Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/467

 MEQUINEZ— VOIJJBILI& 881 the houses are cleaner inside. The Jews here, as elsewhere, monopolise niort of the trade, but are obliged to conceal their wealth in order to ewaix' from the exactions of their rulers. Fez, or the " Ilutchet," has been so named, soys Ibu-Hatuta, from a stone hatchet discoveretl in a fissure of the soil, when the city was founded in the year 793. This was probably a stone weajxin dating from pre-historic times, when the people were troglodytes, as they partly still are. In the midst of the surrounding gardens numerous caves are found, in which the natives take refuge like wild beastn in their dens. According to local tradition and the statements of mcditcval writers, Fez had at one time a |x)pulation of four hundred thousand souls, dwelling in ninety thousand houses. Of its 785 mosques not more than IJJO now remain, and some of these are abandoned. Two are regarded as specially sacred, almost as holy as the sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina. These are the mosques of Mulai I)ri« and Karawin, the latter possessing a famous library and a zawya frequented by numerous students from Marocco and Algeria, who here study theology, juris- prudence, and astronomy, in accordance with the principles handed down fi-om the time of the Almovarides, or " marabuts." Since that epoch Fez has been in a state of decadence, notwithstanding the numerous immigrants exjx'lled fnjm iS|>ain. These " Andalusian Moors " were formerly powerful enough to constitute an independent faction which commanded half the city. As a trading place Fez has always held a foremost position, its commercial relations bt>ing chiefly with Tangier, Marrakesh, Rbat, and Tlemcen. The local industries, grouped in several guilds, jealous preservers of their traditions and privileges, display a certain originality in weaving and embroidery, in leather- dressing, and the manufacture of earthenware, of enamelled vases, and damascened arms. Its sumptuous garments — yellow for the Mussulmans, black for the Jews, red for the women — find a ready sale throughout the empire. To its other industries has recently been added that of brandy, distilled from dates, figs, and other fruits. The surrounding district, which contains rich deposits of salt, besides iron ores and sulphur springs, is doubly holy, thanks to the efficacy of its healing waters and the shrines of " saints " crowning the neighbouring heights. South of Fez the affluents of the Upper Sebu water the gardens of several small towns and hamlets, amongst which is the delightful town of Sr/ru, on the frontier of the territory of the Ait-Yussi Berber tribe. While Fez betrays every sign of decadence, Sefru, lying in one of the richest districts of Mauritania, presents the aspect of the greatest prosperity. Its wooded hills yield excellent timber, and its fertile plains supply vast quantities of olives, lemons, cherries, grapes for the local consumption and for export. Excellent wines are here produced at a very low price. MeQUINEZ — VOLUBILIS. Meknen or Mikimm, the Mequinez of the Spaniards, has often been called the " Versailles of Marocco." Lying 86 miles west of Fez, it is still comprisetl within the Sebu basin, its district being watered by affluents of the "NVed Rdem, which join the main stream in its lower course. It covers a considerable space enclosed