- Case of the French Israelite, Darmon, who was
killed by the Government. - Order of the Government against Europeans
smoking in the streets. - Character of Haj Mousa, Governor of
Mazagran. - Talmudical of a Sousee Jew. - False weights amongst the
Mogador Merchants. - Rumours of war from the North, and levy of
troops. - Bragadocio of the Governor. - Mr. Authoris's opinion on the
state of of the Country. - Moorish opinions on English Abolition. -
European Slavery in Southern Morocco. - Spanish Captives and the London
Ironmongers Company. - Sentiments of Barbary Jews on Slavery.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOL. I.
Interior of a Moorish House
City of Tangier
Port of Mogador
Christian Burial Place
Moorish Cemetery
Nubian Cavalry of Ancient Africa
Wadnoun
VOL. II.
The Snake-Charmer
City of Morocco
Fish found in Hot Springs
Water-Snake
The Aoudad
TRAVELS IN MOROCCO.
CHAPTER I.
Policy of the Court of Morocco. - Its strength. - Diplomatic Intercourse
with England. - Distrust of Europeans. - Commercial Relations.
Morocco is the China of North Africa. The grand political maxim of the
Shereefian Court is, the exclusion of strangers; to look upon all
strangers with distrust and suspicion; and should they, at any time,
attempt to explore the interior of Morocco, or any of the adjacent
counties, to thwart and circumvent their enterprise, is a veritable feat
of statesmanship in the opinion of the Shereefian Court. The
assassination of Mr. Davidson, some years since, is an odious and
enduring stigma on the Moorish Court, notwithstanding the various
efforts which have been made to deny the personal responsibility of the
Emperor in that transaction.
The Prince de Joinville was once going to open Morocco, as we opened
China; but bullets and shot which his Royal Highness showered upon
Tangier and Mogador, only closed faster the approaches and routes of
this well-guarded empire - only more hermetically sealed the capitals of
Fez and Morocco against the prying or morbid curiosity of the tourist,
or the mappings and measurings of the political spy. The striking
anecdote, illustrating the exclusive policy of the Maroquine Court, is
familiar to all who have read the history of the Moorish Sultans of the
Mugreb. Years ago, a European squadron threatened to bombard Tangier,
unless their demands were instantly satisfied; and the then reigning
Sultan sent down from Fez this imperial message:
"How much will the enemy give me if I myself burn to ashes my
well-beloved city of Tangier? Tell the enemy, O governor of the mighty
city of Tangier, that I can reduce this self-same city to a heap of
smoking ruins, at a much cheaper rate than he can, with all his ships,
his warlike machines, and his fighting men."
The strength of Morocco lies in her internal cities, her inland
population, and the natural difficulties of her territory; about her
coast she cares little; but the French did not find this out till after
their bombardments. The unwonted discovery led them afterwards to boast
that they had at length opened Morocco by the other and opposite system
of a pacific mission.
