Evening star., 1907-09-02

the town through the Intervention of some
natives, who stood between them and their
former escort. All day the burning piles on
which the corpSeS had been thrown were
surrounded by women and children. VINO
rent the air with the Moorish cry or re-
joicing For all these indignties France, OF
| course, has reaped a terrible revenge
The European colonies here share 10 .he
full not only the horror provoked by the
massacre at Casa Blanca. but the alarm
| which the outbreak of Moorish fanaticism
and cruelty has excited in all the towns
where foreigners dwell practically without
effective protection. This feeling is ag-
gravated when marabOuts (saints or prlests)
parade the streets of the native quarter
people to attack the Christians and Jews
Some of these firebrands have been ar
rested and thrown into prison
Agitation undoubtedly exists among me
Moorish troops. many of whom come from
Casa RlanCa. There has been some taik OF
disarming them. but this cannot be done
until reinforcements arrive. The saNaseig
of the MoOrs and their bravery in the race
of fire almost pa sses belief Not until hun
dreds of them are killed will they show any
signs of weakness. Many fearful encoun,
ters took place between the French ana
Spanish landing parties and the hordes oI
natives who from time to time attacked
them. Many sangufnary hand-to-hand en-
counters took place. A Spanish corporal en-
gagged in a desperate struggle with a gigtn-
tic negro Failing to kill him. even after
bayOnet'ng him no fewer than twenty-five
times. he forced MS mana OoWn lilt leSi'
throat and finally choked him to death.
Foment Is Spreading.
The foment is spreading in other parts of
Morocco. and attacks upon the Europeans
are threatened at Magazan. Rabat. Lar
aiche. FL Kasr. Fee. and ,ven Tangier. The
population of the latter. though still quiet.
are said to be secretly excited by agita-
tors playing an anti-French role.
casa Rlgnca of the eight parts OF
Morocco open to foreign trade. is on the
western Atlantic coast of the empire
Its population is estimated at some 2Ooo'
and of these three -fourths are Arabs. There
are some 5000 Jews, and there is Eu-
ropean colony, chiefly French and Spanish.
numbering a few hundreds. The present
town was founded by the Portuguese in the
early part of the sixteenth century, but no
doubt 1t existed as a native settlement long
before that time.
The fanatical section of the Moors chose
fitting scene for their murderous protest
against the advance of civiliza tom With
the possible exception of Tangier, Casa
Blanca has for years been the most re-
marka BILE example of a policy of pacific
domination which, without needlessly Of
Tending native susceptibilties. has been of
benefit to Europeans and Moors alike.
Judged from a Moorish standpoint, the
trade at Casa Blanca Is considerable. and
it has been steadily growing. At this time
of year it is not unusual to in the port
ten or a dozen steamers, some loading with
ndTleN, Deans, InSee0 ana O1ner country
produce. and others off-loading tea, English
cottons and sugar, which are the main i'm
ports.
English Strong at Casa Blanca.
England has always been strongly repre-
sented in Casa Blanca. The chief firms are
English, the business tone" is English, and
the reputation of Englshmen for eel jehd
wa ell hukk'-vigor and straight dealing
stands very high among the natives. The
English merchants in Casa Blanca have al
ways taken the lead in everything for the
good of the town, and it is largely due to
their efforts that a small Mo IRISH town has
been turned into a thriving business CEN
ter. where Europeans can lead a European
life. and where, despite difficulties from
Moorish officials, straightforward commerce
can be carried on to the satisfaction of
Moor and Christian alike.
The English colony has always been
popular with the natives and through all
the disturbances of the last few years.
when the country. up to the walls Of the
town. has been at the mercy of IawIess
tribesmen. more than one English family
has lived undisturbed a mile or two outside
the town. without a guard of any sort.
The tribes round Casa Blanca have for
the last few years been practically inde-
pendent. and most of their kaids have been
driven out-a fact which, strange to say,
makes for peace and prosperlty-but the
foundation of the wealth of the province
has been made by the practice of ''protec-
tlOn InlS Is common 10 all parts or
Morocco. but has never been more widely
or fairly used than at Casa Blanca.
A System of Protection.
Each of the principal European firms has
numerous native agents. who. by virtue OF
their position, officially recognized by
the Moorish government as being under the
protection" of their employers flag to the
extent that they cannot. except under
he in Int wi
the employer has been informed.
Theoretically "the protection is not very
complete, but. practically. owing to the
publicity which Is insured, those who fully
possess this right free from any op-
preston on the part of their own govern
ment. They alone OF all Moors. from the
most powerful kald to the humblest water
carrier. are safe from hourly danger or
plunder. Imprisonment and. perhaps. tor
ture Most of the principal men In the
tribes round Casa Blanca are in this way
"protected.' and by this means the prov
ince has acquired great resources of money
and food. which. added to the natural fer
tility of the country. has made 1t very
powerful and a valuable out!ct for Casa
Blanca trade.
Despite bad harvests, erratic exchange
and many other difficulties. town and coun-
try have mutually thriven, but fanatical
feelings have at last for the time over
powered the sense of the benefits which
Europeans have conferred. and, unfortu-
nately, the example of Casa Blanca seems
likely to be followed in other towns where
Europeans live. Leaving Tangier out Of
the question. Europeans, in greater or
smaller numbers, are living in Fee. Mara
kesh and all the coast towns from Larache
to Mogador.
The Moors who inhabit this part of Mo-
rocco are mainly farmers. hardened by CEN
tures of cruel oppression and continual
ir,er-tribal fights. but with a more than
Arab love of money and trading. This al
ways tends to restrain any outbreak which
would unduly interfere with chances of
adding to the little store of money hidden
In field or mud howell.
Their Ideal Form Of Fighting.
As fighters their value Is doubtful, though
they certainly possess courage. They af-
feet to despise infantry. and their ideal
fight is carried on by horsemen at full
gallop firing from the saddle.
The country south OF q line drawn from
Fez to Rabat is for the most part very
open. treeess. and. indeed. featureless At
this time of the year and for the next two
months the hard-baked black and red
earth of much of the country offer a very
good substitute for roads.
Fee. the northern capital. is within