MOROCCO

[s. 526] : A Mohammedan empire in the N. W. of Africa, bounded north and west by the Mediterranean and Atlantic, and east by a conventional line separating it from Algeria. It extends southward into the desert to a greater or le extent, according to the activity and power of the reigning Sultan. Its area can only be estimated and is probably for the most time as much as 220,000 square miles; the population, also very indeterminate from year to year, is perhaps 6,000,000. It consists of three states, subject to the Sultan-Sheriff: the kingdoms of Fez, in the north, Morocco in the southwest, and the oasis of Tafilet, besides several semi-independent tribal territories of the desert. The Atlas (Deren) range, from 4,000 to 13,000 feet, traverses the country from northeast to southwest. For the rest, the surface is occupied by rolling steppes diversified by mountain spurs, and merging into the lowlands of the Sahara and the Atlantic shores. The rainfall is greater than that of the other Mauri tan i an states, as 609 also the number and size of the rivers, none of -which, however, is capable of floating any but very light crafts. The flora is that of Southern Europe, most resembling that of Spain. The same may be said of the animals, except the lion, the panther, and the ostrich, not yet extinct The climate is mild, equable and in Morocco. very salubrious. The government is an Oriental despotism, cruel and barbarous, and the country There are no proper is infested by lawle bands. means of transportation in the interior, which is largely unknown to Europe ans; agriculture is of the most primitive kind, and the rich resources In Tangier of the country remain undeveloped. there are about 5,000 Europe ans and other Christian residents, engaged in trade for the most part, and, outside of Tangier, not 1,000 can be found in all of the rest of the empire. The Berbers, original inhabitants of the country, form two-thirds of the population, and are divided into several groups, as the Kabyles of the north, the Shell a has of the southern slopes of the Upper Atlas range, the Haratins of the south. The Shellaha language is that most extensively spoken. Arabic is also largely diffused, especially The Arabs are called Moors in the in the north. towns, where they form the majority of the population. The Jews, still calling themselves “exiles from Castile,” number over 100,000. They The speak Spanish and to some extent Arabic. negro population, pure and half-caste, are constantly recruited by the slave trade with the Sudan. Mohammedanism is the religion of the Morocco ranks next to Arabia in the empire. Muslim mind as an orthodox and noble country; and the Sultan-Sheriff is to the Western Mohammedans what the Turkish Sultan is to those of the East. There is great and conscientious intolerance toward all who are not of the state religion, and travel in the interior of the land is impo ible for this reason. Mi ions in Morocco have been addre ed to The North Africa Mi ion, the Jews in the main. the Gospel Mi ionary Union, the Southern Morocco Mi ion, and the PB, however, are endeavoring to reach the Berbers and other Medical work is here cla es of the population. found an especially effective means of acce to the people. Neverthele , little has been accomplished beyond what one mi ionary calls gathering up the stones” preparatory to seeding the ground. Amicis (E. de), Morocco and its People (translation), London. 1879; Hay (Si J. D.), Morocco and the Moors, London, 1.S96: Grove (Lady), Seventy-one Days Campaigning in Morocco, hoadon, li;02; Canal (J.), Gi/ographie Gilnirale de Maroc Paris, 1902. 527