West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-16
THE MOORS.
HOW THE ANCIENT CONQUER
oRS OF SPAIN LIVE IN AFRI-
CAN HOMES.
The Belgian Minister'S Visit to the Sui
tan of Morocco---Muley Hassan and
His Land and People---His WAY
of Living at Home.
London Cor. n. Y. Sun ]

LONDON OOr. ". sun.
When a diplomat leaves Spain by
the Gibraltar 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 the
ARABIAN Nights" could have given
him the faintest conception. How
ever great his surprise when he
reaches the city of Tangier, which
is only half barbaric; whatever may
be his natural regrets at the eXpat-
ration 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
ennai which assail him on landing,
the foreign envoy cannot fail to be
interested, and store up memories
over which, for their very strange
ness, he will probably linger fondly
when he has returned TO the conven-
tionai life of other parts.
They will derive additional charm
if, during his tenure of Office, he has
as was lately the case with the
Belgian Minister, Baron Whettnal
-been called upon to leave Tangier,
where the 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
will Of his government toward the
ruler of Morocco. The protracted
travelling through half savage prov
inces, the crossing of d eserts and
barren plains, is not been without
important preparation. For the time
being the envoy is treat ell like a
prince. and holds undispu ted sway
over the numerous members OF his
caravan. He is accompanied by q
suite of high officials, emissaries of
the sultan, who receive and transmit
his orders. He may choose either
to ride, when splendid horses are
provided for him, or 20 be carried in
a palanquiu, when relays OF stalwart
blacks are in attendance. The con
siderable expenses incurred are not
betrayed by him, and are never stint
ed The caravan consists OF 800
people, including military escort,
scouts, doctors, dragomans, servants,
cooks. drivers for the baggage
mules and horses, and all the para
phernalia OF tents, cooking utensils,
beds, weapons, rugs, etc, required
by so large a party during several
weeks. Wherever halt takes place
the camp is prepared for the night.
The chiefs of the territories over
which the caravan passes send pro
visions on scale of such magnitude
that it would appear impossible to
consume them; six n, 100 sheep,
400 chickens, 1000 eggs, besides
casks of -four, butter an q abundance
of milk, are the staple commodities
for twenty four hours. Yet when
the camp is struck in :he morning
not vestige of these offerings re-
mains. Larceny and unblushing
corruption are the order of the night,
the grand vizier himself being the
chief offender. He sells; back to the
tribes what is not disposed of, and
is in turn robbed by taose beneath
him.
Sultan Muley Ha ssan has four
residences in the interior where he
dwells in turn, hardly ever cor hing
to Tangier; his favorite homes are
at Fez and Mequinez. The latter
is as large as Paris, the palace prop
cr covering an area of 5000 acres.
The life the emperor leads presents
a singular and cor. trasting mixture
of magniticence, luxury and lack
Of what we deerl not only the com
forts but the ecencies of existence
He has $500 wives, whom he places
under the surveillance of about tiitY
matrOns, who report on their conduct
They are W ell and kindly treated on
the whole having TO wait on them a
correspOn ding number OF fe male at
tendants,. When the sultan goes
from one residence TO another all his
wives company him, but when he
propoS es to be absent only few
days he takes with him not more
chap four or five hundred. Muley
Hasisau is a man about forty-hTe; 1t
is don btful. however, whether he
himself knows his age. He is very
handsome. with all the calm, impos
ING IN aiesty considered inherent to
the Eastern race, but with more AMI
nation of feature and expression IN
his fine eyes than the majority OF his
csmpatriots, or at least the habltual
shrew dness reveals more inteill.
gence- He is comparatively well
infor med about European affairs