Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-29
TANGlER IN THE SUNLIGHT
Chief City of Morocco whittier Diplo-
mats Are Directing Their
Thoughts.

1t takes some little imagination to realize
on bringing up in Tangier bay under blaz-
ing sun, and the sky of the subtropics, that
the day-dawn on Father Thames was but n
week ago-and that this is Morocco-.the
Morocco of press headlines, of Franco Ger
man diplomacy, of Kaid Maclean, and other
half-forgotten memories.
The sweep OF whites which Tangier pre-
sents to the sea front gives an initial ia
vorab BILE impression, from which, however,
it must be admitted. the rabble Of filthy
men, hideous women and noisy children as
sembled on the landing stage somewhat de-
tracts. The illustrated weeklies with their
presentments of dignifed white-robed Mo-
roccans, have much to be responsible for
in the way of shattered illusions.
Donkeys afford the only going, and it is
not many Englishmen who can with grace
bestride that patient brute, more especially
when stuffed sack, gultless of stirrups,
takes the place of saddle. and the bride Is
no more than a piece of old rope The
humorist is sometimes to be seem camera
| in hand. upon the landing stage. and among
| his repertoire may now be found a snapshot
! that would bring joy TO a certain West End
| congregation 1t depicts tho struggles OF a
well know eccesiastc, whose severe de-
| meanor admirably consorts with the cas-
| sock and berretta in which he Is accustomed
| to strike terror into the hearts Of errent
members Of his flock. Personal idosyncra-
| sizes apart, however. every visitor, lay and
cleric, man and woman. succumbs to the
! necessity of donkey riding. and thus
mounted, tour of the little town is prac-
ticable in one day, though. of course, It
takes the experience of residence TO get
! below the surface of things
| The streets are even narrow; even tho
rookery which rejoices in the name of Rue
| Principale" is one that a self-respecting
English lane would in parts scarcely ac-
| knowledge; but the irregularity of the
buildings and the splashes OF vivid color,
give a certain picturesqueness to the other
wise squalid surroundings.
In the market square is obtained the best
view of a typical Tangier crowd. All the
usual adjuncts of an oriental gathering are
! In eVidence-coniurors, snake charmers.
whose loathsome pets bite to draw blood
from their masters tongues; strangers from
other parts of Morocco, easily distinguish
able by their gay garments and the per-
sonality of separate race; Moors. strayed
in from their own bazaar in another quar-
ter, all these and many more, in addition
to the obvious inhabitants Of the market
The babel of voices is deafening the crowd
81 tiiiNh llldl pilN Nuf DulllnR OF tne
donkeys serves to make narrow way fol-
the visitor, and, overlooking every other
factor is the stencil composed OF odors SC
multitudinous as TO be severally unidenti.
fed.
| A great variety of articles are on sale II
the market, Tor the most part spread OF
the ground round the square. Beside tn,
market and the Moorish bazaar, the mar
, row streets abound in apologies for shops
where beads and local curios may be picked
/ | up very cheaply by those who know III,
art of bargaining with colored vendors
The Moors' quarter is always worth
visit; it contrasts rather strongly with sur
, rounding bazsrs. and the business Of pur
chase must be carried out with circum
spection, for the Moor is a prince anon,
men OF his color. and offers and expects .
I courtesy peculiar 10 himself and his race
Outside the town proper the Moorish
fortress on the top of a hill, 400 feet II
height, and the Court of Justice-save tn
7 mark!-are chief attractions in the latter
a white, not unpleasing building two side
: Of courtyard, a magistrate sits for Ger
I tain hours daily. The determining OF gull
or innocence is not, however, any part O
his business. 1t is assumed that a prisone
2 is a criminal and the Judge merely passe
! sentence OF Imprisonment after hearing tn
nature of the alleged offense, and in gao
3 the victim languishes until bought out,
e a part OF the blood money going to tn
: obligins official The procedure in civ
Il causes is even simpler and more shame
q less. The two parties appear in court, an
4 pile up gifts until one or the other can n
' more Judgment is then given for the othe
in return for his tale OF presents.-Phils
delphia Ledger.