Morocco

(mo-rokko,) an extensive empire of N.W. Africa, bet. N. Lat. 28°-36°, and W. Lon. 2° 15′-11°-40'. It comprises the 4 territories or pro vs. of Fez, Morocco, Suse, and Tafilet, each of which are subdivided into 33 di sts., governed by a " Caid." M. has for its N.boundary the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean n;; E., Algeria; S.E. and S., the Great Desert of Sahara; and W. the Atlantic Ocean, along which it has a coastline of 600 m. Area, 219,390 sq. m. The Mt. Atlas chain intersects the country in a direction from E. to S., its highest point, Mt. Milts in, attaining a height of 11,400 feet above the sea. With this exception, the surface of M. is very generally level, with plains of unsurpa ed fertility as regards soil. The Sebu is the pp. river. E. of the Atlas range, the land opens out upon the desert, and is hot, arid, and sterile. Among the chief products of the country are wheat, barley, and maize; also cotton, tobacco, and hemp; among fruits, the fig, almond, pomegranate, lemon, orange, and date are common. Antimony, iron, copper, lead, tin, are found in considerable quantities, together with some gold and silver. Wool is very plentiful. Goats afford another very valuable commodity, their skins supplying that leather which, under the name of " Morocco," is so noted for its pliancy, softne , and beauty. M. has 3 caps., of which Fez, the chief residence of the Sultan, is the principal; the others are Morocco, the ancient metropolis, and Mequinez. The chief seaports are Tangier and Mogador, and the exports comprise cotton, tobacco, hemp, wool, carpets, saddlery, hides, leather, grain, cattle, and sheep. M. has among her pop. a number of semi-independent nomad tribes who are ruled by their own chiefs, and scarcely acknowledge the authority of the Sultan. The Jews are numerous, especially in the cities. The army consists of bet. 15,000 and 20,000 men, one-half of whom are negroes; besides & sort of militia force, aggregating some 80,000 men. Pop. estim. at 8,500,000. [s. 618]