Travels in Morocco, Volume 1. eBook

James Richardson (explorer of the Sahara)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 175 pages of information about Travels in Morocco, Volume 1..

Travels in Morocco, Volume 1. eBook

James Richardson (explorer of the Sahara)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 175 pages of information about Travels in Morocco, Volume 1..
and property of shipwrecked vessels.  But I do not think I have heard worse cases of Moorish wreckers, than those which have happened not very many years ago on the French and English coasts.  Some of my readers will recollect the case of an Indiaman wrecked off the coast of France, when poor ladies in a state of suspended animation, had their fingers cut off to get possession of their diamond-rings.  During my stay at Mogador, a courier arrived from Sous, bringing the news of some Christians being wrecked off the coast, A Jew had purchased one poor fellow from the Arabs for two camels.  Two others were dead, their bodies cast upon the inhospitable beach by the Atlantic surge, where they lay unburied, to be mangled by the wild tribes, or to feed the hungry hyaena.

Some of the merchants came hither from the capital; amongst the rest, Mr. and Mrs. Elton, they, as well as others, brought a favourable account of the Emperor and his ministers, and lauded very much the commercial policy of the governor of Mogador.  Moderation, it is said, is the characteristic of the court’s proceedings towards the merchants.  Trade was not very brisk, it being the rainy season, when the Arabs are occupied with sowing the ground; the busy time is from September to January.

The produce sold at that time was simply that which is left of the past season, having been kept back with the object of getting a better price for it.  Gum is brought in great quantities for exportation.  An immense quantity of sugar is imported, a third of which is loaf beet-root sugar brought from Marseilles.

Mr. Phillips came to me, to beg ten thousand pardons for having only fowls for dinner.  One morning two bullocks were killed by the Jews, but not “according to the Law,” and the greater part of the Jews that day would have to go without meat.  On these occasions, the Jews sell their meat to the Moors and Christians at a reduced price.  Phillips observed, “I am obliged to eat meat according to the Law, or I should have no peace of my life.”

A good many people were affected by colds, but the climate of Mogador is reckoned very good.  All the year round there is not much variation; N.W. and N.E. winds bring cold in winter, and cool refreshing breezes in summer.  There was not a single medical man in Mogador, although there were some fifty Europeans, including Jews.  Some years ago a clever young man was practising here.  For one year, each European paid his share of salary; but alas! those whom God blessed with good health, refused to pay their quota to the support of a physician for their sickly neighbours, consequently, every European’s life was in the greatest danger, should a serious accident occur to them.  With regard to money, they would prefer a broken leg all their life time to paying five pounds to have it set.  The consuls of Tangier subscribe for a resident physician.

[Illustration.]

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Travels in Morocco, Volume 1. from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.