The Republican journal., 1901-11-14
FEE AND FEZzANS.

Especial Correspondence of The Journal.
City OF Morocco, Sept. 80, leoi.--
That so little is known of the populous
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 Ameri.
ca was heard of, is not incomprehensi-
bic to those who understand the extreme
reserve and intolerance 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 Ire.
land combined; or about as much as
North and South Carolina, Tennessee,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Flor
ida put together. Since the sixteenth
century, few inquisitive globe-trotters
with their cameras, mercenary traders
and adventurous engineers, have been
permitted so much as peep beyond the
borders of Allah'S domain. Nor have
the trouble brewing missionaries, nor
any other so-called pioneers of civiliza-
ton, succeeded in doing much better.
Nearly all we have heard of the mys-
FERROUS interior are the Munchausen
tales of those INSCRIPTIONS 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 re-
ports of such imposters are not to be
wholly relied upon. To this day, the
honest way in which authentic informa-
tan can be gained of populous cities
within three or four hundred miles of
the art-centers of Europe, is through
the foreign consulates; and that is
meagre enough, as everything of con-
sequence in Mohammedan eyes is sa-
credly guarded from the trespass of un-
believers. Whenever a new ruler is in
stalled the official representatives of
the various foreign powers in Morocco
make a formal pilgrimage from Tangier
TO Fee to pay their respects to him and
offer the tributes of their sovereigns.
The distance is one hundred and sixty
miles, the roads mere bride paths over
a deSolate region of brigand-infeSted
Mills, and the only stopping place Ell
route are wretched Arab caravanserai;
yet he who can command sufficient con-
camel-back professions considers him
self fortunate indeed Some of the
embassies which have special axes to
grind, send gifts every year to the Sui
tan, 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 Mo
rocco, dates back to the year 1880, when
the European powers placed themselves
under the humiliating obligation to
bring annual gifts of money and other
yaluables to the piratical dominion 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 con-
tributions in proportion to the extent
Of maritime commerce of the reSpec-
tive countries. France, for example,
was mulcted every year to the amount
of one hundred thousand dollars: Swe-
den and Denmark, twenty thousand
dollars each; Holland, fifteen thousand;
Austria, ten thousand zechins: and so
GA down. Even Uncle Samuel, boastful
of his independence on land and sea,
promised to knuckle to Morocco'S hold
up by handing over an annual fifteen
thousand dollars, and kept it up until
lew years ago. England, of course,
paid more than any other country, be-
cause the Mediterranean waterway to
the Orient is of most Importance to
her; but from the start she assumed
the high and mighty airs of a protector
ate and delivered her heavy toll in the
guise of free gifts, rather than as a
compulsory levy. Germany had no Of
fetal representative in Tangier till as
late as 1873; but every year since then
the Emperors of Germany have sent
through their Ambassadors liberal
tokens of alleged regard" They re-
gard the Sultans as highway robbers,
whom it is cheaper to buy off than defy.
Those ambassadorial pilgrimages oc-
cupy forty days, and are made as POM
pous and imposing as Queen Sheba's
visit to King Solomon. A military es-
cort of seventy picked Moorish cavalry
men, picturesquely equipped on their
splendid Arabian steeds, and a numer-
Gus retinue of servants, with camels
and tents, accompany the bearers of the
imperial presents. The representative
of Berlin paper who went with the
party last year, tells me that the entire
garrison of Fee was ordered out to do
honor to the 'Baschador" and his es-
cort. There were troops of ebony black
ness on their wild chargers, and brown
guards marching with naked feet, dress