Strange to say, Mr.
Leyton at last consented to lose his teeth rather than his money.
However, on the merchant's return from the capital to Mogador, to his
surprise, and no doubt to his satisfaction, he found that two ship-loads
of grain had been ordered to be delivered to him by the Emperor, in
compensation for the two teeth which he had had punched out to satisfy
the exigencies of the Empire.
CHAPTER V.
Several visits from the Moors; their ideas on soldiers and payment of
public functionaries. - Mr. Cohen and his opinion on Maroquine Affairs. -
Phlebotomising of Governors, and Ministerial responsibility. - Border
Travels of the Shedma and Hhaha tribes. - How the Emperor enriches
himself by the quarrels of his subjects. - Message from the Emperor
respecting the Anti-Slavery Address. - Difficulties of travelling through
or residing in the Interior. - Use of Knives, and Forks, and Chairs are
signs of Social Progress. - Account of the periodic visit of the Mogador
Merchants to the Emperor in the Southern Capital.
I received several visits from the Moors. As a class of men, they are
far superior in civility and kindness to the Moorish population of
Tangier. So much for the foolish and absurd stories about the place,
which tell us that it is the only city of the Empire in which Christians
can live with safety and comparative comfort. These tales must have been
invented to please the Tangier diplomatists. The contrary is the fact,
for, whilst the Moors of Tangier consist of camel drivers and soldiers,
there are a good number of very respectable native merchants in Mogador;
nevertheless, a large portion of the population is in the pay of
government as militia, to keep in check the tribes of the neighbouring
provinces; but their pay is very small, and most of them do a little
business; many are artizuns and common labourers. As a specimen of their
ordinary conversation, take the following.
_Moors_. - "All the people of Morocco are soldiers; what can the
foreigner do against them? Morocco is one camp, our Sultan is one, we
have one Prophet, and one God."
_Traveller_. - "In our country we do not care to have so many soldiers.
We have fewer than France, and many other countries; but our soldiers do
not work like yours; they are always soldiers, and fight bravely."
_Moors_. - "We don't understand; how wonderful! the French must conquer
you with more soldiers."
_Traveller_. - "We have more ships, and our principal country is an
island; the sea surrounds us, and defends us."
_Moors_. - "How much pay has the Governor of Gibraltar?"
_Traveller_. - "About 20,000 dollars per annum."
_Moors_. - "Too much; why, the Koed of Mogador is obliged, instead of
receiving money, to send the Emperor, at a day's notice, 20, or 30,000
dollars!
