MOROCCO.

(MAGHRIB-EL-AKSA.-EL GHARB.)

Reigning Sultan.

Muley-Hassan, born 1831, eldest son of Sultan Sidi-Mohame ascended the throne at the death of his father, September 1873.

The present Sultan of Morocco-known to his subjects ur the title of 'Emir-al-Mumenin,' or Prince of True Believersthe fourteenth of the dynasty of the Alides, founded by Mule Achmet, and the thirty-fifth lineal descendant of Ali, uncle son-in-law of the Prophet. His three predecessors were :

The Shereefian umbrella is hereditary in the family of the Sharifs of Fileli, or Tafilet. Each Sultan is supposed, prior t death, to indicate the member of the Shereefian family who, a cording to his conscientious belief, will best replace him. T: succession is, however, elective, and all members of the Sheree fian family are eligible. Generally the late Sultan's nominee is elected by public acclamation at noonday prayers the Friday after the Sultan's death, as the nominee has probably possessi of imperial treasure, and is supported by the black bodyguard from among which the large majority of court officials are

selected.

Government.

The form of government of the Sultanate, or Empire of Morocco, is it reality an absolute despotism, unrestricted by any laws, civil or religio The Sultan is chief of the State, as well as head of the religion, s spiritual ruler, the Sultan stands quite alone, his authority not be limited, as in Turkey and other countries following the religion of Mahom by the expounders of the Koran, the class of Ulema,' under the Sheikh Islam. The Sultan has six ministers, whom he consults if he deems prudent to do so; otherwise they are merely the executive of his QD

restricted will. They are the Vizier, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, Chief Chamberlain, Chief Treasurer, and Chief Administrator of Customs. The Sultan's revenue is estimated at 500,000l. per annum, derived from monopolies, taxes, tithes, and presents.

Area and Population.

The area of Morocco can only be vaguely estimated, as the southern frontiers, towards the Sahara, are unsettled. According to the most recent investigation, the area of the Sultan's dominions is about 219,000 English square miles. The estimates of the population of Morocco vary from 2,500,000 to 9,400,000; it is generally considered to be about 5,000,000 souls, although Dr. Rohlfs, in the Geographische Mittheilungen' (1883), maintains that the population is not more than 2,750,000. An estimate of 1889 gives the following results:-The region of the old kingdom of Fez, 3,200,000; of Morocco, 3,900,000; of Tafilet and the Segelmesa country, 850,000; of Sus, Adrar, and the Northern Draa, 1,450,000; total, 9,400,000. Again, as to race:- Berbers and Tuaregs, 3,000,000; Shella Berbers, 2,200,000; Arabs (1) pure nomadic Bedouins, 700,000; (2) Mued, 3,000,000; Jews, 150,000; negroes, 200,000. The number of Christians is very small, not exceeding 1,500. Much of the interior of Morocco is unknown to Europeans.

Religion.

The Sultan of Morocco and his subjects are of the Malekite sect of Sunnite Mohammedans. The differences are chiefly in the attitudes assumed during the recital of prayers.

Defence.

The Sultan's army, which is quartered at the capital where he may happen to reside, is composed of about 10,000 Askar or disciplined infantry, under the command of an Englishman, and 400 disciplined cavalry; a few batteries of field guns commanded by three French officers, and 2,000 irregular cavalry. Two Italian artillery officers and an Italian civil engineer have been recently lent to the Sultan by the Italian Government to assist in the establishment of a small-arms factory at Fez. A Spanish military commissioner also is engaged on topographical works, either at Tetuan or Fez, according to the direction of the Spanish Government. In addition to these forces there are in the Empire about 8,000 militia cavalry and 10,000 infantry. Every year several of the governors of provinces are ordered to assemble their contingents to accompany the Sultan in his progress from Fez to Morocco. The irregular cavalry and infantry which could be collected in time of war would amount to about 40,000, in addition to the forces already enumerated. There is no commissariat.

Commerce.

The foreign trade is largely with Great Britain and France, that with Germany being on the increase in recent years; Great Britain's share is about three-fourths of the whole trade.

The value of the imports in 1887 was 1,379,3281., and of exports 1,255,2887. The following table shows the value of the trade and the

shipping of Morocco at the different ports in 1888, including specie and precious metals:

The following are the principal imports and exports of Morocco in 1888:

The following table gives the value of the exports from Morocco to Great Britain, and of the imports of British home produce into Morocco, in each of the five years from 1884 to 1888, according to the Beard of Trade returns:

The chief articles of export from Morocco to Great Britain in the year 1888 were maize and beans, of the value of 312,4941.; gum, of the value of 28,7867.; almonds, 45,5421.; olive oil, 6,4227.; wool, 76,7471. The staple article of British imports into Morocco consists of cotton manufactures, of the value of 423,8427. in 1888.

In 1883 the Sultan granted the claim of Spain to the small territory of Santa Cruz de Mar Pequeña, near the mouth of the Yfnu river, south of Mogador; but the Spanish Government has not taken advantage of the cession up to the present date (December 1889).

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Morocco, and the British equivalents are:

The Kintar by which is sold the produce of weight of the country, 100 Rotals, equal to 168 lb. English.

The Kintar by which is sold the articles of weight of importation is 100 Rotals, equal to 112 lb. English.

The Drah, 8 Tomins, about 22 English inches.

Grain is sold by measure.

The actual Tangin, almost 8 Tomins, equal to 11% English bushel.

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Oil is sold, wholesale, by the kula; that of Tangier actually weighs 28 rotals, 47 lb. English, and is equal to about 52 British imperial gallons.

Diplomatic and Consular Representatives.

OF GREAT BRITAIN IN MOROCCO.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.—Sir W. Kirby Green, K.C.M.G., appointed July 1, 1886.

Consul at Tangier.-H. E. White.

There is also a Consul at Mogador; Vice-Consuls at Laraiche, Rabat, Dar-el-Barder, Mazagan, and Saffi; and a Consular Agent at Tetuan.

Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Morocco.

1. OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Report on the Trade and Shipping of Morocco in 1888, in Deutsches Handels-Archiv.' Berlin, 1889.

Report on the Trade of Mogador in 1888, in No. 553; on the Trade of Tangier, in No. 582 of Diplomatic and Consular Reports,' 1889.

Trade of Morocco with the United Kingdom, in Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions in the year 1888.' Imp. 4. London, 1839.

2. NON-OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Amicis (E. de), Marocco. 8. Milano, 1878. London, 1882.

Colville (Capt. H. E.), A Ride in Petticoats and Slippers. London, 1880.

De Campou (Ludovic), Un empire qui croule, le Maroc contemporain. Paris, 1886.

De Foucauld (Vicomte Ch.), Reconnaissance au Maroc, 1883-1884. Paris, 1888.
Erckmann (Jules, capit.), Le Maroc moderne. Paris.

Harris (A.), The Land of an African Sultan. London, 1889.

Hooker (Sir Joseph D.), Journal of a Tour in Morocco. 8. London, 1878.

Jackson (James G.), An Account of the Empire of Morocco. London, 1814.

Leared (Arthur), Morocco and the Moors; being an Account of Travels, with a ger Description of the Country and its People. 8. London, 1876.

Lenz (Dr. O.), Timbuktu. Leipzig, 1884.

Maltzan (Heinrich, Freiherr von), Drei Jahre im Nordwesten von Afrika: Reist Algerien und Marokko. 4 vols. 8. Leipzig, 1869.

Martinière (H. M. P. de la), Morocco: Journeys to the Kingdom of Fez and to the C of Mulai-Hassan, with Itineraries constructed by the Author, and a Bibliography of Me from 1844 to 1887, with a Preface by Dr. Cole Trotter, 93rd Highlanders. London, 18%, Renou (C.), Description géographique de l'empire de Maroc. 8. Paris, 1846. Rohlfs (Gerhard), Land und Volk in Afrika. 8. Bremen, 1870. Rohlfs (Gerhard), Mein erster Aufenthalt in Marokko. 8. Bremen, 1873. Stutfield (Hugh E. M.), El Maghreb; 1,200 Miles' Ride through Morocco. Thomson (Joseph), Travels in the Atlas and Southern Morocco. London, 1889. Trotter (Capt. P. D.), Our Mission to the Court of Morocco. Edinburgh, 1881. Watson (R. S.), A Visit to Wazan. London, 1880.

London, 18

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