Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/28

* MOROCCO. 16 MOROCCO. AowcrLTiRE. Agriculture and stock-raising are almost the only iuduslrii-s. The alluvial soil of tile wide plains of tUe west and east is espe- cially adapted to the cultivation of cereals, and could be brought to a high degree of productive- ness by the application of modern agricultural methods. Uut the strict prohibition of the ex- portation of grain prevents the natives from utilizing the natural resources of the country and large tracts of fertile land remain idle. Agriculture is also greatly hindered by the gen- eral misrule prevailing in the country, and espe- cially tiie corrupt system of ta.xation. The chief agricultural products, besides wheat, barley, and other cereals, arc olives, dates, oranges, (igs, and other kinds of southern fruit, as well as numer- ous varieties of vegetables. Cotton and sugar- cane, once extensively cultivated, have now en- tirely disappeared, and the cultivation of tobacco is greatly hindered by the adverse sentiment to- ward its use. The manufacturing industries of Morocco are chiefly devoted to the production of leather, pottery, textiles, including carpets, metal goods of eop|)er and brass, and silver filigree. Fezes are chielly imported from Austria. CoMMKKCK. The chief exports are beans, skins and hides, fruits, olive oil, and wool. The ex- port of grain, horses, cattle, and many other articles is forbidden. Imports include metal products, cotton, sugar, and tea. Purchases of clothing stulTs and metal wares from Europe are constantly increasing. The commerce with Eu- rope is carried on through the ports of Tan- gier, Tetuan. Larash, Kabat. Mogador, Ma- zagaii, and Sati. all of theiii. with the exception of Tetuan, situated on the .tlantic. Fez in the north and the city of Morocco in the south arc the centres of the interior caravan trade. The commercial statistics of the country are very incomplete, but from the partial returns of most of the Moroccan ports it is estimated that the imports amount to about .$6,000,000 and the ex|K>rts to about .$5,000,000 a year. The trade would be much smaller were it not that the Euro- pean I'owers have used their joint influence to keep the Atlantic ports open to commerce. Great Britain leads in the trade, with Kranee. Germany, Belgium, and Spain following in the order named. As wagon roads and bridges are unknown, com- modities can be move<l only at large expense. GovKR.VMENT. In its form of government Mo- rocco presents an example of perfect absolutism. The Sultan is in unrestricted control of both the secular and the religions .ilTairs, but his Cabinet of six ministers has considerable influence in the management of the State. The country is divided into provinces administered by Governors, or "Kaids," whose sway is as absolute in the re- Bpectivc provinces as that of the Sultan. In some of these provinces, particularly among the Rif Mountains of the Mediterranean coast, the rule of the Sultan is hardly recognized. The revenue (for which no reliable statistics are available) is ilerived from monopolies, taxes, tithes, and gifts. The receipts from the tariti on foreign I'oininerce iit the seaports are from $1,. 500.000 to .$2,000,000 a year. Taxes are col- lected without any system or control, each tax- gatherer being obliged to deliver a certain sum regardless of the amount nctiially collected. .Any reluctance to pay taxes is imunlly followed by bloody punitive expeditions not infrequently un- der the personal direction of the Sultan. . im- partial and well-regulated system of administra- tion of justice is naturally out of tlic ipu'stion. The evidence of a Jew or a Clirisliau against a Mohammedan is considered invalid by the native judges. I'ersons who are under the protection of foreign consuls are exempti'd from the juris- diction of native judges. The army of the Sultan consists of about 12.000 drilled men, of whom about 10,000 are infantry. Most of them are usually stationed at that one of the three cajiitals ( I'Vz. Jlorocco. or Mekinez) where the fsultan is in residence; liluropean ollicers are used to drill the army. The militia forces number about 18,000 men, and the number of men avail- able in case of emergency is estimated at about 40,000. PopiLATiON. The number of inhabitants is believed to be about 8.000.000. The iioiiula- tion consists of Berbers (about 4.000,000), Arabs and Moors (about .3.(i00.000 ) . Jews (about 150.- 000), and negroes and mixed blood (about 250,- 000). The number of Europeans is between 4000 and 5000. The natives, with the exception of the .lews, are !Moliaiiiiuedans of the most fanatical stripe. The capitals are Fez ( 140.000 esti- mated). Morocco (50.000). and Mekinez (25.- 000). The population of Tangier, an important commercial ccntw and the seat of the foreign consuls, is estimated at .30.000. Hi.STOKV. Morocco was the Roman Province, of Mauretania Tingitana, and shared in the vicis- situdes of the other Roman provinces of Northern Africa during the decline of the Kmjiire. It was reached by the tide of Arabian Mohaniniedan in- vasion in (ins and was reiluced to submission and to Molianimedanism after a spirited resist- ance. Its people participated in the conquest of Spain. For a number of centuries its history is the rise and fall of successive dynasties, of which the most celebrated were the Almoraviiles and the Almohades (qq.v.), who passed over into Spain and established their power in that coun- try. In fact, during the later Jliddle .Ages Mo- rocco was the source whence new reenforcements were constantly drawn for the declining power of the Moors in Spain. After the fall of (Jrauada in 1402 the population of Morocco was reenforced by Moors expelled from the Peninsula. In 1546 ttie sherifs of Tafilelt conquered both Morocco proper and Fez. and united the whole country under one government. This is the present ruling dynasty, chiiniing direct descent from .Mi. son- in-law of Mohammed. In the sixteenth century Morocco was compelled to meet attacks by Spain and Portugal. In 1578 Sebastian. King of Portugal, was defeated and slain in the battle of Kasr-el-Ki'bir ( .lcaz;uquivir) . In the middle of the seventeenth century the Empire of Morocco embraced part of the present Algeria, and extended south as far as Guinea. From that time, however, its decline has been almost unchecked. Morocco has had as little as possible to do with the outside world. .Since the com- mencement of the nineteenth century the rebel- lion of the wild mountain tribes, the wars of the French in .Mgiria. and difTiculties with foreign States, caused by the aggressions of (he Rif pirates, have occupied the attention of the sul- tans. In 1S14. under pressure from the Christian nations, the slavery of Christians was abolished; and in 1817 piracy was prohibited throughout Morocco. The Sultan .Miderrahinan. having espoused the cause of .Abd-el-Kader. sustained a