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Bishop,IsabellaL.NotesonMorocco,TheMonthlyReview,Vol.V
(OctoberDecember,1901),pp.89102.


NOTESONMOROCCO

NATIONALLYwehaveoftenhadtopaydearlyforourignorance.Countriesofwhichweknowlittleand
carelesssuddenlybecomepoliticallyimportant.Thenmapsarehastilypublished,oldtravelsarein
requestatthelibraries,dustyconsularreportsarefishedoutofpigeonholes,badlypronouncednames
arebandiedaboutinconversation,and"people"aregalvanisedintosomethingwhichsimulates
interestforafewweeksorevenmonthsifthesituationissufficientlyacute.Moroccohas,however,just
failedtobecomeinteresting."Wolf"hasbeencriedsolongregardingthedesignsofFrancethat
nobodypaysanyattention,notevenwhenaFrencharmywasknowntobewithinthreedaysofthe
"Holycity"ofTafilet.IfanyonesuggeststhatFrance,havingbeenpermittedtoabsorbthisdyingempire,
wouldundoubtedlyrecruitherarmyfromitssplendidfightingmaterial,andmightmenaceourposition
inEgyptandourrightofwayintheMediterranean,acquiring,asshewould,oneofthepillarsof
Hercules,thecryisraisedof"Pessimist"and"Alarmist."Thewakeningmaycomeanyday,anditwillbe
arudeone.
Leaving,however,thepoliticalaspectsofwhatwillonedaybeknownas"theMoroccoQuestion"with
theremarkthatofthePowers,FranceandSpainaloneareinterestedintheacquisitionofNorthwest
Africanterritory,andthatthepossessionofakeytotheMediterraneanisworthyoftheambitionofthe
formerPower,IshouldliketocallattentiontosomeofthefactorsinthepresentconditionofMorocco
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whicharetobetakenintoaccountinanyestimateofherprobablefuture.Theyarenotnew,butthey
areforgotten;andIofferthemasamongthemostinterestingoftheimpressionsmadeuponmeina
recentrideof1000milesthroughthecountry,inthecourseofwhichIvisitedthenorthernandsouthern
Capitals,theHolycityofWazan,thecoastcities,manyoftheagriculturalandpastoraldistrictsofthe
interior,andjourneyedamongtheBerbersoftheAtlasMountainsasfarastheCastleofGlowaonthe
southernslopeofthePassofthesamenameontheroadfromthecapitaltoTafilet.
AmongtheforemostisthattheSultanhasnopowerwhateverovermuchoftheempirewhichis
nominallyunderhisrulethathecannotcollecttaxes,punishcrime,appointofficials,securethesafety
ofgoodsandtravellers,orevenpasshimself,thoughwith30,000men,fromMoroccocitytoFezbya
directroute.ItisoutofthisconditionofnorulethatthepresentdifficultywithSpainhasarisen.WhileI
wasinWazanrecently,somemountaineersabductedaSpanishgirlandheryoungbrotherandcarried
themofftothemountains,whereneitherSultannorGrandShereefhasanyauthority.Thegirlwassold
tobetrainedasadancinggirl,andhercaptorsrefusedtogiveherupexceptunderconditionswhichno
selfrespectingpowercouldaccept.ItisinvaintodemandofMoroccoadailyindemnitytillsheis
restored,andstrongermeasures,suchasaretalkedabout,arenotlikelytoalterwhatisreallythegistof
thesituation,thattheSultanhasnopoweroverthemountaintribes.Intheirlawlessnessandhis

powerlessnessthereareinflammablematerialsenoughforablazeatanymoment.Practicallythereis
nogovernmentatallinagreatpartofMorocco.
Theinsecurityhasoflateconsiderablyincreased,andisincreasingfromRabatnorthwards.Someof
theroadsareabsolutely"closed,"othersareonlykeptpartiallyopenbyarmedmen,whilelifeand
propertyareabsolutelyinsecure.OntheroutefromFeztoTangier,whichIhavejusttraversed,caravans
evenoflargesizeandwellarmedaredailyattacked,andthegoodsandmulescarriedofftothe
mountains;andIowedmy
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immunityfromrobberytothevaguedreadwhichthemaraudershaveoftheconsequencesofmolesting
Europeans.Thesheepandcattleofvillagesonthesameroute(evenofavillagebelongingtotheGrand
ShereefofWazan,whosereligiouspositionoughttohavesecuredthesafetyofhisproperty)arebeing
seizeddaily;lifeisofnoaccount,andshepherds,herdmen,andharvesters,pursuetheiravocations
armedwithlonggunsandswordsfordefence.ThestateoflawlessnessgreatlyresemblesthatwhichI
witnessedinArmeniaafewyearsago,onlythatintheMoorishcasethedepredatorsarepreyingon
theircoreligionists.Thereis,byallaccounts,nativeandChristian,agrowingunrest,whichhasincreased
sincethepresentvizier,elMenebhi,cameintopower,owingtothedrasticmeasureswhichhehas
takentoridhimselfofrivals,actualorpossibletogeneraldissatisfactionwiththergimeandthe
inactivityoftheSultan,andwiththetimespentbyhimonsuch"frivolousinnovations"asphotography,
fireworks,cycling,andEuropeandramatictroupes,totheneglectofhisregalduties.Thetribesare
fightingeachother,thepredatorymountaineersareincreasinginaudacity,andarelootingand
maraudingunchecked;everyofficialislivingindreadofsuddendeposition,confiscationofhisproperty,
andconfinementinadungeonorworse,whilethepeasantsgroanunderofficialexactionswhichleave
themwithonlyenoughtokeepbodyandsoultogether,manyvillagesbeingleftwithoutasingleanimal
foragriculturalwork.ThefertileplainbetweenDimnatandMoroccocityisstuddedwithgreattowered
castlesofmudconcrete,onceimposing,nowfastcrumblingintoruin,whichwerethedwellingsofkads
andotherrichmen,manyofwhomhavebeenthrownintoprisonbytheCourtinthehopeofextracting
largesumsbywayofransom,butwhoseoffers,orthoseoftheirfriendsforthem,havenotsatisfiedthe
rapaciousexpectationswhichhadbeenformed.AtFez,thenortherncapital,whichforwealth,trade,
aristocraticfamilies,learning,andenergy,mayberegardedastheEmpirecity,discontentisstrong.The
Sultanoughttobeinresidencetherenow;butthedateofhisleavingMoroccocity,constantlyaltered
during
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thelasteighteenmonths,isstilluncertain,greatly,itisbelieved,owingtotheinfluenceofelMenebhi,
theMoorishenvoytoKingEdwardVII.,who,thougha"greatman"inthesoutherncapital,wouldbea
"small"oneinFez,wherehewasaprivatesoldier,thankfultogoofficialerrandsfortwoorthree
pesetas.ItisagrievancethatnoFezmanhasanythingofapositionintheGovernmentamongthemany
recentchanges.DiscontentinFezisnottobealtogetherdespised;forwereitpossibleforOrientalsto
trusteachothersufficientlytocombineforacommonobject,thefallofthedynasty,ofwhichMoors
speakfreely,mightbeacceleratedbyFezmoneyandintrigue,andthehatchingofaplottoplace

anotherthanAbdulAzizontheShereefianthrone.ProbablytheSultan'sgreatestsafeguardishissacred
characterasalinealdescendantoftheProphet,andheadoftheChurch.
Anotherimpressionproducedonthestrangeristhatofthesingularvarietyofraces,andmixtureof
raceswhichareassembledunderthecrimsonflagofMorocco.TheBerberofthemountains,withhis
narrowhead,somewhatclassicfeatures,tancomplexion,andlithe,activeformconqueredonlytoa
verylimitedextenteitherbyRomanorArabretainsdefiniteracialcharacteristics,whiletheArabofthe
plains,ifoffairlypureblood,isinthecitiesdeadlywhite,flabby,anaemic,andfat,andinthecountry
swarthyandlean.ButitisraretofindevenasmallvillagecomposedwhollyofpurebredArabs.Itis
estimatedthatfrom2500to3000slaves,mostlygirls,enterMoroccofromtheSoudanannually;the
admixtureofblackbloodisobviouseverywhere,andtheArab,stainedinskinandcoarsenedinfeature,
haslost,andislosing,theracecharacteristicswhichhebroughtwithhimfromAsia,includingtheenergy
ofconquest,andthecreativegeniuswhichendowedMoroccowithoncebeautifulbuildings,nowfalling
intouncheckeddecay.TracesoftheSoudanaregeneral,fromglossyblacknesstothesingularpallorof
theoctoroon,andtheharemsofthericharefullofnegressesandcolouredchildren.Iaminclinedto
agreewithM.delaMartinire,theFrenchconsulgeneral,whohasstudiedthesubjectcarefully,that
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muchoftheintellectualdeteriorationanddecayoftheArabraceinMorocco,andmuchofthe
sensualityandbrutalpassionwhichdisfiguresit,areduetotheenormousandcontinualinfusionof
Africanblood.
TheJewoccupiesatotallydifferentpositionfromthenegroinMorocco.Ubiquitous,irrepressible,in
businessdominatingthecoasttowns;inFez,Mequinez,andMoroccocitymakinghimselffelt,his
numbersestimatedataquarterofamillion,heneveramalgamateswiththosewhoofnecessitytolerate
him,orswervesbyonehair'sbreadthfromhisHebrewcustomsorfromhisexclusivedevotiontothe
OldTestamentandtheTalmud.Hisrigidobservanceofthefourthcommandment,fromwhichnothing
cantempthim,isstrongereventhanhispassionforgain;butthepeople"dwellalone,"andarenot"
reckonedamongthenations."TheycountfornothinginMoorishpolitics;butbeingtheusurers,
bankers,andskilledcraftsmenofthecommunity,theyareindispensabletoitsexistence,andare,onthe
whole,letalone.Themenandwomenarealikehandsome,andeverywheretheBarbaryJewhasthe
unmistakablecharacteristicsofhisracestampeduponhim.Everywheretherearesynagogues,the
Hebrewritual,andsynagogueschools,andinsomecitiesthereareveryefficienthighschoolsbothfor
boysandgirls,organisedbytheIsraelitishAlliance.IntheloftyvillagesoftheAtlas,fairlyflourishing
Jewishcoloniesofancientoriginarefound,eachonewithitsrabbiandsynagogue,itssmallindustries,
itstradeindateswithTafilet,itsseparatequarter,itsunrivalledfilth,anditsprotectivegate.
TheBerbermountaineersareapurerandfinerracethantheArabs,thoughontheTafiletroadthe
contaminationofblackbloodisevidentinsomeofthesheikhs,notablyintheKhalifaofGlawa.The
Berbersareenergetic,warlike,andhospitable;fanaticalMoslems,thoughmostlaxinreligious
observances;giventobloodfeuds,tribalfighting,andmanlygames,andlovingwaraboveallother
pastimes.Thewomen,exceptthoseofthehighestclass,arenotsecludedorveiled,andhavesome
influenceintheirvillages.Instrikingcontrast

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withtheneglectoftheArabsoftheplainstoutiliseforirrigationpurposesthewatersupplieswhich
Naturehasplacedwithintheirreach,theBerbers,bycarefullyconstructedchannels,bringwaterfrom
thehigherlevelsanddistributeitamongtheirfields.IntheAtlasrange,stonyandaridasitis,every
valleyisterracedforcultivationuptoagreatheight;finewalnuttreesabound,thestonespickedoffthe
landareutilisedforretainingwalls,andheavygraincrops,keptfreefromweeds,testifytotheenergy
andperseveringindustryofthecultivators.
TravellingintheAtlasnominallyastheSultan'sguest,Iwashospitablyreceivedinthecastlesofthe
Berbersheikhsandkhalifas,andwitnessedalifewhich,thoughlivedonalargerscale,resemblesgreatly
thatofthemedievalbaronsofourbordercastles.ThefortressofthehereditaryKadofGlowa,the
richestandmostpowerfulofthechiefswhoaretributarytotheSultan,isahuge,doubletoweredpile
ofstoneonaheight,withhighwallsenclosingthelargeareaonwhichitstands.Itisprovisionedfora
considerableterm,andcontains,besides500humanbeings,greatwealthinslaves,flocks,herds,mules,
horses,asses,arms,andammunition.Thestirthroughthedaylighthoursisceaseless.Thecourtsare
alwaysfullofmenandassesbringingingrainandforage,ofslavesofalldegreesofblacknesshurrying
onvariouserrands,ofarmedhorsemendashinginandoutonofficialbusiness,oflitigantsand
suppliants,ofopposingpartiesseekingthesettlementoftheirdisputes,whilecouriersfromTafilet,
bringingnewsoftheFrenchwhowerewithinthreedaysoftheTafiletoasis,addedexcitementtothe
hubbub.TheKhalifa,ayoungmanwithmuchcolouredblood,charminginappearanceandmanner,is
general,ruler,andjudge,withtheresponsibilityofalldecisionsgreatandsmall,formalandinformal,
restinguponhim.Heisceaselesslyappealedto,andonhimrestsatpresentthedifficultdutyof
preventinganyfrictionorcollisionbetweenhistribesmenandtheFrench;hisbrother,theKad,beingin
commandatTafilet,theholycity,thecradleofthepresentdynasty,forthesamepurpose.
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There,aswellasattheCastleofZarktanandelsewhere,thekhalifasspokemostenergeticallyandwith
apparentfranknessoftheirownandBerberfeelingtowardstheFrench,whomtheyregardastheir
bitterenemies,andwhomtheyareburningtofight,whiletheyarefuriouswiththeSultanforholding
themback."TheFrenchareseekingtheirowngraves,"saidtheyoungKhalifaofGlowa,drawinghimself
tohisfullheight,andfingeringlonginglythetriggerofhisrichlydecoratedgun."Mytribehasfive
divisions,andeachcanputintothefield1200men,allgoodshots.Victorymustbeours,"hesaid."What
aretheirquickfiringguns?Allahisonourside,andheisstrongerthanthey,andwewillforcethem
backintothewaterlessdesert,"andsoon,everyfightingmantalkinginthesamestrain,andspeaking
fiercelyoftheinactiontowhichtheBerbersarecompelled.Reports,doubtlessmuchexaggerated,were
dailybroughtinbypassingrefugees,whosaidtheyhadfledintoTafiletfromthebrutaltreatmentthey
hadreceivedfromtheFrenchintheneighbourhoodofIgli,Figuig,andTuat;thattherewere18,000of
them,alldestitute,andthattheyhadaskedtheTafilettribestohelpthem,butinconsequenceof
stringentordersfromtheSultantheyhadrefusedtodoso,fortheGovernmenthadwarnedthemthatif
theymolesttheFrenchtheSultanwillleadanarmyagainstthemselves,andhassolemnlyassuredthem
thatiftheyrenderobedience,theFrenchwillnotencroachuponthem.Inspite,however,ofthewar
fever,andtheeffervescenceoftheBerbersandtheirkhalifas,Ibelievethatthingswillremaininstatu

quoforsometime,especiallyastheRiffdifficultywithFrancehasbeensettledbythepaymentofan
indemnity.
InanyforecastofthefutureofMoroccotheracequestionmustbulklargely,forthepopulationofthe
empireiscomposedofraceswhichhaveonlyanaccidentalcohesionandacommonbondinIslam,and
betweenwhichaninnateantagonismexists,withdivergentandoftenclashinginterests.Thiscommon
religionis,andmustremain,atoncethebondandthecurseofMorocco,andthemostformidable
obstacleinthewayofitsprogress,chainingallthoughtinthefettersofthe
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seventhcentury,steepingitsvotariesinthemostintolerantbigotryandthenarrowestconceit,and
encouragingafanaticismwhichregardswithapprovalandadmirationthedeliriousexcessesofthe
AissawaandtheHamdusha.
InadditiontothebroadfeaturesofracialdistinctionwhichmarkBerberfromArab,animportant
elementofthepositionisthesharpdivisionofbothracesintotribes.Inactualbutmuchoverlookedfact,
thenativepopulationoftheempireisalmostaltogethertribal,eachtribebeingcloselyweldedby
tradition,intermarriage,custom,commoninterestsinlandsandpasturage,commonwrongs,anda
measureoftribalgovernment.
Thenomadicpastoraltribes,dwellersinbrowntentspitchedincircles,andmigratingatshortintervals
withtheirflocksandherds,arerigidlyruledbytheirsheiksandheadmen.Theagriculturaltribes,living
largelyinbeehivehousesbuiltofreeds,arealsoundertheswayoftheirheadmeninlocalmatters,and
allareentitledtoacertainamountofautonomy.Someofthetribesarelarge,rich,andpowerful,and
successfullydefytheGovernment,beingabletorenderimpossibleeventhepassageofarmedforces
throughagreatextentofcountry.TheBeniHassanandZemmurtribescaneachputfrom5000to6000
horsemenintothefield.Themorepowerfultribes,suchasthetwolatter,arefrequentlyfightingeach
other,andtheirbelligerenthabitsareagreatobstacleinthewayofinternaltrade.Tribalfeelingisvery
strong,andevendwellersinthecitiesarelinkedbyacknowledgedtiesofbloodwiththeirpastoraland
agriculturalbrethren.
MuchasIhadheardandreadofthemisgovernmentofMorocco,Iwasnotpreparedtofindthereality
farworsethanhadbeenreported,orfortheremarkableconsensusofopinionamongArabs,Jews,and
Europeansastotheinfamiesoftheadministrationwithwhichthecountryiscursed.Alikeinthetrading
citiesofthecoastandtheinterior,andintheclustersofreedhutsorbrowntentswhicharethe
permanentormigratorydwellingsoftheagriculturalandpastoralpopulations,thesametalesaretold,
andtoldtruthfully,ofintolerableexactionsatthepleasureofthekadsandtheir

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underlings,oftheabsoluteinsecurityoftheearningsoflabour,oftherestrictionsplacedupontrade,
andtheprohibitionofthemovementofgrainfromdistrictswherethereisanabundantharvesttothose

inwhichabadyieldisproducingseverescarcity;oftheconfiscationofcropsbythekads,oftheright
liberallyexercisedbythemofthrowingtheirenemiesandallmenrichenoughtobeworthrobbinginto
dungeons,andleavingthemtorottodeath;ofthegrowinginsecurityofproperty,ofthecrimesdonein
theSultan'sname,oftheenormousbribesnecessaryforthecarryingoflegalorbusinessmatters
throughfiscalorjudicialhands,andofinnumerableotherwrongs,allofwhichtheycontendhave
increasedinintensitysincethevigoroushandsofMulaiHassanceasedtoholdthereinsofpower,and
sincethepresentSultanwasemancipatedfromwhatwaspracticallycloseimprisonmentbythedeathof
thestrongVizier,whohadbeenallpowerfulsincethedeathofhisfather.Itisclaimedthatsomeof
theseevils,speciallythethrowingofrichandpowerfulmenintodungeons,havebeenaccentuatedsince
elMenebhibecameVizier.
Nopeasantissoignorantastobeunawareofthecircumstanceswhichmakehispositionallbut
intolerable;andeventhewomen,inspiteoftheirtimiditywithforeignmen,makesuchremarksto
themas"TheGovernmentislikeafireburningintous."ItisuselesstodisguisethefactthattheCourt,
richasitis,isalwaysgreedyofmoney,andisabsolutelyunscrupulousastohowitobtainsit.Itsells
officestorichmenwhoarewillingtopayheavilyforlucrativeposts,i.e.,forfairchancesforextortion.It
deprivesthemofofficewithoutrenderingareason,confiscatestheirproperty,andthrowstheminto
dungeons.Itappropriatesthepropertyofeverykadathisdeath.Itexactscostlyofficialpresents,and
hastheprisonreadyforthosewhosegiftsareunsatisfactory.Itallowsrichaspirantstogovernorshipsto
buyouttheactualoccupants,makinghugeprofitsbythetransaction.Thisexampleinthehighest
quarterissocloselyimitatedbyofficialsofallgrades,thatwiththepeople"official"and"robberhave
cometobesynonymousterms.
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Thekads,havingpaidenormouslyforpostswhicharenotsalaried,andbeingauthorisedtocollectthe
Imperialtaxation,tothrowmenintoprisonwhoarelikelytobesqueezeablesponges,andwhohave
veryfairprospectsofendingtheirowndaysindungeons,"makehaywhilethesunshines."Ofevery
threedollarsoflegitimatetaxationitisestimatedthatonlyonereachestheTreasury.Inadditiontothe
largesumsgainedbythisprocessofsubtraction,theymakeforcedrequisitionsandraiseforcedloans,of
whichthelenderseldomreceivesprincipalorinterest.Theirspiesreporttothemanyonewhois
supposedtohavemoneyorgoods;aninterviewisarranged,andthekaddemandsalargeshare.Ifthe
owneriscontumaciousheisthrownintooneofthoseprisons,thehorrorsofwhicharewellknownin
England,eithertillhediesoremergesabrokenandimpoverishedman.Nolistofprisonersiskept.Most
ofthemarenotcriminalsatall,butmenpossessedofpropertywhichmaybesqueezedoutofthem,or
whosefriendsareabletopayaheavyransom.Manyoftheunjustlyincarceratedonlysurviveafew
weeksormonths;somebecomelunatics,andmanymorewouldlosetheirreasonwereitnotforthe
fatalismwhichisafeatureoftheircreed,anabsoluteresignationofthecompletenessofwhichwe
havenoconceptiontowhatisbelievedtobetheDivinewill.
Eachkadhasaprison,frequentlyonhisownpremises.Inaprisoninthecourtyardofthekadofoneof
thecentralprovinces,partofwhichisadungeonformedbyroofingoverastonequarry,Isawninety

fivemencrowdedtogether,manyofthemheavilyshackled,mostofwhomweretherebecausethey
hadpossessionsenoughtoexcitethecupidityofarapacioustyrant.
SincetheEarlandCountessofMeath,MissHanbury,andMr.H.Gurneymadetheirhideousrevelations
ofthehorrorsofMoorishprisons,andtheefforts,chieflyoftheBritishMinister,SirA.Nicolson,have
improvedtheconditionoftheprisonsinTangier,stringentordershavebeenissuedbytheGovernment
totheeffectthatnoEuropeanistobeadmittedintoaMoorishprison.Ithasbeenhopedthatforeign
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representationshaveledtotheabolitionofthefiendishtortureswhichwerepractisedandtocertain
reforms,butIdonotbelievethistobethecase,exceptwhere,asinTangier,foreignofficialsareonthe
alert.
InstancesofthepracticeofbrutalcrueltiesweretoldtomeongoodauthoritywhileIwasinSouthern
Morocco,asoccurringduringmyvisit,andthefollowingadmitsofnoquestion.AhighCourtofficialwas
reported,trulyorfalsely,ashavingspokendisparaginglyoftheSultan,andanorderwassignedforhim
tobethrownintotheMogadorprison.BeforeleavingMoroccocitythepalmoftheculprit'shandwas
deeplygashedwithtwocrosscuts,andastonewasinsertedintheintersection,thehandbeing
afterwardsstitchedupinapieceofrawhide,theshrinkingofwhichproducesgreatagony.Mercifully,
gangrenesupervened,andthevictimdiedontheroadtoMogador.Theinflictionofthispunishment,
eitherbyplacingastoneorsaltandquicklimeinthegashedpalm,rendersthehanduselessforlife.Itis,
however,theprisonsystemasawholewhichdemandsthereprobationofallcivilisednations,andan
emphaticcondemnationofitsinfamies,anditwouldbesuperfluoustowritefurtherofthedarkand
fetiddungeonsinwhichthousandsofinnocentmenliveanddie;ofcoldandhunger;ofstarving,naked
captivesclothedonlywiththeironchainsandcollarswhichfastenthemtothewalls;ofprisonersslowly
donetodeathorsweptoffbytyphustheoffspringofstarvationandindescribablefilth;ofprisoners
forgottenandperishinginchainsanddarkness;ofguiltlessmenpayingforthesoldierswhoseizethem,
forthegaolerswhokeepthem,forthechainstheywear,fortheboltingonoftheirheavyankleirons,
andfortheirlodginginthesefouldens,oftenincurring"prisonbills"whichneithertheynortheir
friendsareabletopay,somewhowouldotherwisegofreeremainingincaptivityforthedebt.
Theresultofgrossinjusticeandofficialrapacityisseeninthepovertyofacountryofgreatnatural
capabilities,inthestagnationofallenterprise,andtheabandonmentofformerindustries.Imention
onlytwoshipbuildingandhorsebreeding.Fewhorsesworthanythingcannowbeboughtin
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Morocco.Themaresareexecrable,andtheirprogenyaresoft,weedy,narrowchested,goosebacked
brutes,withoutstaminaandweakinthehindquartersfornomanwillgotothetroubleandexpense
ofbreedinganimalswhich,iftheyshowanygoodpoints,arepounceduponbythekads.Itisoutofthe
universalpracticeofofficialrobberyandtherapacityofaCourtwhich,undertheyoungSultan,gives
itselftofrivolousexpenditureoncostlytrifles*thatthewellknownsystemof"protection"hasgrown
up,andatthistimeitmaybesafelyassumedthat,wheneveraMoorismakingmoneyintradeorby

otherlegitimatemeans,andisnotafraidtokeepalargestockofexpensivegoods,ridevaluablemules,
makefrequentpurchasesforhisharem,andlivecomfortably,hehas"protectionpapers,"whichhave
beengrantedhimbyaEuropeanPowerorbyBrazilorAmerica.Toprocuresuchpapers,whichprotect
themfromtheinfamousrapacityoftheirownadministration,andsecuretothemsomeoftherights
possessedbythesubjectsofthePowersissuingthem,Moorswilldoalmostanything.Franceisusing
thisfacttostrengthenherinfluenceinMorocco.IntheearlypartofJunethenorthernroadsare
throngedwithharvestersontheirwaytoreaptheharvestsofAlgeriaandTunis.Anumberofthesemen
annuallyenlistintheFrencharmyforatime,attheexpirationofwhichtheyreceive"protection
papers,"andFrance,bythismethod,isaccumulatingadrilledforceinMorocco.
Projectsofreformaretalkedabout,morewiththeviewofdisarmingEnglishcriticismandofdepriving
thePowersofaplausibleexcuseforinterventionintheinternalaffairsoftheempirethanwithany
intentionofimprovingtheconditionofthepeople.Itmustberememberedbythesanguinethatall
Moorishofficials,andspeciallythemanwhoatpresentisallpowerful,have"vestedinterests"inthings
astheyare,i.e.,in

*AmongthesemaybeclassedtwophotographiccamerasjustmadeforhisMajestybyMessrs.Adams&Co.,ofCharingCross
Road,theonecosting2000guineas,inwhicheveryparticleofmetalis18caratgold,theothercosting900,inwhichthemetal
workissolidsilver,theactualinstrumentsbeingsimplyAdams'wellknown"DeLuxe"cameras.
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sustaininginfamiesofadministrationwhicharewithoutaparallelonearth,andthattheyoungSultanis
altogetherintheirpower,notoneoftheinfluenceswhichsurroundhim,exceptthatofKadSirHarry
Maclean,beinginfavourofrighteousness.Thefollowingarethemostnoteworthyfeaturesofthe
reformswhichhavebeensuggested.
Theideaistobeginwithanexperimentintwoprovinces,byappointingasufficientlysalariedgovernor
toeachforoneyear,who,ifsuccessful,istobeeligibleforreappointment.Suchgovernorsareto
collecttaxesandgivereceiptsforthem,keepingcounterfoilsofallsumsreceived.Theyaretobe
responsiblefortheadministrationofjusticeandforthegoodorderoftheirdistricts,andaretocompel
thepeopletocultivatealllandwithintheirboundaries.Itissuggestedthatifthepovertyofthe
peasantryrendersthisimpossible,fundsforthepurposeshallbeadvancedbytheGovernmenton
conditionthatitreceivesonehalfofthecrop.GovernorsaretofurnishtheGovernmentwithlistsof
prisoners,andparticularsofeachcase.InspectorsappointedbytheCourtaretovisittheexperimental
districtsannuallyandaretofurnishreports,givingthepopulationofvillages,theextentofvillageland
undercultivation,thenumberofcattle,thestateoftheprisons,andcomplaintsmadebythepeople.A
duplicateofthisreportistobefurnishedtotheheadsoftribes,andanyinaccuracywill,uponthe
evidenceoftwelveelders,besufficienttoleadtoproceedingsagainsttheinspector.Anykad,inspector,
orotherofficialtamperingwiththeadministrationofjustice,ortakingbribes,istobeliableto2000
lashesortenyearsimprisonment!Thepracticeofonekadbuyingoutanotheristobeabolished.In
addition,itissuggestedthatthecountrybesuppliedwithroads,bridges,andtelegraphs;thatthearmy

bereorganisedandmadestrongenoughtosupporttheSultan'sauthority;thatforeignresidentsbear
theirfairshareoftaxation,andthatmixedtribunalsbeinstitutedforthetrialofEuropeancriminals.
Itwillbeobvioustothosewhoknowthesystemofgovernment,thatthisprojectofreformleavesthe
worstevilsuntouched.
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TherecanbenorealremedyforthewoesofMoroccowhichdoesnotlay"theaxetotherootofthe
tree,"i.e.,totheirresponsiblepoweroftheCourt,andwhichdoesnotaimatthedestructionofthe
presentaccursedsystemofmaladministration,rootandbranch.Asopposedtoofficialismingeneral,
withits"vestedinterests"boundupwithcorruption,thereisbutonemanwhorunsstraight,andwho
undoubtedlydesiresreformandthegoodofthepeopleKad,SirH.deVereMaclean,fortwentyfive
yearsinstructorofinfantrytotheMoorisharmy.Hischarmingpersonalityhaswontheaffectionofthe
Sultan,andsuchinfluenceashehasisinfavourofreform;butontheothersidearepowerfulofficials,
vestedinterests,tradition,custom,ancientgroovesofmisgovernmentwhichhavethesanctityof
antiquity,andatotallackofhonestmen.Moroccocanneverbereformedfromwithin,andanymeasure
ofameliorationofherdisgracefulanddeplorableconditionmustbecarriedoutbymenbroughtupin
otherschoolsthanthoseofMoorishtradition.
ItisquitepossiblethattheMoorishEnvoy,theGrandVizier,elMenebhi,mayhavebeeninducedwhile
inEnglandtopromisecertainreforms.Powerfulintriguesagainsthimweremadeinhisabsence,andhis
returnwasonlyjustintimetoaverthisdownfall.TherearenowtwopartiesatCourt,ledrespectivelyby
elMenebhiandelGharnit,theactingVizierduringtheEnvoy'sabsence,andthesesharetheprincipal
posts.Probably,ifitbeagenuineconditionofthings,elMenebhiwillnotbelonginweedingouthis
opponents,whenhewillhaveachanceofshowingthestuffheismadeof.Itmay,however,bemerelya
situationdesignedlycontrivedtoaffordplausiblereasonsfornotcarryingoutanyreformswhichmay
havebeenurgeduponhiminEurope.
ISABELLAL.BISHOP.