Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-09-11
GARAoUIN UNIVERSITY.

An Educational Institution in Morocco
with Seven Hundred Students.
The greatest native educational CEN
ter in North Africa is the University
ofGaraouin at Foz, in Morocco. Hithcr
flock students not only from all parts
of Morocco, but also from Algeria and
Tnnis, because the religious edu-
cation given in the mosques in
the latter countries is not, it
would appear, all it should be, and
henco students go to Fcz to complete
their studies. Nj. Dolphin. professor
OF Arabic in the University of Oran,
communicates to the Revue Franchise
somo details respecting the lives led
w Mussulman students there, which
were communicated to him by a native
professor at the great mosque of Tlem-
Cen. They number about seven hun.
C"ed, and usually devote themselve tc
come special subject under particular
professors. Of these latter there are
about forty, each following daily
course which might be only the com.
mentary on a particular work on Mus
sulman theology. But students come
from afar 10 study this work, as they
do to study rhetoric. dialectics, logic
eloquence, grammar and law. Stu
dents belonging to Fez live at
homo or in certain mode sas
o. homes reserved for them; those
who como from other places and have
no friends in the town live in such
medersas as they please, usually with
druggists or vendors of copper-warc
After morning prayer they all repair
to the university, where they attend
lectures until midday, when they re-
turn for food and ablutions, resiIming
work at ono o'clock, and continuing
until three or four, when they again
return homo. At sunset, after the
usual p"aye:, those who arc attached
to tho mosques a5 pubic readers Of
the ko an repai!' to their duties.
, After this there are supplementary
discourses at different mosques at
which the students attend. and ut 9:30
they arc free. Those who are sup
ported by an inhabitant of the town
pay their evening visit to their patron;
the rest do much as they please, but
after tho last meal they are not
allowed TO leave their medersi- The
breakfasts are provided by certain
mosques and are distributed by the
caretaker Of the medersa, who. if q
student Is absent. casts his little loaf
| out into the street. On Tuesday there
is no work, and the students must
! fast, their little allowance of food be-
ing stopped ON that day. Bnt the
, charitable people of Fez supplement
fh4 ;,,I T.
for the students. Each one follows
| what course lie pleases. Wo k be-
| gins at 2:30 q. IN. to five a. M, accord
! ing To the season, the first series Of
lectures being devoted exclusively to
i the explanation OF commentators on
the koran, the text of which is al
! ready known to each student. At
sunrise q second batch of professors.
numbering q dozen, arrive and dis
! course on exegesis, law and dogmas.
/. The afternoon is given to grammar
and rhetoric, the later hours to logic.
astronomy, arithmetic, geography,
histo y. medicine, literature and the
talismanic numbers, or the deter
mination by calculation Of tho influ-
ences of angels, spirits and stars OF
the names Of the conqueror and the
conquered. and OF other future events.
The difficulty experienced in obtain
ing professor intimate with the
principles Of this latter. science and
able TO impart his Information Is said
TO be incredible. The tobias, OF
students, have no examinations. Each
professor knows how To distinguish
those Of his hearers whose qualities
render them worthy OF diplomas
which are bestowed on them in more
or less eulogistic terms. The
diploma is very highly valued, and
gives those possessing IL n We itab,e
prestige in the Mussulman world.