Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-18
Surrounded by Ills Army This Eccentric
Sovereign Is Constantly on the
March Picturesque
PROFESSIONS.


Whether on tho warpath or merely
journeying from one capital TO an
other the sultan. who always travels
in the midst OF his army invariably
maintains the same state. With that
characteristic love OF the sun which
distingu shes all the Moors he
marches all through the heat OF the
day. When he shifts his camp, late
in the morning the tents are first
sent on ead-as with our Indian
armies that they may be ready for
their tenants on their arrival at the
ne t encanpment. Then the troops
spread out over the country. forming
an immense struggling line. in the
centre OF which is the sultan. followed
by a picked body OF the elite OF his
soldiers and by few women OF his
harem on muleback and carefully
yelled. At little distance in front
OF the sultan rides the Kaid ell
Meshwar or Grand Master OF
Ceremonies followed by u group OF
favored attendants. each OF whom
rries some object necessary for the
sultans progress or likely to add TO
his comfort
For this purpose there are the Null
ell FaS or Master OF the Ratchet
whose duty IL is TO clear away brush
wood that might Inconvenience the
sultan; the Mul Mahamaz, or Master
OF the Spurs. VINO carries the sultan's
spurs VIII ch his majesty only re-
quires when ne performs feats OF
craftsmanship; the Mul Zarbia or
Master OF the Carpet which s spread
on. the ground when the sultan de-
sires to sit down; the Mul Strombia.
or Master OF the Cushions on which
the sultan reciines; the Null Belgian
or Master OF the Slippers ready to
provide the sultan with fresh pair
II he desires a change from those he
has on, the Null ell Ma who gives the
su tan water from gaelic SIX n
when he is thirsty; the Mul AtaL
who prepares tea for his use; and
then after an interval come two
mounted spearman, behind whom at
little distance rides the sultan.
having on either side a Null iii or
fly flicker and beh nd his right stir
rup the Mul MduL bearer OF the
thereedan umbrella
The rate OF advance OF this cere-
moniOus proce sion is naturally not
great and il would be difficult to con-
ceivc any thing more violently OPP
posed to European conceptions OF an
army en- route than the appearance
presented by the Moorish soldiery and
their sultan when on tie march
What they lack. however in military
discipline and martial array is ampl 7
replaced by wild barbaric splendor
rich. fantastic pIcturesqueness of
aspect that could be seen in no other
quarter OF the world. IL is not the
advance OF a military expedition
rath is it the migration OF an entire
people OF warriors with their dread
lord their yelled religious chietain
in their midst.
At the new encampment the
sultan's' ent is always in readiness
for him. II is vast structure
placed in the middle of the camp
but separated by a very large space
from every other tent 1t is sur
rounded by sort OF spiral wall of
canvass. which bounds q circular
path leading TO the principal en-
trance. Without this wall is a
smaller tent which the sultan uses as
mos ne. and n pavilion. with one
side open 10 the sky. where his
majesty gives audience each morn.
ing. A quaint sight truly is u
Moorish enc ampment-full of strange
contrasts and extravagant discords
The sedate and dignilied calm AMI
spleudor of the tents o. the great
men is thrown into h gh relief by the
hideous S ualor Of hordes OF ragged
soldiers. armed with imposs Bile
weapons. 1t is camp where tether-
ed horses and mules cannon
baggage. loot gunpowder ammuni-
tion, clothing provisions are all to be
seen scattered pele mele in utter
discord and confusion. A cannon
lies on heap o; manure. bale Of
clothing n the dust cook pots and
cartridges guns OF antique form
strange mus cal instruments are
piled in indiscrimlnaie mounds.
There are u certain number OF tents
for the whole army not certain
number OF men TO each tent And
the numerous prisoners have no tents
at all. and little or no food. The
chain is the sale de police of Moro =
co and men are constantly being put
in the chain on the most trivial provo
eaton. They march sleep live die
st Jung together thirty or forty in u
gang. In the midst OF the tents of
the sold ers are others-multiform -
made of rags or shreds OF clothing of
branches OF bundles OF fern and
brushwOod.
In these dwell the camp followers
among them thousands OF wild
women. bedecked with eNtravagant
ornaments. daubed with paint tat
tooed IN fantastic designs on face and
limbs and breast clothed IA extraor-
binary garments made from rags OF
strange materials once rich and
brightly colored. These wretched
women follow the army year after
year sharing it's fortunes and repulses
-loathsome even in youth. faded.