Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26
WEST OF ISLAM
Moors Are Sure the Puritans Of the
Mohammedans.
QUAINT WAYS OF THE PEOPLE
Even TanGier Little Touched By
EurOpeaA InfIuenceS-A Mediae-
val Land Close to n
British Stronghold.

TANGIER, Sept. 1.-THE Moors have fro
quently been called the Puritans Of Islam.
whereas most educated Turks and many
Persians, Egyptians and Indian Mohamme-
dams have adopted the European style Of
dress, not a single Moor living within the
borders Of his own country has laid aside
the cloaklike Arabian jeleba. In the streets
Of Tangier. the city most infested with
Christians, there is not a tramway or a
hackney cab.
With the exception Of a few kilometers
OF narrow gauge mining railway not an
iron track penetrates the country any
where. There is neither a telegraph nor
a postal service. And except for the dis
credited ex-Sultan Abdul Azlz not a Moor
has delgned to test the Inventions of Eu-
rope, which they scorn. II seems extra
ordinary that such a country, the Moghreb
al Aksa, as the Arabs say, or furthest west
OF Islam. should lie across the narrow
strait Of Gibraltar, a few hours run by
slow steamer from a city where British
law and the advancement OF Christendom
hold sway.
II the day is clear you are within sight
OF Tangier at Gibraltar. 1t takes the little
ferry steamer about three hours to make
the Journey. In less than forty minutes
the boat has crossed the strait and coasts
along unuNr the SnNuoW VI INC
rocks. Shortly you come upon a bleak
stretch OF sand. as from the Sahara,
breaking through the mountains, and there
beyond. where the yellow hills begin to rise
again toward the clear warm sky, is the
outpost city Of the east, a mass Of square,
nut-roofed, almost windowless houses, blue
and white, climbing In irregular steps much
like the giants causeway, to the walls
OF the ancient KAsbah. or citadel, with here
and there a square green minaTst and
a towering palm.
Tangier is a place somewhat outside this
mediaeval country. II seems like a show
ny left for the tourist and the European
ader. Men from within the country come
ut TO the fair to trade and others while
clinging stII to their ancient dress and
customs, are content TO reside here yet
they VIII tell you. signing. that Il Is no
longer truly Morocco.
There is no mellR where the Jews must
seEresate themselves; Spaniards and out
casts from other Mediterranean countries
have come 10 stay here permanently ana
may quarter themselves where they please
and there are great hotels by the water.
with little houses In front. where Eu-
Fopsans. both men and women. go to a X
eff most OF their curious clothes and then
rush int the waves. Truly Tangier Il
defil a ISahoisean monks clAng noisy
bells drowning the voice OF the meuEzln
on the grand mosque; the hated telegraph
runs into the city from under the sea; a
Frenchman sits the day long in the Gus
tom hose and takes ons-half the money.
and no Moor may say anything 70 all thiA
this.
y TIL there are oompSnsAtionA. The
European builds big ships and guns thai
shoot s%traighter than Moorish guns but he
is not so wise, He works all day like An
animal, and when he gets much money
he comes 70 Tangier with it. and true be-
.lievers, who live In cool gardens and smoke
hasheesh. make him pay five times the
ordinary price for everything he buys
&sAted al a modern French or Spanish
al a cafe In the SOkO Chico (he
htLs markell. the stranger Il besst BY