The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-14
Prepared By National Geographic Society.
MAnhlnFton. y. C-WNu Service.

Washington. y. C.-WNU Service.
a FEW cases OF bubonic plague,
~ which has seldom appeared
L n In late years west OF Suez,
recently were found In TangIer. the
international settlement on the
south side OF the Strait OF Gibral-
tar In Africa. Modern medicine has
stepped In to thwart this once dread
disease, and the entire population
must be vaccinated.
Although TangIer has nurtured
its old traditions for centuries, mod
ern resort builders have, from time
to time. during recent years,
brought II forward as a prospective
playground for European vacation
lists. In the shadow OF venerable
mosques and minarets and keyhole-
Ike Moorish archways, they would
build modern hotels, bath houses
and casinos that would rival the
Riviera and vie with Monte Carlo.
Tangier is but a few hours ferry
ride from the Rock of Gibraltar.
For many centuries IL has occupied
reserved seat on the Strait OF
Gibraltar. In full view OF the parade
OF commerce to and from Mediter-
ranean ports, but today its unlm-
proved harbor does not permit
docking OF the larger ocean-going
vessels.
From the anchorage, Tangier re-
sembles a white sheet spread from
the seashore up the African slopes.
The spotless white walls, glistening
in the sunlight. suggest that "clean-
up, paint-up week" Is perpetually
observed there and that the city IA
Tiers viii allow nothing but white
paint or whItewash to be used. AS
one nears the shore, however,
dashes OF yellow, green and red
mark the encroachment Of modern
builders.
Once inside the city walls the
traveller is bewildered by the maze
OF lanes which the Tangierians call
their streets. So narrow are they
that wheeled vehicles have never
rumbled over the cobbles and pedes-
trians are compelled to jump into
doorways to avoid being side swlped
or trampled upon by huge, moth
eaten camels and donkeys. whose
bulging loads spread nearly from
wall TO wall.
Coffee Houses and Begoars.
In the business section coffee
houses offer the principal Tangier
recreation. Patrons sit in groups
on the floor, playing with odd
marked cards, or lean against the
walls slipping a beverage, smoking
their pipes, and sometimes singing
to the tune OF a native orchestra.
Next door an unkempt shopkeeper,
seemingly more interested In keep
Ing his long-stemmed pipe lighted
than In making a sale, presides over
a cupboard-llke shop displaying pot
terry, brassware and trinkets.
Beggars are more importunate.
They beg for aims and often follow
a prospect" until he yields a coin.
Shouts of came! men and street
venders and chatter of pedestrians
make a monotonous din, broken oc-
casionally by the weird strains Of
a "holy" orchestra composed of
dervishes who parade about the
streets with Moslem banners, beg
ging contributions for the mosque.
Most travellers agree that a visit
to the large market, lying just out
side OF the city wall, is well worth
a trip TO Tangier. There city folk
mingle with the rural folk from the
fertile regions in the vicinity. Men,
women and children, camels, horses,
donkeys, dogs and fowl, all are hud-
died together in the dust amid piles
Of oranges, baskets OF eggs, casks
of olives and improvised stands for
nuts, dates. candies, kitchen uten-
sils and homemade shoes. The
country women wear broad-brimmed
straw hats. The Moslems wear ker-
chiefs, half covering their faces.
Around the edge of the market
place letter writer's and fortune
tellers ply their professions; black.
portly Sudanese negroes In tatters
dance 10 the tune of metal cynbals
and disks dangling about their
bodies, and the fire-eater and snake
charmer amaze throngs with their
clever tricks.
"Dog Of a Town." Say Arabs.
Once a powerful Phoenician city
and later a Carthaginian strong
hold. Tangier has been despoiled by
many an invading-army or lombard
ing fleet. The Romans, Vandals,
Arabs, Portuguese, Spaniards and
English each have played a dramat-
ic part In the life OF this city.
Tangier is situated not only at
the crossroads Of the sea, but of the
air and land as well. Swift bus
lines radiate from It In a network
which covers Morocco. There is
daily air service to Casablanca and