Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/449

 TUE INHABITANTS OF MAROCOO— THE BERBERS. 867 play the pnrt of ullicfl, entering into treaties with the Emperor on the footing of )M)liticul equality. I^astly muH- of the groupH, such aa the liiata, who hold the hilU on the route between Fez and Tlenicen, maintain no n>lation8 of any «ort with the Government. " They have neither god nor sultan," as it is said, " but only ]K»wdor." They accept no command from sheikh or chief, but act " every man for himself with his gun." Like the Jurjura Kubylcs, the Marocco Berbers regulate all their affairs in the an/a/iz, that is, the jema&, or public assembly. The tribes are merely so many large funiilies, which break readily into fragments, and unite uguin in fresh grou|>8 according to their temporary interests or caprice. Even traditional codes of law are rare amongst the communes, which, as a rule, yield obedience to nothing except the decisions of the assembly when unanimously accepted by the heads of families. Such is the prevailing system of government amongst the tribes occupying the maritime slope of the Atlas. On the opposite side the {xipulutions are more compactly grouped, in order the better to resist the attacks of the Suharian nomads. Here the villages are formally confederated into nations, which by means of delegates act in concert for the common defence. Other tribes, less careless of their autonomy, accept the position of vassals, recognising the supre- macy of a chief, or of some more powerful tribe. Some elect a temporary chief, usually for a year, and as a rule the authority of the sheikhs is always precarious. If wealthy and of good birth, they hold their ground, but even then seldom succeed in neutralising the influence of the assembly, which meets and issuer a sovereign decree on all weighty occasions. The Jews generally serve to maintain commercial relations between the tribes in this universal state of disorganisation. But despised and hated as they are, they might run the risk of being killed at the entrance of every village, were they not protected by the collective will of the commune, or by the pledged word of some influential person. Yet there are tribes which will never admit a Jew, and he has consequently to pass through their territory in disguise, at the imminent peril of his life. The luezrag, or passport, corresponding to the amya in Kabylia, can always be had for a consideration ; but the payment once made, the protector becomes responsible for the life and welfare of his guest. In some cases the mezrag of a rich merchant or of a whole trilx) may be i)urchased for a lifetime ; it then takes the name of dehiltn, or " sacrifice," because it was formerly the custom of the suppliant to immolate a sheep on the threshold of the man whose patronage he sought. By means of these agencies trade might be freely carried on from one end of Marocco to the other, but for certain marauding tribes which recognise no safe- conduct. The hills in the very neighbourhood of Fez are occupied by the Guerwan Berbers, who grant no mezrag, but allow travellers to pass through their territorj- on payment of a heavy sum exacttnl by arnunl force. The Din-Bcllals of the southern sloix) of the Atlas undertake to escort caravans; but if their offer is declined they lie in auibush to plunder the passing convoys. If the travellers are