The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-17
LIFE IN MOROCCO


Cvsass aaA Exeeutisns-Hsv Justsos 10
Aamsststsrea-Ths Great Hey 60 che
sssAsn-The Fwsurs of Morocco.
TANalER, July s.--No words can describe
tho cruelty and tho barbarlc manner In which
justice 10 administered in Morocco. Like Tnnis.
there arc In Morocco some days In each week
when the lowosfand most humble OF the En-
psror's SUBJECTS may step before the despot
and demand from him justice against his
neighbors or against Government ofIlclals.
These public receptions nre tho most Interest.
Ing sight In the capital OF Morocco. for they are
always attended by the entire court tho army,
and crowds OF people. The army. several
thousand ragged. beggarly fellows with
crooked old guns and brokon swords. 10
paradcd In three lines In front Of tho
Imperial Palace. forming . square. open
on one side. The Sultan. surrounded by q
crowd Of courtiers. Generals. and Ministers.
enters the square. mounted on magnificent
white horse In gorgeous trappines. An at.
tendant bears tho celebrated blue umbrella.
surmounted with golden ball. the insignia OF
the sultan's imperial dignity. Tho soldiers
present arms the official and imperial SER
wants PROSTATE themselves. and the ceremony
begins. Ono after tho other. the poverty
stricken. Inundated subjects are led before tho
Sultan. He rarely speaks to them. After lis.
tening to their stories or to that OF tho police
authorities. he makes bis decision. or pre-.
scrlbes punishment which Is instantly admin.
istered by chamberlain.
Until quito recently every subject brought
into the presence OF the Sultan had to bring
him present. according to his means. Some.
times great quantities OF gold. jowelry. and
precious stones arc offered. The poor Pedouins
from tho desert bring him sheep. dates. cheese.
large pots OF butter. and other articles OF little
value. For tho last few years the Sultan has
not insisted upon these offerings. but 1t cannot
DRIVE ma bsne aime rSsrs II e% sr
condemsd 70 death. tIs delinquent will be ex-
on hand aud the most horrible mutllations are
ssSSmmittsd In the Of he Majesty and Of
but neitSsr eGap nnr ~ st 10 n SogSs
4 common butchers knife or 4 large dagger
doe. the seryiee slower and more cruelty. 6nt
criminal. Eyes are torn out. ears. noses. and
many still more horrible ways. The detached
parts OF the G@dy re thr1wn to the dogs Con-
torturss by slowly roas,nS sSeir Sodss pine6
fhs fsss i tb. L Ps
practieod In a country only a. score Of hours
distnpt from tho enlightened States Of the
ESFd sr s'Fs s.,ons rssi and n cS v
Thousands OF pounds annually in her Efforts to
sT pr. the slave trade IL Egypt and Saba
Of o, Morocco and his diSnitariss is permitted
der Committed either intentionaiiy or by Meci
pi the dscsa;ed. should thsy not be- able to
thsm. Other accidents which may happen to t'
Mussulman by tine fault OF another are rsvensed
to s"s st ay' tho sF LAW s sys 1 shss"
SOM 81, n. .barbarlsns Every traveller Is shocked
punished BY decnpitation. This is practised to
such nm extent that the traveller, often sees
dozen 90, human heads stuck on high poles over
The sultan y not the only ono who INDUCES
ana sas ad crisis' All his na;h"s
inees and DISTRICTS, A In Tunis and Persia.
the bastinsdo is the most common punish
several hundred strokes are aaminis,e r upon
tne soiss OF tho poor Offenders feet, causing
~ mMkns os DEATH and sauen
The favorite punishment with the Sultan and
the nushas Is tho conflScation OF the offenders
given betw.on several parties. justice is sold at
auction ..i The party Offering the greater bri6e
the dovers mont are " Always pnnisS S fb By tak.
Ing from the offender everything no possesses,
whether found guilty or not. Should any
considerable wealth. he knows that lie can live
no longer in security The Sultan mas,cr of his
whom he least expects It. and ho may consider
himsclf fortunate IL his head remains upon
his shoulders This is why the whole country
appears to the traveller 80 poverty stricken
ana SO destitute OF all progress and wealth. All
the money enrned in trade or agriculture is
wealth may bring misery and death upon It's
p pcs Sss HIS house may fall in ruins; he
M" dosss no n to need
shou ID be thought wealthy. He will never ad-
init his prosperity, He will complain Of bad
famine and misery, although he he may have
many thousand gold pieces hidden away.
s nos1 NO, en- hn
q his treasures by feartul fortunes. II any
Moor wishes to destroy his enemy he de-
Thetaxes are coIieaicd in the same expedient
WhsSsysr which bs H,Ss is al
tenth prescribed by the Koran and to os send hm linz
tho amount required within n certain time.
by doubling the amount. a policy which is
eagerly followed BY their suhordinates. The
showsh This IS but ono of tho he May Mays ta sns
pair o. oxen; every sheep and horse Is taxed.
chr"fs ana Sxrorts ct goods sales OF mer
Kinds are taxed to the Utmost. Indsi OF ony an
small part OF the earnings Of the people re-
main their own.
Apart from these taxos. which reach every
male lnh4hitant. there nre a great many othcrs ,
lcvlad only on certain occasi ions. Take for in
stance. shorketpcr in one OF TIL" baznurS II |
Mo.ador or Meuuinrz He rents his little shop
from the Sultan. but is not able to pay the
amount OF the lease. hs in thrown into prison. |
brought before tho Cail or khullfa. and con-
lnmned 10 nay the rent and perhars n triple |,
sum ms = punishment. II In does not have the !
money. h. is sent to prison. from which lie ciin |
never escape: Even tho payment of the entire !
amount by himself or bY his fnmilv would not
rnlense him from prison. MS the Cald EFFORTS a |
!ee ior his Judgment. and the Showsh II foe for |
Imprisonment.
r, Against these outrnscs committed by the
government and its representatives there Is |
only one remedy for tho merchant That rem
ny IL a foreign protrcl"ra,e. In cities like
obtain. Consuis and Ministers OF the Ersnt
or9iGh powers reside there Under, some pre-
Moorish merchant succeeds in getting his
anne inscribed on tho lists the suboc,s Of for.
,,0mes under the jurisdiction OF his Consul
Neither the Sultan nor tho Pashns can do him
nj hnr l.,an, AL