The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-14


 Reasons Why People Win No,
 Work.
 Especial Correspondence of the Journal
 and Courier).
 City of Morocco, Sept. 30, 1901.
 That so little is known of the popu- lous Mohammedan empire, which stretches to the very doors of Europe, and where a high degree of civilization had been maintained two thousand years before the bowling wilderness of North America was heard of, is not in comprehensible to those who under stand the extreme reserve and intoler- ance of Islamism. Yet it is difficult to realize that Morocco alone-a mere speck on the northern edge of the map Of Africa--covers twice as much area as the French republic; more than England, Scotland and Ireland combin- ed' or about as much as North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alamabma, Mississippi and Florida put together. Since the sixteenth century, few inquisitive globe-trotters with their cameras, mercenary traders and adven- turous engineers have been permitted so much as peep beyond the borders of Allah's domain. Nor have the trou ble7brewfng missionaries, nor any other so-called pioneers of civilization sue ceeded in doing much better. Nearly all we have heard of the mysterious in terior are the Munchausen tales of those interruptions travellers who, once or twice in century, have managed to force an entry at the risk of their lives by posing as pilgrims among the faithful Naturally, the reports of such imposters are not to be wholly relied upon. To this day, the only honest way gained of populous cities within three or four hundred miles of the art-centers of Europe, is through the foreign con- sulates; and that is meager enough as everything of consequence in Moham- medan eyes is sacredly guarded from the tresspass of unbelievers. Whenever a new ruler is installed the official representatives of the various foreign powers in Morocco make formal pill grimage from Tangier to Fez, to pay their respects to him and offer the tributes of their sovereigns. The dis tance is one hundred and sixty miles, the roads mere bridle paths over des- plated region of brigand- infested hills, and the only stopping places en route are wretcher Arab caravanserai; yet he who can command sufficient consular influence to join one of those camel back processions considers himself for tunate indeed Some of the embassies boya crpoia1 voc to oyip6 cen5 gifts every year to the Sultan, and about all the tourists who ever get into Fez go under the protection of those official parties.
 The custom of paying tribute to their rascally highnesses, the Sultans of Morocco, dates back to the year 1880, when the European powers placed themselyes under the humiliating obli- gation to bring annual gifts of money and other valuables to the piratical do- niinion of the Mediterranean, in order to ensure protection for their vessels against the thieves and robbers that then ravaged these coasts. The treaties differed in importance and amounts of annual contributions in proportion to the extent of maritime commerce of the respective countries. France, for example, was mulcted every year to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars; Sweden and Denmark, twenty thousand dollars each; Holland, fifteen thousand Austria, ten thousand and so on down. Even Uncle Samuel, boastful of his independence on and and sea, promised to knuckle to hold-up by handing over an IoII kept 1t up until few years ago. Eng and, of course, paid more than any other country, because the Mediter- 'anean waterway to the Orient is of most importance to her; but from the tart she assumed the high and mighty Iirs of protectorate and delivered her leavy toll in the guise of free gifts, ather than as a compulsory levy. Ger many had no official representative in rangier till of late as 1S73 but every 7ear since. then the Emperors of Ger many have sent through their Ambas- adors liberal tokens of alleged Ire ard" They regard the Sultans as Highway robbers whom it is cheaper to uy off than defy. Those ambassador { al pilgrimages occupy forty days and re made as pompous and imposing as queen Sheba's visit to King Solomon. ! military escort of seventy picked 1oorish cavalrymen, picturesquely quipped on their splendid Arabian teeds, and a numerous retinue of ser ants,. with camels and tents, accom- Z any the bearers of the imperial pres ( nts The representative of Berlin ( aper who went with the party last C ear tells me that the entire garrison t Fez was ordered out to do honor to I ae "Baschador" and his escort. There / ere troops of ebony blackness on their T i'd chargers, and brown guards l. larohing with naked feet, dressed g ther in flowing white, or in variegated 0 ouave costumes combining all the col V $ of the rainbow; while turbaned o ands pranced alongside the procession, h )litting the air with an uproar of t umpets bag g-pipes and drums. Il The ruler of Morocco's 275,000 square r lies of area indulges himself in three h lpitals-the city of Morocco, which e e Moors call Marakash, the Sacred t; ty" of Fez, and Mequinez, The Sul- n resides at different times in each u the strongholds, as suits his fancy b i'd wherever he happens to hang up a
 
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