Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-12-31
THE ROWING MONARCH.
STRANGE LIFE OF THE SULTAN
OF MOROCCO.
Surrounded by His Army This Eccentric
Sovereign Is Constantly ON the
March Picturesque
PROFESSIONS.

Sultan Mulai Hassan instead OF re-
manning shut up in his harem. like
his father and ancestors. commonly
marches himself at the head of his
troops He is hardy and enterprising
an intrepid soldier a brilliant horse
man. and is altogether as fine type
o a warlike sovereign as the end OF
ths nineteenth century can show
And he is always on the march,
Ii he is not hurrying from one to an,
other OF his three capitals az kIk-
naz and Maraksh--he is leading an
expedition TO qUell rebellion or col.
lect taxes in some distant province
Whether on the warpath or merely
journeying from one capital to au-
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
distinguishes all the Mo0rs he
marches all through the heat OF the
| day. When he shifts his camp. late
| in the morning the tents are first
| sent on ahead--as with our indian
| armies that they may be ready for
4 hAbNE IGuttut1 OlA AAGiI AhEEtN Ill at hLAb
next encampment Then the troops
spread out over the country forming
an immense struggling line ia the
centre OF which is the sultan followed
| by q picked body OF the elite OF his
soldiers and by few women OF his
/ harem on muleback and carefully
| yelled. At a little distance in front
/ OF the sultan rides the Kaid ell
Meshwar: or Grand Master Of
Ceremonies followed by group Of
favored attendants each OF whom
carries some object necessary for the
sultan's progress or likely TO add to
lis comfort
For this purpose there are the Mul
el Fas. or Master OF the Hatchet
whose duty il is to clear away brush.
wood that might Inconvenience the
sultan; the Mul Mahamaz. or Master
OF the Spurs. who carries the sultan's
spurs which his majesty only re-
quires when ne performs ieats OF
Workmanship; the Null Zarbia. or
Master OF the Carpet which is spread
on the ground when the sultan de-
slres to sit down; the Mul Strombla
or Master OF tho Cushions on which
the sultan reclines; the Mul Belghah
or Master OF the slippers. ready TO
provide the sultan with a fresh pair
IL he desires change from those he
has on; the Mul el Ma who gives the
sultan water from a gaelic skin
when he is thirsty; the Null 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 Mul III or
fly flicker and behind his right stir
rup the Mul M'duL bearer OF the
thereedan umbrella
The rate OF advance OF this cere.
monious procession is naturally not
great. and it would be difficult TO con.
ceiye 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 the march
What they lack however in military
discipline and martial array is amply
replaced by Il wild barbaric splendor
n rich, fantastic picturesqucncss Of
aspect that could be seen in no other
quarter OF the world. IL Is not the
advance OF a military expedition
rather IL IL che migration OF an entire
people OF warriors with their dread
lord their yelled religious chieftain
in their midst.
At the new encampment the
sultan's tent Is always in readiness
for him. 1t is a vast structure.
placed in the middle Of the camn
but separated by very large space
from every other tent II Is sur.
rounded by sort OF spiral wall Of
canvass which bounds circular
path leading to the principal en-.
trance. Without this wall Il a
smaller tent which the sultan uses as
a mosque. and a pavilion with one
side open to the sky whore his
majesty gives audience each morn.
ing. A quaint sight truly Is a
: Moorish encampment--ful OF strange
contrasts and extravagant discords.
The sedate and digniHed calm and
spHndor OF the tents o. the great
men is thrown into high relief by the
hideous sQualor OF hordes OF ragged
soldiers armed with impossible
weapons IL is n camp where tether-
ed horses and mules cannon.
baggage, loot gunpowdcr ammnni-
ton clothing, provisions are all to be
seen scattered pele mele in utter
, discord and confusion. A cannon
lies on heap OF manure. bale OF
J clothing in the dust cook. pots and
cartridges. guns Of antique form.
strange musical Instruments are
piled in indiscriminate mounds.
There are 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
J chain Is the sale dc police Of Moroc.
, co and men are constantly being put
in the chain on the most trivial provo
cation. They march. sleep live die
strung together thirty or forty in a
RANG In the midst of the tents nj