New-York tribune., 1906-06-30

,,.,.,o,ys writers on Morocco have seen and
o-+ss enough OF the external aspects of that
-.s,uresoue country and its government TO pre-
- the reader for the description of some
s.,rr unusual and peculiar in the internal con-
s,,,ors of the one and the organization of The
..,sr as soon as an investigator of adequate
,-r,pynent should enjoy the opportunity Of maxi
az ersthard study Of the people in peace and
a, war. The opportunity came by rare good for
,rre 10 NJ Aubin in 1902 and 1908. al period
when the Intensity Of the crisis provoked by
.ss ir1prtdent attitude Of the Sultan Moulay
.hselsziz. toward Europe. had for the first time
o,ened up in some degree this country so hostile
- foreign Influences; when the emotional stress
- The moment Unsealed the lips Of functionaries
vbo al another time would not have tolerated A
christian spectator Of their internal affairs and
when the resources Of the NIakhzen. strained to
the breaking point by the pressure of events
we're stripped absolutely bare"
Nj Auhin'S travels took him on long journeys
.hroueh both Northern and Southern Morocco
Ee visited the more important seaports. the
rsty of Morocco and Fez. the northern capital.
where he remained six months. Although not an
Arabic scholar, he had as companions ana in
,s-rreters az different times two intelligent and
sympathetic French Algerians. Moreover he
brought 10 hts task the advantage of a wide ex-
reTlerCe III 41uSSUlIlaH Algeria
syria. Egypt, India, the Caucasus. the Crlmea,
he Balkan countries. and European and Asiatic
Turkey including several years residence in
cairo ana Constantinople. Above all. he seems
10 have had a genius or faculty for getting at
the inside facts Of the social and political phe-
nonena which came under his observation. and
fer determining their respective relations. one TO
another well as q special aptitude for con-
structing from the data thus acquired and
weighed the ideals. the theories and the prac-
iics workings OF the Moroccan feudalism-"a
sort of sacred empire. rooted in Islamisrn with
i;s loose federation Of tribes. its old-age Gus
TONS and its complicated interplay Of religious
Influences" Morocco must appear 70 the reader,
IS IL did 10 the author, as the most extraordi-
nary Of Mussulman states" NJ. Aubin declares
that in all his previous travels and studies he
hsd never found anything 10 correspond to what
be encountered here in the extreme west Of
Islam: the character Of the institutions dis
concerting 10 a newcomer" and he confesses
that ne had everything 10 learn
What ". Aubin has learned he has learned
thoroughly and he is able, moreover. TO impart
II with admirable clearness to others. Every
experience. observation and conclusion is made
70 count for its fun worth in his writing His
book is as entertaining. considered as a narra-
tive Of travel and adventure, il is interesting
considered as a record Of the peculiar manners
and customs of a people in a strangely arrested
stage ~ civilization, as 81 is illuminating
considered as a study Of social and religious
conditions affecting a unique political organiza-
ton. The prominence that has recently been
given 10 Morocco in International deliberations
gives especial tirneiness TO the volume. perusal
of which Will serve 10 throw abundant light on a
subject which must have been followed with
only little understanding by many even OF those
whose interests were most profoundly affected
The hook was crowned" by the French Acad-
erly IN appreciation Of the authors accomplish
nent, and the English translator has performed
his work with skill and discretion
We ere much too prone" says the author ito
conceive Of Morocco as an absolutely barbarous
country. simply because it has, so far, remained
closed 10 European influence. The country is
not an organic whole, it is true; the government
is arbitrary and the people devoid of culture:
hut, beyond all doubt, there does exist in the
great cities and the kasbahs lcastlesJ of the
plains an orderly and civilized society which has
developed a special form Of Arab civilization. A
stranger comes across il with surprise and fire.
quents Il with pleasure" II the surprise was
equal. the pleasure was less pronounced at the
reception accorded the traveller among the Ber-
Der Hill tribes. The majority of the Berber
tribes remain Independent and are the cause
- tt NbiiSAalAL Fhii1lAlSA s4I NONlA
Try which necessitates the governments spend
ing most Of its time under canvas. presenting
the anomaly of en- itinerant despotism continu-
ally The move in the direction Of the point
where a. any given time the trouble NAV hap
pen 10 be most acute. Only if the insurrection
is in The neighboThood Of one OF the capitals or
IN the accidental event Of general tranquility.
does the Makhzen, or governing class find itself
housed other than in tents Even then il does
not rling!e with the general population, but lives
apart in the Oar el-Makhzen which forms the
centre Of the Kasbsh or citadel. Of the capital.
IN its present form the Makhzen is a modern
creation, yet il is founded upon characteristics
that began TO manifest themselves as early as
the eighth century. A powerful tribe would
suddenly arise impose its authorit~ over the
others establish its military power at the centre
OF the empire. and survive so long as it was sue
oessful in crushing intestine feuds or rival pre-
tensions There are to-day four military tribes
which constitute the Mahhzen and five tribes
of = quasi-Makhzen character. The Makhzen is
composed Of two elements, one permanent, the
other temporary. The so-called guiche tribes
constitute the permanent element
TIE ternporary element comprises those indi-
xdusls from the cities or tribes whose &ssistanee
the &akkzen has sought, and who are attached 10
iher 4sev are PERSONS w Who are not Makhzen BY
orth, but who become so for q oetermnste pei.oo
chance Of t6er career Such are the kaIds and the
Ehekhs of the tribes. The Oumana. who are IN
trusted with financial duties. and the Makhzen sec
Eetsr!es chosen because Of their callGraphy 10
carry 0n the Official correspondence. In tins way
The classes privileged by birth attach 10 Their ser
Pcs al who, IN Morocco. whether from the sltua-
noD OF their land. their riches or telr intelligence
succeed in emerging from the unpriVileged classes
The methods by which the @akhzen main
tsins It's prestige is admirably exemplihed by
the disturbance in Northern Morocco led by
the "Pretenoer.' Bou Hamara. an Arabizec ber-
Der, whose real name was Djlali ben Drlss