The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-06
a Week In nIorocco-So. II.
Copyright, 1892, By Edgar j. Ivdttmun.l

though doubtless ovcrestimated in i'm.
portancc, renders tour Of adventuret9
tho interior by any white man from
Tangicr an impossible performances. 1t
also brings sharplyto mind many recent
prophecies, from highest European di-
plomatic sources, OF the early disintegra.
'tion OF this the last barbaric sultana,e
OF ancient Mauritania.
At least four great European powers
arc concerned in the acquisition OF all
northern Africa. For years Italy has
had her itching fingers in the affairs OF
Tripoli, whose trade with tho African
equatorial kingdoms is enormous.
France from her new and matchlcss
empire OF Algeria, Is pushing her rail
ways across the eastern boundaries OF
Morocco, and but Il few weeks since
tool; iorcible possession OF the rich.
GASES oi Tuat. This point, about 700
miles triilo southwest OF Algicrs and u
triilc southeast OF Tangier, is in the
central northern portion OF tho Sahara.
1t is by all odds the most splendid pos:
sible slragctic possession in northern
Africa. Here the great caravan routes
converge from all parts OF the Sahara,
and even from central Africa and the
countries bordering on the Gull OF
Guinea. France has thus tapped, di-
vcrted and must eventually largely con-
troll, the richest trade OF Il major por-
ton OF the entire African continent
An English fleet is now at Cadlz. Two
OF her great war-ships are in this very
harbor. Another English man.of-war
is by this time at Cape Judy. At tho
latter place, about 800 miles down tho
western coast OF Morocco, just opposite
tho Canary Islands, immense English
trading interests have been established
with the Azuad country and the western
Soudan; and all oil these have been
divertcdfrom their old channels through
the Morocco sultanate to its commercial
capitals, the cities OF Morocco, Fcz and
Tangicr. Powerful British interests at
Iangier are seeking and would be bene-
fitted by Moroccos disruption; while
the British government has had moro
than one cause OF regret, since the Won
dcrful achievements OF France in
Algeria, and the recent marvellous de-
velopment of African countries and
trades that it ever relinQmshcd its for
mer possession OF Tangier. i'll 1851; pre-
vious to which, through Portuguese
ccssion, ii had been held and looted by
various English military commandments
for period OF twenty-five years.
Meantime poor old Spain, the hercd-
itary Toe OF the Moor, is gloating over
the probable near downfall OF his She
reefian- highness, Mulcy Hassan, and
will find lIGr own full reward in simple
revenge, though when the occasion OF
dismembcrmen comes, u few additional
crumbs will doubtless fall to her pick.
ing. In her last encounter with the
Aioors she retired victorious and not
wholly empty-handed, and still holds,
rs earnest OF her prowess i'll 1859, all the
cities OF the northern Morocco coast,
save Tetuan and Tangicr These arc
NIclilla, Penon, Al-Khuzcmas and Ceuta,
the latter fortified city being one OF
Spain's most important convict stations.
The present so-callcd revolt is locally
attributed to the exactions OF the Ba-
shaw OF Tangier. These are no worse
nor better than they have always been.
By some it is vaguely limited that it is
but the beginning OF dangerous revo-
luton against Muley Ilassan by his re-
Gently dcposcd kaliia, or supreme Judge,
aud the sultan's brother, Muey Islnain,
who was banished from Fez with the
kaiia in November last. Knowing
merchants and small diplomats whis-
per OF French intrigue and renegade
Bcrber and khabyle chief emissaries,
who, with valuable gifts and more. gilt
tcring promises OF preierment and
profit from Algiers, are commissioned
10 stir up such dissatisfaction and tur-
bulcnce as shall give excuse to n moro
formidable coup d'etat than that OF
Tuat, which shall remove the Algerian
boundary some hundreds OF miles west
ward within tho sultan's present do.
main.
In any event the four powers named
are eagerly alert Tor the possibilities in
I'LL new moves i'll northern Africa; and
Morocco, the last remaining empire of
barbarian OF ancient Mauritania, is
doomed. Tho glitter and clink OF an
hundred thousand chdSSepot rifles girdle
it on the eastand south. Open mouthed
cannon complete tho circle on the
north and west. Strangely enough civ
ilizHtion often conironts barbarlsm in
this way. There is not at this moment
break in its clrcling impact The in
cvitablc and resistlcss pressure may
como before these words can find their
place in print. 1t may not come before
the century is done. But it is no less
inevitable. Then Morocco will be trans
formed, like Algiers, into paradise OF
health and plenty, and beyond it, even
TO the wild Soudan, the GASES OF the
waterlcss wastes OF Sahara shall bloom
and blossom i'll all the glorious luxuri-
ance OF a Cuban vale.
CUSTOMS, ETC.
Until then, from any standpoint this
weird old city must remain place
OF tho rarest interest. No one can
tell its age. The siegcs, pillages and
pestilcnces it has,withstood are heart
rending. 1t is the most Moorish oil all
Moorish cities. Decaying, ruinous,
hoary, it has still chung, though but
twenty miles from Christian Europe, to
its primitive customs closer than Tunis,
Alexandra or Cairo. Costume, custom,
faces, utensils and food OF scripturai
times are here precisely as they. We're
known in Oriental cities 1000 years auo.
Taking your stand midway between
tho harborside and the Soc.de-Barra,
study with mo these strange and varied
tides OF human travel crowding in either
direction. There, is suppressed excite
mont in the faces OF all owing to the
constant exaggerated rumors OF tho pos
sible action OF tho mountain tribes, and
what may be done by the Sultan, ii he
can take a moment from the charms OF