Travels in Morocco

by the late James Richardson,

Author of “A Mission to Central Africa,” “Travels in the Desert of Sahara,” &c.

Edited by his Widow.

In two volumes.

Table of Contents

VOLUME I.

INTRODUCTION.

PREFACE.

CHAPTER I.

Policy of the Court of Morocco. — Its strength. — Diplomatic Intercourse with England. — Distrust of Europeans. — Commercial Relations.

CHAPTER II.

Arrival at Tangier. — Moorish Pilgrims in Cordova. — Address of the Anti–Slavery Society. — Mr. D. Hay, British Consul. — Institut d’Afrique. — Conveyance of Eunuchs in vessels under the French Flag. — Franco–Moorish Politics. — Corn Monopolies in Morocco. — Love and veneration for the English name. — Celebration of the Ayd–Kebir, great festival. Value of Money in Morocco. — Juvenile Strolling Singer. — General account of the city of Tangier. — Intercourse between the Moorish Emperor and the Foreign Consuls. — Cockney sportsmen, — The degrading of high Moorish Functionaries. — How we smuggle Cattle from Tangier to Gibraltar. — The Blood-letting of plethoric Placemen.

CHAPTER III.

The Posada. — Ingles and Benoliel. — Amulets for successful parturition. — Visits of a Moorish Taleb and a Berber. — Three Sundays during a week in Barbary. — M. Rey’s account of the Empire of Morocco. — The Government Auctioneer gives an account of Slavery and the Slave Trade in Morocco. — Benoliel as English Cicerone. — Departure from Tangier to Gibraltar. — How I lost my fine green broadcloth. — Mr. Frenerry’s opinion of Maroquine Affairs.

CHAPTER IV.

Departure from Gibraltar to Mogador. — The Straits. — Genoese Sailors. — Trade-wind Hurricanes en the Atlantic Coast of Morocco. — Difficulties of entering the Port of Mogador. — Bad provisioning of Foreign Merchantmen. — The present Representative of the once far-famed and dreaded Rovers. — Disembarkation at Mogador. — Mr. Phillips, Captain of the Port — Rumours amongst the People about my Mission. — Visit to the Cemeteries. — Maroquine Wreckers. — Health of the inhabitants of Mogador. — Moorish Cavaliers “playing at powder” composed of the ancient Nuraidians. — The Barb. — The Life Guards of the Moorish Emperor. — Martial character of the Negro. — Some account of the Black Corps of the Shereefs. — Orthodoxy of the Shereefs, and illustrative anecdotes of the various Emperors.

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.

CHAPTER VI.

Influence of French Consuls. — Arrival of the Governor of Mogador from the Capital; he brings an order to imprison the late Governor; his character, and mode of administering affairs. — Statue of a Negress at the bottom of a well. — Spanish Renegades. — Various Wedding Festivals of Jews. — Frequent Fetes and Feastings amongst the Jewish population of Morocco. — Scripture Illustration, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh!” — Jewish Renegades. — How far women have souls. — Infrequency of Suicides.

CHAPTER VII.

Interview with the Governor of Mogador, on the Address of the Anti–Slavery Society. — Day and night side of the Mission Adventure. — Phillips’ application to be allowed to stand with his “shoes on” before the Shereefian presence. — Case of the French Israelite, Dannon, 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 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.

VOLUME II.

CHAPTER I.

The Mogador Jewesses. — Disputes between the Jew and the Moor. — Melancholy Scenes. — The Jews of the Atlas. — Their Religion. — Beautiful Women. — The Four Wives. — Statues discovered. — Discrepancy of age of married people. — Young and frail fair ones. — Superstition respecting Salt. — White Brandy. — Ludicrous Anecdote.

CHAPTER II.

The Maroquine dynasties. — Family of the Shereefian Monarchs. — Personal appearances and character of Muley Abd Errahman. — Refutation of the charge of human sacrifices against the Moorish Princes. — Genealogy of the reigning dynasty of Morocco. — The tyraufc Yezeed, (half Irish). — Muley Suleiman, the “The Shereeff of Shereefs.” — Diplomatic relations of the Emperor of Morocco with European Powers. — Muley Ismael enamoured with the French Princess de Conti. — Rival diplomacy of France and England near the Maroquine Court. — Mr. Hay’s correspondence with this Court on the Slave-trade. — Treaties between Great Britain and Morocco; how defective and requiring amendment. — Unwritten engagements.

CHAPTER III.

The two different aspects by which the strength and resources of the Empire of Morocco may be viewed or estimated. — Native appellation of Morocco. — Geographical limits of this country. — Historical review of the inhabitants of North Africa, and the manner in which this region was successively peopled and conquered. — The distinct varieties of the human race, as found in Morocco. — Nature of the soil and climate of this country. — Derem, or the Atlas chain of mountains. — Natural products. — The Shebbel, or Barbary salmon; different characters of exports of the Northern and Southern provinces. — The Elæonderron Argan. — Various trees and plants. — Mines. — The Sherb–Errech, or Desert-horse.

CHAPTER IV.

Division of Morocco into kingdoms or States, and zones or regions. — Description of the towns and cities on the Maroquine coasts of the Mediterranean and Atlantic waters. — The Zafarine Isles. — Melilla. — Alhucemas. — Penon de Velez. — Tegaza. — Provinces of Rif and Garet. — Tetouan. — Ceuta. — Arzila. — El Araish. — Mehedia. — Salee. — Rabat. — Fidallah. — Dar-el-Beidah. — Azamour. — Mazagran. — Saffee. — Waladia.

CHAPTER V.

Description of the Imperial Cities or Capitals of the Empire. — El–Kesar. — Mequinez. — Fez. — Morocco. — The province of Tafilett, the birth-place of the present dynasty of the Shereefs.

CHAPTER VI.

Description of the towns and cities of the Interior, and those of the Kingdom of Fez. — Seisouan. — Wazen. — Zawiat. — Muley Dris. — Sofru. — Dubdu. — Taza. — Oushdah. — Agla. — Nakbila. — Meshra. — Khaluf. — The Places distinguished in. Morocco, including Sous, Draka, and Tafilett. — Tefza. — Pitideb. — Ghuer. — Tyijet. — Bulawan. — Soubeit — Meramer. — El–Medina. — Tagodast. — Dimenet. — Aghmat. — Fronga. — Tedmest. — Tekonlet. — Tesegdelt. — Tagawost. — Tedsi Beneali. — Beni Sabih. — Tatta and Akka. — Mesah or Assah. — Talent. — Shtouka. — General observations on the statistics of population. — The Maroquine Sahara.

CHAPTER VII.

London Jew-boys. — Excursion to the Emperor’s garden, and the Argan Forests. — Another interview with the Governor of Mogador on the Anti–Slavery Address. — Opinion of the Moors on the Abolition of Slavery.

CHAPTER VIII.

El–Jereed, the Country of Dates. — Its hard soil. — Salt Lake. Its vast extent. — Beautiful Palm-trees. — The Dates, a staple article of Food. — Some Account of the Date–Palm. — Made of Culture. — Delicious Beverage. — Tapping the Palm. — Meal formed from the Dates. — Baskets made of the Branches of the Tree. — Poetry of the Palm. — Its Irrigation. — Palm–Groves. — Collection of Tribute by the “Bey of the Camp.”

CHAPTER IX.

Tour in the Jereed of Captain Balfour and Mr. Reade. — Sidi Mohammed. — Plain of Manouba. — Tunis. — Tfeefleeah. — The Bastinado. — Turkish Infantry. — Kairwan. — Sidi Amour Abeda. — Saints. — A French Spy — Administration of Justice. — The Bey’s presents. — The Hobara. — Ghafsa. Hot streams containing Fish. — Snakes. — Incantation. — Moorish Village.

CHAPTER X.

Toser. — The Bey’s Palace. — Blue Doves. — The town described. — Industry of the People. — Sheikh Tahid imprisoned and punished. — Leghorn. — The Boo-habeeba. — A Domestic Picture. — The Bey’s Diversions. — The Bastinado. — Concealed Treasure. — Nefta. — The Two Saints. — Departure of Santa Maria. — Snake-charmers. — Wedyen. — Deer Stalking. — Splendid view of the Sahara. — Revolting Acts. — Qhortabah. — Ghafsa. — Byrlafee. — Mortality among the Camels — Aqueduct. — Remains of Udina. — Arrival at Tunis. — The Boab’s Wives. — Curiosities. — Tribute Collected. — Author takes leave of the Governor of Mogador, and embarks for England. — Rough Weather. — Arrival in London.

APPENDIX.

FOOTNOTES

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