New-York tribune., 1905-08-06
Some Amusing Instances Related by
an Englishman Who Lived
with Him for a Time

Harris in ''Blackwood's Magazine" He is no
darker in color than a Southern European-not as
dark, in fact. many. His features are large ana
not very regular. their hneness marreo by the
marks by no means very apparent, OF smallpox.
His eyes good and very attractive. fun or IRE.
and AT times ineNpressbly sad. The upper part OF
his face is preferable the lower for a long
upper lip. rather large mouth. and a receding
chin give him an appearance OF weakness OF char
acter which he undoubtedly possesses. In public
ne moves and behaves with great dignity. though
In private life he throws aside all formality, and
81 times. until quite lately was not averse 10
rag He is by means a bad tennis player. and
Is particularly fond Of all athletic exercises
But unfortunately these CHARACTERISTICS. which
appeal so strongly TO Euglishmen. have just the
opposite effect upon the Moors. They prefer their
Sultan be harsh. cruel-to show his power
in fact-snd spend his private hours in more
national ways for instance. in his harem. or in
sitting upon divans extorting money from unWil-
ing subjects. A Sultan who doesn't exert the
fun the autocrs-ic powers with which God has in
vested him is in the Of the people OF Morocco
no good Benrvoence 10 them. is merely sign OF
weakness. ano Mulai Abdul Azizs good intentions
have done him much harm In the eyes Of his sub
3ects
Il first came 10 know The Sultan personally I'm
the autumn ~ 1901. passed many pleasant hours
in his company in Mara&esh. the southern capital
and accompanied him HIS march 10 Rabat.
Journey that occupied some twenty days. 1t
most interesting time for his majesty was sur
rounded by his army and host Of followers,
numbering occasionally. when the tribal contingents
5oineG him the road. thirty thousand peo-
pie IL seems impossible that only three years have
passed since then. and that in that time the
army has dwindled away. and the Minister Of
War. through whose uniiring efforts II had been
collected-Sid Mehdi el Menebhi-is fallen from
power and dsgraced The tribes that came 20
meet their young Sultan. and bow down 10 him.
now ridieule MIN and openly refuse to obey his
commands.
His afternoons in Marakesh were given up 20
play. More than once, always accompanied by
Menebhi and Of his European employees. We
rode in the immense wilderness Of gardens OF the
Ardal Palace Al The edge of a great square tank
We would dismount, and sometimes for a row
in one of the various boats that ne kept there. On
one occasion his majesty and Menebhi rowed-very
badly indeed-while ]. the only other occupant of
the boat, steered The Sultan. who roWed bow
caught several crabs and splashed poor Menebhi
all over with his usual energy. The Minister of
War rowed about hundred short strokes 10 the
minute, whilst the Sultan. struggling with his
oars, rowed about ten extremely long ones But
both were hugely delighted with the performance
and our spirits were Of the highest
" There are no Sultans and Viziers here said
his majesty 10 me- 1--WE both boatmen and YOU
are the passenger. We crossing a Moorish
ferry
Entering into the Sultsn's little joke, / replied
that they were the worst ferrymen ! had evel
seen, and that landing ] should complain 10 the
authorities OF their incapacity.
oh, you viii will you? replied Mulai Abdul
Aziz- Then all can say is We won't put you
ashore until YOU pay US
- Then III stop here
An right replied the Sultan; and he promptl,
began TO splash me with all mis- might and main
though poor Menehhi was getting as I was
VIII you pay% asked his majesty
80 Willingly, / laughed. How muchg
falf peseta each tabout 4dD answered IN.
sul'an-and they duly pocketed their fee II Wa
the f1rst time in my life l had tipped a Sultan anc
Minister of War.
''On one occasion while ,-isi,f,, A,ao,,i. IL,
the Sultan, i took the opportllnit,, ia % ~ a.,
Jews quarter Of the town TO call on an IsraeIit.
family VINO had often Hospitality entertained m.
ieasl on previous visits. The lady of IN,
go "ds an extremely portly dame. NIGH
iost say oi gigantic proportions but as kin,
hearted as she large. / was received win
'Pe" arms bN my host and hostess their cbildr.,
Aho grandchildren. and after the usual salutat,on,
Vs"n 10 pour out their The Jews
quarter mad been raided by Berber tribesrnen On,
NJ friends house and sta bles ha6 baer t-rl, =.
'0Ooeo Gould obtain justice for them?
No"' In spite of the sultsn's good inten,ions
justice was about the only thing in the world nm
s-a ''OIe ~ morocco. The Sultan. / knew would
tie oahages 10 be repaid by the respons,hl.
@~thorlues, but my friends would car,at,,,. -,
only very small portion ~ vcbat - = -
" iest "ouId disappear en- route therafor. -
'eU 10 OBTAIN justice from the Sultan M, .
use told the portIy lady tbat b,.
NOuid make hs state entry into
Town the following day and b,a
e4ihD on TO the pedestal OF one of tn -.
iiarDie pillars Of the famous gafevya,, ~ 49,
4-A''' ano There 10 await his passage Ir,T,s,isoi
s"e Sd" the Sultan appear from under IT, -,
sn.,. Nas 10 cry Win my lord the sultan
a4iO" me TO die in misery? Wul n, - -
sultan, not protect me? ! rold ber "a -. me
ciHauhg as possi5le-she was well an e. -.
years Of age-and 10 put on all the nnery of Il
Iace and velvet TO which the Israeli,e ladi. =, -,
i0ooo towns are so parIial. and which forms
Their national gaia dress
She promised TO carry out my instructions a,z
lalo my plans accordingly. An hour or two lateT
was received by The Sultan. and yeptured q, >,
marx mat had experienced a curio,ls dream, ,h
night before. The Sultan asked me 70 .rels,. !,
and replied that had dreamed thar l was .cora'
panylng his majesty his state entry ms, a..
Town. and mat just as We passed under the famous
gateway an enormously fat Jepress in ,,ala a,,ir.
chhglng TO one Of the marble columns cried o,,,
VIII my lord the Sultan allow me 10 dis -
misery VIII my lord the Sultan not protsct me-
The Sultan is by nature superstitous. and won.
dened what my dresm could mean Needless y, -.
] didn't inform him.
EyeTy'hin occurred ] had planned &, with
one ludicrous addition. The sultan erneryo5 go
me gate and there, on the high pedestal o, IN.
column embracing the marble pillar, was my stout
friend shouting her petition The Sultar
struck by the coincidence turned "a see 4, -
could catch my eye, and ] naturally looked as as.
tonshed as he did. But the lady's anxiety 10 be
heard LED her 10 lean too far forward. her hold
the marble pillar was relaxed and the las,
Of her she taking header into the midst
OF scarlet and bue soldiers who lined the gateway
An hour later messengers hurried me into the Sui.
tsn's presence found his majesty all excitement
the incident. and ! explained that no doubt m,
extraordinary dream revelation order thai
she woman might receive justice. The Sultan asked
4 kne hO she VA