Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/471

 8LA-RUAT. 888 at that time occupying Mehdiya. A huiidrcnl yearn later the Spaniard* were more fortunate, but in 1081 they wore cum|H>lle<l in their turn to evacuate the fortreit. Since then no niilitury works guard the mouth of the river, which is almost com- pletely choked with sands. Sla — Rbat. All the trade of the country has betm diverted to the twin towns of Sla {SaiCt S(tle/i) and Mat (liafHtf), nituuted at the mouth of the Hu-Uegnig, some 18 miles to the south-west. Sla, which stands on the right bunk, preserves some traces of Portuguese architecture, but is not an old place, although bearing the name of the rha'uician city of Sa/a, which stood on the opposite bunk, and which was replaced by the Roman colony of Chella. The inhabitants are mostly Andalusian Moors, who have kept alive the traditional hatred of their Christian persecutors Till recently, no non-'Mussulmun traveller was permitted to pass the night in Sla, and even during the day Christians and Jews avoided the place. Hence the trtde and industries of the district have gravitated to Rbut, on the left bank, which has almost become a Eurojx'un seaport. Above the other buildings rises a graceful minaret, whose fonn, height, and style of ornamentation recall the famous Giralda of Seville. According to Arab tradition, both of these towers, as well as the Kutubia of Marocco, were constructed at the same eixx:h by Christian slaves, under the direction of the same architect. The Rbut women, heirs of the old purple- dyers who had made the name of Chella famous throughout the Roman world, still weave woollen carpets and rugs of durable texture, but the colours of which soon fade. Owing to its dangerous bur, exiwsed to the Atlantic surf, Rbat does little trade with Europe, regard being hud to the imi)ortunce of the twin towns and of the river basin, of which they are the natural outjwrts. Vessels are often obliged to ride at anchor in the open roadstead, unable to land their goods or jNissengers, or else pass on to Cusabluncu. Rlwit bus often been bt^ieged l)v the indeix^ndent Berber tribea of the surrounding district, and to them must doubtless also be attributed the destruction of the aqueduct by which it was formerly supplied with water. The kasbah, which is strongly fortified, mounts over a hundred and sixty guns, directed both seawards and against these marauders. In it is preservetl the " holy key " of the city of Cordova, which during the last war with S]Niin was publicly exposed for several days. Recently, the neighbouring Beni-IIasscm (Beni-IIassan) tribe has been com- pelled to recognise the Sultan's authority, and to allow it« territory to be divided into sixteen sections, whose respective chiefs are resjwnsible for public order. But further east the Zemmur and Zuian Berbers are absolutely inde|iendent, allying themselves with the Sultan on a footing of equality. Jointly with a few tribes of less importance, they occupy the whole sjMice from the coast to the Atlas, and frt>ra Meknes southwards to the Um-er-Rbia basin. This regi<m, which is at least 10,000 square miles in extent, is clostxl to all subjects of the central Government unpro- vided with safe-conducts. The Zeinmurs, occupying an extremely fertile district, are partly engaged in agriculture. But the Zaians, who are the most powerful