The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03
San Francisco Woman
in Tangier
Continued from Front Page.)


which is also administered IN the open
street; or. perhaps. worst OF all. i'm
prisonment IN the small. foul prison
where the Jews and Moors are sep
erated.
Near this prison Is the Governors
palace, and haren. which the ladies OF
out party were permitted to visit: but.
alasl for the dreams OF yesterday"
Here we found what stun dreams are
made OF. Tor what woman. thinking
OF oriental harems. has not pictured
a court where fountains play
perpetually. where nowers bloom
and perfume sths air, and
series OF dark-eyed beauties live
who grow weary doing nothing7 In
stead OF all this we found a court, but
no fountain, no flowers. while a large
negress took Us to a room shut or from
the court by white crash portieres.
These were drawn aside and revealed
20 Us twelve women. no beauties among
them. seated cross-iegged on the floor.
all busily engaged In making q kind
OF bread or cake Very practical and
sensible perhaps but inevitably hos
the TO illusions. These ladies were not
wanting IN hospitality, though. for
they urged Us to sample the dough.
which We dld. although It was suspi-
ciously dark; possibly they use q dark
deuri These little. cakes were being
prepared a. . special deIicacy for the
evening meal. for this was the Rama
dan. or annual fast period OF one month
fer all good Mohammedans.
We had noticed hundreds OF crouch
ing figures on the streets with knees
drawn up TO their chins. waiting for
ths sunset. gun to end the days fast.
and when We finally heard Il. It came
as a relief to Us as we'll as to them
to whom It. was signal to eat. drink
and be as merry as their condition
= - =
and only sign. OF Joy we had noticed
on their faces. For an hour or more
before sunset the Inarketplaco, at all
times crowded, was thronged with men
buying food and bundles OF twigs
which are used for fuel, and others
vending their way carefully with
stearning bowls OF soup to serve as
their frst evening meal, while the
water seller with q goatskin water
bottle slung across HIS shoulder
added the final touch OF oriental
ism to the picture. But no water could
be drunk until the voice OF the gun
was heard. and then what a shout OF
rather than full hearts,.
Woman seems to play a small part
IN the drama except as she appears in
the marketplace sitting on the ground
behind her little table selling bread or
woven goods. Occasionally she passes
perhaps staggering under a heavy
load. In her own home she Is never
seen by her husband during the day.
She prepares his meals and places them
upon the table. but she may not eat
with him. nor may she accompany him
to any public function.
A description OF Tangfer would not
be complete without at least liInning
picture OF street beggary as It ex-
lists there. After a trip In Southern
Spain one might think he had seen all
sorts and conditions OF 'beggars. but
there Is actually nothing to compare
the Tangier beggar with except the
exaggerated caricature occasionally
seen on the stage. Blind, usually dis
playing two empty sockets. tattered to
such degree that he is scarcely COW
cred by his rags, frequently diseased
and cropping his way by means OF a
long staff or led by a child with all
the probability OF a similar future, he
beseeches US In our walks and haunts
~ in our dreams. Sometimes he sits
by the wayside chanting from the
Koran, or calling down blessings on
those who are charitable. but never
losing faith in the midst OF all his
wretchedness in the certainty OF a
brighter and happier future
In short. Tangier Is a wonderfully IN
teresting city. every spot a center OF
interest and every moment replete with
II. This feeling was not Iessened when
we remembered that a German man
o'-war was lying out in the harbor.
with It's watch dogs ready TO be let
loose II necessary. ard that q French
war vessel lay within calling distance.
And at present we are anxionsly wait
ing to see what will happen next, for
Raisul has a large following In Mo-
rocco, and Is not likely to resign his
ONCE as Governor without a struggle.
However. the condition OF the poor IN
Tangier cannot be much worse what
ever comes.