New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TRAVELS IN MOROCCO.

12mo. PIP. 3i3. Wech, Frackar a Co.
A trip into the interior of Morocco with Pierre
Lott for reporter should result in interesting
combinations, although las the author OF 'hiS
volume observes in his preface, to those VINO are
not in sympathy with his peculiar Arabic pro-
clivities and are not prepared to see everything
in this strange land stepped In romantic hsh''
his observations are likely TO be dlsappoihtlhg'
Pierre Lott had rare opportunity of seeing Mo-
rocco for he was fortunate enough to accompany
the French Minister PlenIpotentiary on journey
70 Fez. where he was admitted TO the presence
of the Sultan The twelve days journey from
Tangier 10 Fee was made under the protec-
tion and management of the Sultan's officers, who
arranged the camp, provided the horses ana
camcls and tents and saw TO it that the various
tribes through whose territory they passed
brought each its tribute of provisions 1or the
use of the royal guests. The description OF TINS
passage across the desert is rather GSill"slohZ-
ing 1t appears to have rained nearly the whole
time and to have been generally very dlSagreeape
travelling. There are no roads or bridges in
Morocco which is far too conservative for such
improvements and consequently the crossing or
streams is frequently quite serious business even
when there is no danger, involving thorough
wetting for the traveller
At the approach of the cavalcade to the con-
ri a
land they were about to enter was always found
drawn up in imposing array, ana THESE VIII"
Arabs invariably treated the party TO fan
tasia." galIoping about. making mock charges,
firing their guns. and otherwise dsportlng them
solves The tribute presented every evening was
almost always greatly In excess, but the ARABS
are very lavish in their of what does not cost
them ANYTHING and hungry mouths were never
wanting to dispose of the surplus. On reaching
Fez the French Minister was lodged III the man
sion of a local dignitary, who had been uncerc-
moniously turned out for the purpose, but Pierre
Lott took mp his abode in a house all by hlmSeI
in the middle of the native quarter, so that ne
might see more of Moroccan life. He also adopted
the Arab dress, and in true French fashion he
began his investigations by going on the roof of
his house. whence he could study the ladies of
Fez as they sat and g0Sslped on their faVoTltc
retreat OF course it was altogether contrary to
etiouette for a man thus to intrude himself upon
the special domain of the women, but our author
seems to have been tolerated by his fair neighbors
and he has been enabled to give several pretty
sketches of them. Life in Fez must be unspcak-
ably dull and depressing to a European, for 1t Is
the most conservative stronghold of Islam to-day
and it, is really the conditions of the Middle Ages
which obtain there There is no change IN the
products, manufactures costumes, habits of these
people They are still making and buying and
selling lust what they made and bought and sold
a thousand wears ago. They have fertile
country but they 40 not cultivate 1t. Millions
upon millions of of the richest soil are lelt
untitled Brisandage is still principal industry
The punshments retain all the 1eroclty OF
mediaevaliSm. Pierre Lott describes one dreadful
torture visited upon malefactors. Their hands
are gashed with long deep cuts on the line oil
the fingers Salt is then placed in the gaShes. ana
the fingers of each hand being laid IN the cuts
of the other the whole is firmly bound up, so that
the arrangement cannot be disturbed. The tor
ture of this punishment IS frighttuL The victim
generally lives SIX or eight days, unless he Is able
20 shorten his agony by dashing his brains out
against the wall. Three notorious robbers who
,ad been committing innumerabe outrages were
aiken while the travellers on their way to
y Fee, and suffered this fearful doom.
Those who are curious about the personal APP
pearapce of the Sultan of MoroccO-the true Com
mander of the Faithful tO-day-wiu be pleased
to read Pierre Lofts account of the official recep-
ton, the beginning of which we omit
These events are succeeded by few momen S
of silent waiting. linen sudaGhy tne 10 I IaI, ,
of soldiers Vibrate under thrill oil TeuSlous awe
the band, with its great braSses ana us drums
strikes up dcafcning, mournful ar me my
little black slaves run, run as II theF ives McIc
AT stake deplOYing from their base Ike the stlchs
of a fan resembling bees SWarmlng or a HocN Oh
birds. And yOnder, i'll the shadow Ashl OIL tne
archway upOn which all eyes are iuIAci, ucIc
appears tall. brOWn-ldccd maHnlhlH, al NcIc"
in white muslin. mounted on Splcndld VINE
horse led ii hand 10y four slaves. over us hcad
is held an umb ella OF antique form, Sucn " "Y
as must have protected the Queen OF SAcba, and
two gigantic negroes, one IN PINK, TIE othcI III
blue wave ty-haps around tie person ol lAd
sovereign While the strange mannnln, OF
mummy, almost shapciesS. bat majestic ho'"ltn-
standing, in his robes of snowy White, IL al
vancng toward Us, the music, as If eAaspeIaied
10 madness walls loader and louder, IN si'llcr
key: il strikes up slow and dlstrcssiul religious
air the tune OF which is acccntuated by a IT-h-
ful beating Of the baSs-drums, The mdnnliIn ;
horses rear wildly, restrained with dlhcuIE ~
the four black slaves anu iiS music, 50 MOURN" 81
and so strange 10 us, affects our nerves Win an
Undesirable aeOnizing sensation. Here al last,
drawn W. close beside us, stands the last authentic
descendant of Mahomct crowned with Nubau
blood His attire, Of the hncSl m0u Sc me e.
laine is of immaculate whltencss. HIS charger.
too, is entirely white, his great strruPs are OF
gold and his saddle ana equipments are OF very
pale green silk, lightly embroidered IN stlll paei
Shade of green. . His brown, parchment like
face in its setting Of white muslin, has regular
and noble features: dull, eXprcssOnleSs eyes, the
whites of which appear beneath the balls that are
halfconceaed by the dropping lashes his "ApieS-
sion is hat Of exceeding melancholy, SupTcAe
lassitude. Supreme "ennul lie has an appear
ance of benienty. and Is really kind Hearted, ac
cording 10 what they say who know INN. II Inc
people of Fee are 10 De believed ne is even 'o'
much so he does not chop of 50 many De ads as
ne ought to for the holy cause Of Islam. But ms
knd-heartedncss, no doubt, is relative IN degrees
as was often the with ourselves IN the mldule
AGES: mildncss which, is not Ovcr-sensllvt - lie
face Of shedding blood when there is ncccsSi' y
for it. nor in the face OF row Of human he"d'
set up over the fine gateway at the entrance u
the palace.
The present Sultan is mild and reasonable FOL
a man in his position, but as Pierre Lotl says
he is a man whom can neither understand
nor Judge in the times we live H." Our travelle
left the Embassy at Fee, and returned 10 langei
with smaller party. On the way he VISITED
Maguincz, and the famous but apparently over
praised gardens OF Aquedel, and received proius'
hospitality from a family Of wealthy jews o