front OF the imperial pal.
| ace, forming square, open on one side.
The Sultan. surrounded by crowd OF cOur-
tiers, generals and ministers, enters the
square. mounted on magnificent white
horse In gorgeous trappings. An attend
| ant hears tee celebrated blue umbrella. sur
mounted with golden ball. the insignia
| OF the sultan's imperial dignity. The SOL
diers present arms, the official and imperial
servants PROSTATE Themselves, and the cer-
omony hegius. One after the other. the
poverty-s'ricken, humiliated subjects are
led before the Sultan. lie rarely speaks TO
them. After listening to their stories or
TO that Of the police authorities, ne makes
his decision, or prescribeS a punishment.
which is instantly administered By chlm-
berlaln.
Until quiterccenilve every subiec' brought
into the presence OF the Sultan had TO bring
him a present according 10 his means.
Sometimes great quantities % gold. Jewell
ry. and precious stones are offered. The
poor Bedoulns from the desert BRING him
sheep, dates, cheese, large pots OF butter.
and other articles 81 little value. For
the last few years the Sultan has not
insisted upon these offerings. but il
cannot be said that those who come 70
HIM empty-handed derive much hene.
fl. There is no appeal against the jud.-
ment OF the Sultan. II condemned % d,lfa.
the delinquent will be executed on the
spot. EXecutiOuers are Away OF hand.
and the most horrible mutilations are CON.
mited in the presence OF his Majesty and
OF the entire army. Decapitation Is still
in vogue, but neither guill0tinc nor swords
are used. A common butchers knife or n
large dagger does the work slower AMI
mere cruelty, bu. equally effective. Rob
berry ard theft are still punished by cut
ting off the right hand OF the csimi-
nal. Eyes are torn out. ears, noses, and
feet cut of, and the poor people mu-
tilated in many still more horripl, WAYS.
The detached parts OF the body are
thrown othe dogs. Confessions are forced
from the sccused ny frightfll torture,. by
slowly roasting their bodies. pinching.
stretching. and squeezing. the same ~ in
the eleventh and twelfth centuries. /,
seems hardly credible that This mutation
can stlll be pracliced in country only
score Of hours distant from the enlightened
states OF the world, where ambassadors
and consuls OF all the great rations reside.
England wastes Thousands OF pounds an.
nually in her efforts 10 suppress the slave
trade in Egypt and Nubia, but the carnage
committed daily by the sultan OF Morocco
and his dignitaries Is permitted without
protest.
The vendetta exists in Morocco. Any
murder, committed either Intentionally or
by accident, will surely be revengcd by the
relatives OF the deceased. should they not
BE- able 10 kill the offender, the authorities
will do it for them. Other accidents which
may happen to a Mussulman by the fault 81 |
another are reycnged in a similar way.
"An eye for an eye and tooth for q
tooth =" is still the law with these semi !
barbarians. Every traveller is shocked at /
the great number OF crippes he encounters !
I'm every part OF the empire. Mu'inv l. 1
always punished by dccapItaton. Thi, Is /
practced 10 such an extent that the tray !
ellcr Otter secs dozen human heads stuck /
on high poles over the gates OF cities.
The Sultan is not the only one who in
dugoS in such crueltics. All his pachls. /
governors, aud cads follow his example in |
different provinces and districts. A. in |
Tunls and Persia, the bas.inldo j. the
most common punishment for slight Of
fences. Frequently. however. several
hundred strokes are administered upon the
soles 81 the poor offenders feet. causing !
instantaneous death. and fire.
queptly making cripples for life.
The favorite punishment with the Sultan
and the pachas is the confscation OF the
money and goods. II there is
decision to be given between several pir-
lies, justice is sold at auction. The purity
Offering the greater bride will always BE-
he winner. Offences against TIE Govern
nent are always punished by taking from
he offender everything he possesses.
whether found guilty or rot. Should
my Moorish merchant or function.
Try acquire considerable wealth, h.
Knows that he can live no longer
n security. The Sultan, master OF his life
md all his property. can take all from him
When he leasts expects it,, and he may con.
der himself fortunate il his head remains
lpOn his shoulders. This is why the whole
ountrv appears 10 the traveller so poverty
tTieken and so destitute OF all progress and
wealth. All the money earned in trade or
griculture is carefully hidden. for the least
Indication OF wealth may bring misery aud
leath upon its pOSsessOr. His house NAV illl
n runs; he will not have it repaired. H.
pay need a new burnOuS, but does not /
ARE 10 buy it, lest he should be thought
!, althy. he will never admit his prospe-
ity. lie will complain u bad lines, or %
he Government, and speak OF famine and
Misery, although he NAV have many thou
and gold pieces hidden'away. frequently
his does not prevent the Government off,
ial from discovering the biding-placc Of
is treasures by fearful tortnres. II any
loOr wishes to destroy his enemy, he de-
ounces him as rich.
The taxes are collected in the same eX- I
Cdient and effective manner in which JUS
&C is administered. Whenever the SUI
m needs money he orders all his plchas !
} collect the tenth prescribed 10y the I
OTan, and to send him the amount re- {
llred within certain time. These pacbas !
ly themselves for their services bv
Dubllng the amount, a policy which i, q
'gcrly followed by their subordinates. q
be poor, instead OF paying the Sultan his q
nth, have TO paw another tenth 10 the Il
icha, and a third tenth to the zaptich, /
e caids, and showsh. This Is but one OF G
C many taxes imposed upon the h0Ors. II
very date.tree, each pair Of oxen. every e
Icep, aud horse Is taxed. Imports and
ports Of goods, sales OF merchandise, b
I'd business transactions Of all kinds are II
Xed to the utmost. Indeed, only a small a
ut OF the earnings OF the people remain
cir own.
Al part from these taxes, which reach
cry male inhabitant, there are great many
hers levied only on certain occasions. ,
Ike, for instance, a shop-keeper in one Of -
G bazars Of Mogador or Mequinez. lis :,
nts his little shop from the sultan. hut il !,
1 able TO pay the amount OF the lease. >
, Is thrown into prison, brought before .,
e caid or khalifa. and cOndcmnel g pay ;,
G rent and perhaps triple sum as pun. -
lment. II he does not have the money, a.
is sent to prison, from which he can "
yer escape. Even the payment Of the
tire amount by himself or by his family
'uld not release him from prison. "a the &C
d EFFORTS fee Tor his judgment, and the
owsh Zee for imprisonment o
Against these outrages committed by the NJ
and its representatives, there
only one remedy for the merchant. That O.
nedy is foreign protectorste. In cities
c Tangiers and Mogador this IL not diff
L to obtain. Consuls and ministers OF -
great foreign Powers reside there. /
der some preteXt, backed by a little
ID cash. the rich Moorish merchant
,ceeds in getting his name in
ibed on the lists OF subjects OF
foreign government, and from that -.