The Republican journal., 1901-11-14

are fewer because the money with
which theSultan redresses foreign inJur-
les does not come from his own over
flowing Golfers, but from the depleted
store of his grieveously-taxed subjects.
Though his high-mightiness would re-
joice to see every dog of an unbe-
lever" wiped from the face OF the
earth, he has a wholesome respect for
foreign guns. Besides, he dislikes to
have his ease disturbed by such insight
ficant matters, and has habit of in
tiicting dreadful tortures upon whole
families to remote relatives OF those
who are accused of bringing upon him
the annoyance of claim for damages.
As for insults, the traveller in Morocco
must make up his mind in advance to
put up quietly with no end of them,
and be thankful if indignities do not
take the form of personal violence. He
is constantly cursed and often spat
upon, not only by grown-up fanatics,
but the very children at play i'll the
streets stop to curse and spat at the
dog of an unbelieyer,' having been
brought up with the idea that this is
the proper way to salute Christians and
defend the faith of Islam. The He
brews of Morocco, who number nearly
third of the population (mainly de-
Scended from those who were eXlied in
Europe during the Middle Ages are
prosecuted even more than the few
stray Christians. There is nobody to
demand indemnity for them and there
fore they are considered lawful prey.
But Jew is as intolerant i'll his own
way as a Moor in his; and if one or
the other should renounce the faith of
fathers, he would thenceforth be an
outcast among his people and an object
OF hatred and contempt, whom to kill
would be righteous action. SO be-
tween the two classes of citizens mis-
sionaries have a hard time in Morocco
and such thing as convert to Chris
tianity was never heard of. However,
religion according to his lights-is the
dominant factor in the lives of both
Moor and Hebrew, interviewer with
every thought and action. Can more
be said of the average Christian? There
is little band of Scotch Presbyterians
in this city, who have labored some
time in the vineyard; but, according to
their own statements, have had no sue
cess whatever, except on the physical
side-in the line of caring for the sick
and feeding the hungry.
The wholesome awe in which the Sui
tan of Morocco is held by his subjects
is shown in the enormous amount of
tribute constantly coming in from out
lying districts, in the form of droves of
sheep, oxen, goats, loads of wheat, bar
ley and other grains, together with
varying sums of money and profuse
apologies for the smalIness of the gifts
and abundant promises for doing better
III the future. The poor farmers do
this not from love of the potentate, but
to save themselves from being massa-
cred by his fierce soldiers. However
large the payments, the Sultan never
shows anything like satisfaction or
appreciation, but invariably utters
blood-curdling threats of the dreadful
things he will do if more is not forth
coming next time. If a tribe or village
fails to contribute what his Sultanship
considers decent sum, for two or three
years in succession, he decides to make
an example of the delinquents by send
ing detachment of his troops to exter
inmate them and sieze everything they
possess. A few such examples now and
then serve to refresh the memory of the
people and make them diligent in we'll
doing-to certain extent, just far
enough to satisfy the tax-gatherer.
What is the use in accommodating any,
thing more, when the Sultan will get
the lions share anyhow? If man is
industrious and begins to show signs of
prosperity-ten to one the local author
tiles will conclude that he is getting on
too we'll for true child of the Prophet
and will hire couple of perjurers to
swear they heard him blaspheme, or
know him to be a conspirator, or make
some other charge against him which
will ensure his being brought before the
Kadi. The latter will>order him to be
soundly bastinadoed on general princi-
pies; strip him of all he possesses and
then bastinado him again because it
was not more. Finally he is turned
loose, nearer dead than alive, to begin
life over again, a sadder if not wiser
individual. You may be sure he needs
the warning against thrift, and forever
afterwards sits dutifully in the shade in
summer and in the sun in winter, cloth
ed in rags and attending to the snake
charmer and story teller rather than to
heavier duties. Morocco is Particular
ly rich in story-tellers, of vivid magma
ton and endless wind" Seated in
some nook where he is comparatively
safe from being tumbled over in the
crowd, the professional Scheherezade
calls attention to the character of his