The record-union., 1892-02-06

Doomed to Dismemberment-C
toms, Costumes, Faces, Food and
Utensils of Bible Days Universal in
Tangier-Dantean Subjects for Pen
and Pencil.
special Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright, 1891
TANGIER, Morocco. Jan. Is, 1892.
The present "revolt of the tribes" in
Morocco, though doubtless overestimated
N importance, renders tour of adj
venture to the interior by any white man
rom Tangier an impossible performance.
It also brings sharply to mind many re-
cent prophecies, from highest European
diplomatic sources, of the early disinteg
ration of this the last barbaric sultanate
ofancient Mauritania.
At least four great European Powers
are concerned in the acquisition of all
Northern Africa. For years Italy has
aad her itching fingers in the affairs of
Fripoli, whose trade with the African
equatorial Kingdoms is enormous.
France, from her new and matchless
empire of Algeria, is pushing her rail
ways across the eastern boundaries of
Morocco. and but few weeks since took
lorclble possession of the rich oases of
Iuat. This point, about 700 miles q
gritle southwest Of Algiers and a trifle
southwest OF Iangler, is In the central
lorthern portion OF the Sahara. 1t is by
all odds the most splendid possible
8tragetic possession in Northern Africa.
Here the great caravan routes converge
rom all parts of the Sahara, and even
rom Central Africa and the countries
bordering on the Gulf of Guinea. France
las thus tapped, diverted and must
eventually largely control, the richest
srade Of major portion Of the entire
African Continent.
An English fleet is now at Cadiz. Two
Of her great warships are in this very
larbor. Another English man-of-war is
Oy this time at Cape JUDY. At the latter
place, about 500 miles down the western
coast OF Morocco, just opposite the Canary
Islands, immense English trading inter
estS have been established with the Azuad
country and the western Saudan: and all
Of these have been diverted from their
old channels through the Morocco sulta-
nate TO its commercial capitals, the cities
II Morocco, Fez and Tangier. Powerful
British interests at Tangier are seeking
and would be benefited by Morocco's dis
luption, while the British Government
mas had more than one cause of regret
trance in Algeria and the recent mar
velouS development of African countries
and trade, that it ever relinquished its
.ormer possession of Tangier in 1854, pre-
Ilous to which, through Portuguese ces-
sion, it had been held and looted by vari-
GUS English military commandants for a
period of twenty-five years.
Meanwhile poor old Spain, the hered-
tary foe of the Moor. is gloating over
he probable downfall OF his Shereehan
1ighness, Muley Hassan. and will find
her own full reward in simple revenge:
hough when the occasion OF dismember-
lnent comes, few additional crum bs
Will doubtless fall to her picking In
ler last encounter with the Moors she
retlred victorious and not wholly empty
handed, and still holds, as earnest of her
prowess in 1859, all the cities of the north
ern Morocco coast, save Tetuan and
Fangier. These are MelIlla, Penon, AI-
Nhuzemas and Ceuta, the later fortified
city being one of Spain's most important
convict stations.
8 The present sO-called revolt is locally
attributed to the eXactions of the Bashaw
II 1angler. These are no worse nor better
han they have always been. By some it
5 vaguely hinUed that it is but the Begin
ming OF dangerous revolution against
Muley Hassan by his recently deposed
Nalita or Supreme Judge, and the Sui
ans brother, Muley lsmain, who was
November last. Knowing merchants
and small diplomats whisper of French
intrigue and renegade Berber and Kha-
Oyle, chief emiSSaries, who, with valuable
gifts and more glittering promises of pre-
erment and profit from Algiers. are
commissioned to stir up such disaffection
and turbuIance as shall give excuse to a
more formidable coup d'etat than that of
Euat, which shall remove the Algerian
boundary some hundreds of miles west
ward within the Sultan's present do
main.
In any event the four powers named
are eagerly alert for the possibilities in
Morocco, the last remaining empire of
parbarlSm of ancient Mauritania is
doomed. The glitter and clink of a hum
dred thousand cbdSSep0t rifles girdle it
ON the north and west. Strangely
enough civilization often cOnfrOnts bar
Oarism in this way. There is not at this
moment break in its circling impact.
The inevitable and reSistIess pressure
may come before these words can find
heir place in pTint. 1t may not come
before the century is done. But it is no
less inevitable. Then Morocco will be
transformed, like Algiers, into a para
disc OF health and plenty, and beyond it.
even TO the wild Soudan, the oases of the
Yaterless wastes of Sahara shall bloom
and blossom in all the glorious luxuri-
ance OF glowing Cuban valley
Until then, from any standpoint this
weird old city must remain a place of
Tarest interest. No one can tell its age
The sieges, pillages and pestilences it has
WithStood are heartrending Ii is the
most Moorish of all Moorish cities. De-
caying, ruinous, hoary, it has still clung,
though but twenty miles from Christian
europe, to its primitive customs closer
han Tunis, Alexandria or Cairo. Co.'S
ume, custom, faces, utensils and food of
Scriptural times are here precisely as
they were known in oriental cities 1000
years ago.
Taking your stand midway between
ihe harborside and the Soc-de-Barra.
study with me those strange and varied
ildes of human travel crowding in either
direction. There is suppressed excite
ment in the faces of all, owing TO the con-
stant exaggerated rumors of the possible
action of the mountain tribes, and what
nay be done by the Sultan, if he can
axe a moment from the charms of his
thousand wives, TO oppose their threat
aned sedition. Aside from this all things
n Iangier go on as they have each day
1or many q hundred years.
The group comprises half-dozen Mo-
zabltes. They. are Syrians by descent,
and are believed to be identical in race
with the Scriptural Moabites. They are
he nercest money-makers of Morocco.
ma are butchers. grocers. bakers-any-
hing Tor riches. Their greed is prompted
)y curious ambition-that is, to gain in
dependence and return to their homes. at
dammada Chebeka, a little oasis sur
rounded by lofty rocks in the most arid
and burning portion OF Central Sahara.
To some time return rich to Hammada
Chebeka, the Mozabite viii work and
Starve hall lifetime. Hou cannot mis-
AXE him IN Iangler. He is darker than
n a so % h.,