I received several visits from the Moors.  As a class of men, they are far superior in civility and kindness to the Moorish population of Tangier.  So much for the foolish and absurd stories about the place, which tell us that it is the only city of the Empire in which Christians can live with safety and comparative comfort.  These tales must have been invented to please the Tangier diplomatists.  The contrary is the fact, for, whilst the Moors of Tangier consist of camel drivers and soldiers, there are a good number of very respectable native merchants in Mogador; nevertheless, a large portion of the population is in the pay of government as militia, to keep in check the tribes of the neighbouring provinces; but their pay is very small, and most of them do a little business; many are artizuns and common labourers.  As a specimen of their ordinary conversation, take the following.

Moors.—­“All the people of Morocco are soldiers; what can the foreigner do against them?  Morocco is one camp, our Sultan is one, we have one Prophet, and one God.”

Traveller.—­“In our country we do not care to have so many soldiers.  We have fewer than France, and many other countries; but our soldiers do not work like yours; they are always soldiers, and fight bravely.”

Moors.—­“We don’t understand; how wonderful! the French must conquer you with more soldiers.”

Traveller.—­“We have more ships, and our principal country is an island; the sea surrounds us, and defends us.”

Moors.—­“How much pay has the Governor of Gibraltar?”

Traveller.—­“About 20,000 dollars per annum.”

Moors.—­“Too much; why, the Koed of Mogador is obliged, instead of receiving money, to send the Emperor, at a day’s notice, 20, or 30,000 dollars! or if he does not pay, he is sent to prison at once; his head is not the value of a slave’s.”

It appears that the old governor (who is now in Morocco) positively refuses any salary or presents; his Excellency is a man of some small property, and finds this plan answers best.  He will not be fattened and bled as the Emperor treats other governors.  He politely hinted this to the Emperor when he accepted office; since then, he has resolutely refused all presents from the merchants, so that the Emperor has no excuse whatever for bleeding him under the pretext that he is afflicted with a plethora, from his exactions on the people.  The moneys referred to by the Moors are the custom dues, which are collected by a separate department, and transmitted direct, to the Emperor.