The state herald., 1907-08-30
The origin of the word and the cir

The origin of the word and the cir
cumstances out of which the term grew
would make Il somewhat interesting il
not instructive page in history.
Webster says: ''This word is said, by
some authors, to be derived from Tarifa
a town in Spain at the entrance of the
Straits of Gibralter, where duties were
formerly collected.
With utmost respect for due defer
ence to those authors erudition we
must beg leave to slightly differ with
them on two points, namely: as to the
words town" and duties, unless the
latter is synonym Of one Of very dis
reputable Specification.
The facts are that the word was not
from town at all but from rocky
spur projecting out from the promontory
known AS the rock of Gibralter. This
spur was called by the Spanish "Tarifa,
by the Italians "TarifTa" and by the
Frcrrh ''Tarf"
The word had its origin, in the sense
It is now used, in barbarian custom in
vogue, early in the fourth century. at
''Tarifa."
The custom and the word have reach
ed us with all their harbaric feature $
with the former vastly enlarged upo !.
THE MooRs At TAMFA.
Down To the year 400 practically all
Europe was under the dominion Of the
Romans or was included in the Ron IAN
empire.
Soon after hat date barbarian snvas-
ion was inaugurated. and in 400 the Ro-
mans were driven from Spain and the
Moors possessed themselves Of the
country bordering on the r.arruw chan
mel The Straits Of Gibralter- leading
from the Medltcrian 10 the A tls ntic and
upon the rocky spur CTarifal mt ntioned
above. whore the channel h. very mar
row they saw n very rare positio from
which TO play the game ~ '.holdt p" ON
passing yessels Bcinx self-con ressed
robbers, they ayailcd themselves of no
great an advantage and garriso. ,cd Il,
and at that point every passii * vessel
was halted and tribute or toll was de-
manded, and, being at the me rcy OF the
robbers on shore the mariners were com.
PEELED to yield to the de rmand Of the
party In power" no matter how I'M
Just or e&horbitant the dcmai ID might
be.
As above stated the point from which
this robbery was committed was called
by the French, "Tarif" and when
speaking Of tho tribute II, " ind paid
Or would have To pay. irf nd Il saying
ven have 10 pay ths Mo m or the rob
bcrs they spoke of IL mn We do about
paying the railroads inF cad Of +, eight
OF fare and srid wen ave 10 pay "Tar-
H. y meaning the ,Iace of payment. but
.inally y came :, NEAR the proeccdi Of
the robbery.
The moors finding n tis 'Tnrif" game
both easy T.d lucrative continued TO
play Il un' Il conquered by othGrnntiona.
But (" hat Of the poor mnrit ors who
were 40 ruthlcssly robbed by the bar
bsrian MoorSl Did not the suffer
greatly from these heavy losy ~ ono,
just little computation In d nplc ad.
dition fixed that Thub-coat of goods
equal \. the Tariff squalls y. pr cent
age profit equals =, selling aiec equals
EyL There you have II, ant caHyl
This purchasers. ignorant of the fac,
that they wore rcimburaing. the mari
ncrs purses 10 the am "a 1t Of which
they had been dcspoiled u I'd thus being
made the real victims. Of / he Moorish
tfarifl robbery, paid the uahofbitAn
prices. making no = rotes,.
After the MoorA had cen panquisho'
and driven ffoDi their utrongiiold, III
! "eision." ,by ous nations Gallo