The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-30
SULTAN MULEY, HASSAN.
An Eastern Potentate Who Has
$4,000 Wives.
From the New York sun.


| braltar steamer to assume his functions OF
minister to the empire Of Morocco it takes him
but very few hours TO leave behind all that
he has been used to call civilization, and TO find
| himself transplanted to surroundings Of which
only tho "Arabian Nights" could have given
him the faintest conception. However great
his surprise when ne reaches the city of Tan
gier, which is only half barbaric; whatever
may be his natural regrets at the expatriation
which necessarily appears more complete from
the severance Of the hundred small links that
make European nations kin and in spite OF the
forebodings OF dullness and ennui which assail
him on landing, the foreign envoy cannot fail
to be interested, and to store UP memories over
which, for their very strangeness, he will prob
ably linger fondy when he has returned to the
conventional life OF other parts.
They will derive additional charm it, during
| his tenure of office, he has-as was lately the
case with the Belgian minister Baron Whett-
nall-been called upon to leave Tangier, where
tho foreigners reside and to undertake the
long inland journey, at the end of which he is
admitted to pay his respects to the sultan and
to assure him personally Of the good win of his
government toward the ruler of Morocco. The
protracted travelling through half-rayage pro-
vinces, the crossing of deserts, and barren
plains is not begun without important prepare
tons. For the time being the envoy is treated
like prince and holds undisputed sway over
the numerous members of his caravan. He is
accompanied by suit Of high officials, emissa-
ries of the sultan, who receive and transmit
his orders. He may choose either to ride,
when splendid horses arc provided for him, or
te be car'isa III ? palanquin, when relays of
stalwart blacks are in attendance. The con-
siderable expense incurred are not betrayed by
him, and are never stinted. The caravan con-
sists of five hundred people, including mill
tary escort, scouts, DOCTORS dragomans, SER
wants, cooks, drivers for the baggage mules
and horses, and all the paraphernalia of tents,
cooking utensils, beds, weapons, rugs, ETC., re-
quired by so large party during several weeks.
Wherever halt takes place the camp is pre-
pared for the night. The chiefs Of the terrific
ries over which the caravan passes send provi-
sions on scale of such magnitude that it
would appear impossible to consume them half
dozen oxen, hundred sheep, four hundred
chickens, one thousand eggs, beside casks of
flour, butter, and abundance of milk, are the
staple commodities for twenty-four hours. Yet
when the camp is struck in the morning not
vestige of these offerings remains. Larceny
and unblushing corruption are the order of the
night the grand vizer himself being the chief
not disposed of, and he is in turn robbed by
those beneath him.
Sultan Muley Hassan has four residences in
the interior, where he dwells in turn, hardly
ever coming to Tangier; his favorite homes
are at Fez and Mequinez The latter is as large
as Paris the palace proper covering an area of
two thousand acres. The life the emperor
leads presents a singular ana contrasting mix
ture OF 1nagnifcence, luxury, and lack of what
xrfa liz hut In
eies of existence. lie has $500 wives, whom
he places under the surveillance of about fifty
matrons, who report on their conduct. They
are we'll and kindly treated on the whole, hay
ing to wait on them corresponding number Of
female attendants When the sultan goes
from one residence to another all his wives ae-
| company him, but when he proposes to be alb
| sent only few days lie takes with him not
more than four or five hundred. Muley Has
san is a man OF about IS. 1t is doubtful how
ever, whether he himself exactly knows his
age, He is very handsome, with all the calm,
imposing majesty considered Inherent to the
eastern race, but with more animation of fea-
ture and expression in his fine eyes than the
majority of his compatriots, or at least the
habitual shrewdness reveals more intelligence.
He is comparatively well informed about Eu-
ropean affairs, talking on these topics with a
very fair knowledge; but he occasionally star
ties Europeans by questions of childlike ignor-
ance and Simplicity, such as: "How many can
mons are there at Antwerp" "How many
ships on the whole seaboard ?' etc As it
would irritate him to DO left in doubt, the an
swer so promptly given is not always accurate,
but he seems perfectly satisfied with it,
When the foreign minister is within a certain
distance Of Mequinez he is met by a troope of
10000 men on horseback superbly ACQUIRED
and shortly afterward the sultan himself, with
dazzling suite, rides forth to meet him at the
gates of the city. he remains on horseback
but the envoy ahghts, and the first short for
NAL ceremony of introduction takes place, af-
ter which the emperor fetires and the dipo-
mate with his suite is conducted to the palace
set apart for him and his escort-the only
dwelling in the city furnished in European
fashion.
The grand vizier is still commissioned to
minister to his wants, and pays him frequent
visits, never emitting to admire trihing per-
sonal objects that may be lying about with
such pcrsistency that no alternative is left save
to beg his acceptance of them. AS he expects
the offer, md would be very much put out if it
was not made, the only way of securing ones
property is to put IL out Of sight before his ar
rival. 1t must, however, be added, that he is
easily satisfied an Old opera glass, a sixpenny
frame, an ancient almanac, match box, be-
ing equal prizes in his greedy estimation.
At Mequinez the interviews between the sui
tan and his guest are numerous and protracted,
always of course, carried on through the inter-
prefers. The sultan Is seated crosSegged on a
heap of superb rugs and furs, the envoy accom-
modated before him with a small armchair
the suits remaining motionless and standing
Dinners are given in honor of the stranger at
his own residence; his servants and retainers.
if they are Europeans, are made to sit at the
same table with himself The dishes placed
upon the board are of Gargantuesque propor-
tions; q whole sheep is brought up on one dish
on another two dozen fowls, surrounded by
smaller birds. and the size Of each dish does
not preclude great variety. The yiands in
themselves are not bad, but they are dressed
in peculiar way according TO national cult
nary recipes in which cinnamon predominates
At every visit which the minister pays to the
pashas and high functionaries coffee is served
The beverage in every Instance is prepared by
a black in car, out OF which il is drunk and
he makes ne mystery of tasting II repeatedly
to be sure that it is compounded perfectly
EtiQuet requires that three cups should be Ia
ken the first IS Sweeteued 10 the consistency
| of syrup, tho second is favored with pepper
mint, the last with verbena. At nc meal is
wine served the natives Of whatever rank,
never sit at table with Christians, but SQUAT on
! the floor. tearing the meat with their fingers,
as the Koran fogbids the use OF knives and
forks, They are possessed OF extraordinary
/ deXterity in their manipulation. disioining
| huge carcasscs aud boning fowls with the great
est ease. The sultan is. or affects to be, a great
| observer OF the Mussulman tenetS and, in ODE
| aiQnee fo 0np Cf the religious laws does mot