Description of Tafilet and its commerce — Flourishing state of
agriculture and industry — Miserable condition of the Jews;
their habits and customs — Afilé — Gardens — Tanneyara,
Marca, M’Dayara, Rahaba — Chains of granite mountains —
Small river of Guigo — L’Eyarac, Tamaroc, Kars, Ain-Zeland,
L’Eksebi — Very high mountains covered with cork-trees —
L’Ouin — Guigo — Town of Soforo — Town of el-Fez, or Fez,
the ancient capital of Morocco.
The Tafilet is a small district forming, like el-Drah, part of
the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco. Its inhabitants pay
some imposts to this monarch, who maintains a bacha or governor,
resident at Ressant, a town distinguished by a magnificent gateway,
surrounded with various coloured Dutch tiles, symmetrically arranged
in a diamond pattern.
The villages of Ghourland, L’Eksebi, Sosso, and Boheim, in the
same line, all S. E. of Ressant, are pretty near each other: those
which I have had an opportunity of examining, are nearly of equal
size, and contain about eleven or twelve hundred inhabitants, all
land-holders or merchants. The soil of Tafilet is level, composed
of sand of an ash grey, and very productive; much corn, and all
sorts of European fruits and vegetables, are cultivated here;
lucern thrives well, and when dry is stored for winter provender.
The natives have fine sheep, with remarkably white wool; they use it
in making very handsome wrappers, which are woven by the women. They
have also some horned cattle, though fewer than the roving tribes,
excellent horses, some asses, and many good mules. The horses
are for the most part the property of the Berbers, who are very
numerously established in Tafilet, but less addicted to pillage
than those of el-Drah, and indeed formidable to strangers alone.
This country is in general very agreeable: its inhabitants carry
on a considerable commerce with the Soudan and el-Arawan, whither
they export tobacco in leaves of their own growing, together with
European commodities; and receive in exchange gold, ivory, gum,
ostrich-feathers, dried provisions, and slaves; for, unhappily, the
infamous traffic in the latter exists in full vigour in this part of
Africa. The commodities which the merchants dispatch to Timbuctoo,
through the medium of the roving Moors of el-Harib, who may be
considered as the carriers of the Soudan, are transported on camels
to the confines of the desert by the Berbers, who deliver them to
the Moors engaged to convey them to their destination. The Berbers
receive a tribute for this service, a species of indemnity given to
them by agreement, since they do not, like the Arabs, extend their
travels through all the negro countries. If the merchants were to
neglect this prudent precaution, their caravans would be pillaged
by these barbarians, as they sometimes are by the Touariks. I have
already said that the most distinguished Moors of Tafilet usually
settle at Timbuctoo, in the hope of making a fortune, as amongst us
Europe is left for the new world: these Moors, after devoting five
or six years to commerce, purchase gold and slaves, and return to
live peaceably in their own country.
The soil of Tafilet is very good, and produces all the necessaries
of life. The numberless date-trees surrounding each property furnish
their owners with a plentiful subsistence and a considerable branch
of commerce. They sell a quantity of dates in all the dependencies
of Morocco, and especially in the towns situated on the sea-coast.
The population of this district is divided into several classes, and
the distinction of social ranks is rigorously observed. Labourers by
the day or month are considered as belonging to the lowest grade;
those who esteem themselves of a higher order treat them as a very
inferior race of beings. There are also in Tafilet many negro slaves,
and some emancipated negroes, who, however, are never suffered to
intermarry with the Moors; even the children born of a negress and
a Moor, by a clandestine union, have no acknowledged condition in
the country, and can never emerge from the lowest classes.
The inhabitants of Tafilet tan a great quantity of leather; they
make excellent morocco, which is much esteemed in commerce, and
finds at Fez a ready market. The people of this country are more
industrious than I have any where remarked, in the different parts
of Africa which I have visited.
Every one brings to the market the fruit of his labour; there may
be seen in abundance woollen wrappers, coussabes, tanned leather,
pagnes, shoes, mats, wooden trenchers, in short all the manufactures
of the country.
Each proprietor is accustomed to enclose his lands either with
an earth wall or a ditch; all the villages are walled, and those
I have seen have but one gate of entrance, which is shut every
evening. The inhabitants rear much poultry, as large as ours, and
eat the eggs boiled. They have pigeons, but these birds are scarce.
Some individuals keep a dog and a cat, which live upon dates.
Throughout the districts of el-Drah and Tafilet are found Jews, who
inhabit the same villages with the Musulmans; they are in a pitiable
condition, wandering about almost naked, and continually insulted
by the Moors; these fanatics even beat them shamefully, and throw
stones at them as at dogs: the smallest children may abuse them
with impunity, since they dare not revenge themselves, and cannot
expect protection from authority. I have frequently been so excited
myself as to threaten these little revilers with severe chastisement.
The Jews of Tafilet are excessively dirty, and always go barefoot,
perhaps to avoid the inconvenience of frequently taking off their
sandals, which they are compelled to do in passing before a mosque
or the door of a sherif. They are clothed in a shabby coussabe,
and a very dirty white cloak, of little more value, which passes
under the left arm, and is fastened over the right shoulder.
They shave their heads after the example of the Moors, but leave
a tuft of hair which falls over the forehead. Some are pedlars,
others artizans; they manufacture shoes and mats from palm-leaves;
some of them also are blacksmiths. They lend their money upon
usury to the merchants trading in the Soudan, whither they never go
themselves. Their only visible fortune consists in their houses,
but they often take lands as a guarantee for the money which they
lend. Money is always plentiful with the Jews: yet they affect the
utmost poverty; because the Moors, who ascribe to them greater riches
than they really possess, often persecute them for the purpose of
extorting their gold: besides which, they not only pay tribute to
the emperor and his agents, but are moreover harassed by the Berbers.
The Jews live better than the Mahometans, couscous and gruel
forming but a small portion of their food; their bread is of wheat,
kneaded and baked by themselves and their principal beverage, beer
of their own brewing, though in the season of the vintage they make
a little wine.
The Jewish, as well as Moorish women, wear a piece of stuff,
twelve or fourteen feet long, about the body and thrown over the
head, and go barefoot; their costume indeed differs only in the
head-dress. They have on each side of the head a thick large tuft of
hair hanging over the shoulder, about five inches in length and three
in circumference, and they habitually cover their heads with a piece
of coloured stuff, always dirty, like the rest of their garments.
The Jewesses whom I have seen in Tafilet are in general small,
lively, and pretty: they have blue eyes, animated and expressive,
aquiline nose, and a mouth of middling size; they are inquisitive,
and very fond of talking. Drawing water, washing linen, fetching wood
for cooking, in short all the household labours, fall to their share.
I shall not undertake to portray the Musulman women of Tafilet;
I found it impossible to obtain a view of their faces: when out of
doors they have the appearance of an uncouth moving mass, from an
enormous woollen cloak, in which they are enveloped from head to
foot, and which scarcely allows them to see the way they are going:
it is only in the bosom of their families, and sometimes in the
inner court, that they shew themselves unveiled. Care is taken
to give the women notice to retire to their private apartments,
when strangers are about to enter the dwelling upon any business.
A custom prevalent in the east obtains also here and is rigorously
observed: when a common Moor passes a sherif he unties his sandals,
takes them in his hand, and makes a low and respectful obeisance.
On the 2nd of August, about half past four P. M. the caravan
proceeded in a N. N. E. direction. We met on the road a vast
number of Moors from the country, driving asses loaded with all
sorts of productions, as melons, grapes, figs, and other fruit,
and vegetables, going to a neighbouring market.
We crossed some fields, and passed near a walled village the name of
which I have forgotten: continuing our route for the space of a mile
to the N. N. E., we arrived at the village of Afilé, without which
we halted at sun-set. It is situated near a considerable rivulet,
called by the natives Sidi-Aiche, the water of which although
brackish, is their only beverage: this rivulet runs slowly to the
N. W. Plenty of barley for our beasts was brought, soon after our
arrival, and some water-melons for the refreshment of the sherifs,
of whom we had half a dozen in the caravan travelling to Fez to
sell their dates; and who were not prevented by the insignificance
of their traffic from assuming airs of importance.
Towards eleven at night, several large calabashes full of couscous,
with the flesh of a kid killed for the purpose, were brought to
us from the village; the bearers carried them on their heads, and
were lighted by a taper. No sooner had these messes arrived than the
descendants of Mahomet feasted voraciously, and gave what remained
to the Moors of their train: care was taken to awaken all who were
or pretended to be asleep. I was at the moment lying on the sand
beside the baggage; and as no one seemed to pay any attention to me,
I patiently resigned myself to the loss of my supper, although I
had eaten nothing the whole day but some dates, given to me by my
host at parting. At length a Moor from the village, walking about
with his taper in his hand, discovered me, and asking who I was, led
me to an immense dish of couscous, round which several Moors were
assembled, and desired me to help myself. The Moor who presided
at the repast placed some scraps of meat upon an old mule-cloth,
and, when we had eaten the couscous, he gave to each a little bit
of the reserved meat, tearing it with his dirty fingers.
On the 3rd of August, at half-past five in the morning, we again
proceeded northward, through plantations entirely surrounded
with earth walls, over which I perceived beautiful fruit trees,
such as pears, figs, apricots, vines, and some rose bushes. These
charming plains though rather deficient in moisture, often renewed
the delightful remembrance of our European gardens. The sterility
of the Sahara was still so impressed upon my imagination, that the
plains of Tafilet appeared by comparison a terrestrial paradise.
About ten in the morning we passed Tanneyara, a little village,
a mile to the east of our road, shaded by immense numbers of
date-trees. Here our caravan was retarded by a troop of Arabs,
to whom we were obliged, whether we would or not, to pay the
passage-dues. This prank occasioned a great deal of confusion;
the two parties had nearly come to blows; but fortunately no
bad consequences ensued: the merchants gave a few dragmes, and
the Arabs left us to continue our route, which lay over a dry and
gravelly soil. The gently swelling hills which rose on either hand
were apparently composed of red sand, and bore no vegetation: the
heat was extreme, and we had no water to moisten our parched lips.
At one in the afternoon we reached Marca, a large village enclosed
by a wall twelve or fourteen feet high, and there halted.
We ran in haste to the wells, situated beyond the village, but could
not draw water enough, having unfortunately no better bucket than an
old leathern bag full of holes. My thirst being at length satisfied,
I seated myself in the shade near the gate of the village; where many
idle Moors were lying on their backs, waiting the call to supper:
immediately upon perceiving me they rose with astonishment and
asked each other, “Who is this man?” easily detecting me for a
stranger by the costume I always wore, which was of Soudan stuff,
and strikingly different from their own.
They assembled round me and overwhelmed me with questions. I was
never taken at first sight by the Moors of Tafilet for an Arab;
they always treated me at once as a stranger; redoubled artifice
was necessary to deceive them: but when I declared myself to have
been taken prisoner while very young by the army of Bonaparte, they
appeared satisfied, and congratulated me upon the good resolution
I had formed of returning to my country
At the gate of Marca, I met, by a singular accident, a Berber
whom I had known at el-Harib: he received me with kindness, and
immediately acquainted the assembly with my history. This Berber
politely invited me to visit his humble cabin, of a single floor,
where he seated me on a very clean mat, and his wife produced some
dates which we ate together. She sat unveiled in a corner of a dark
and dirty room employed in weaving a woollen wrapper. When we had
eaten our dates, the Berber led me to the mosque, and introduced
me to two sherifs, natural sons of the emperor: we found them at
prayers: but no sooner had they finished than I was persecuted with
questions; amongst others whether I had been circumcised either
in the Soudan or at Alexandria: I replied that I was circumcised
in my infancy previously to leaving my country, and I hastened to
change the topic, these interrogatories being always distressing to
me since they constrained me to repeated falsehoods. Fortunately my
reply appeared satisfactory, and I took advantage of their discourse
being directed for a moment to their pupils to leave them; they
soon, however, sought me out at the gate of the village, where I was
seated, placed themselves on the ground beside me, and displaying
a New Testament in Latin and Arabic, asked me if I knew that book;
I read a few passages to them, and they amused themselves with
ridiculing the supposed credulity of the christians.
As the village was surrounded by pleasant walled gardens, I
expressed a wish to see them. The youngest of the party instantly
took me by the hand, and, followed by six other Moors, we walked
to them. The young sherif when in his garden ordered some figs and
grapes to be gathered, which he offered me very gracefully. I was
particularly surprized by an almost French politeness in his manners;
for example, never serving himself first, offering me the finest
and ripest fruits, and even peeling them for me. I ate however but
sparingly of fruit, fearing lest it might disagree with me. I saw
in this garden melons, gombos, and a great variety of fruit-trees;
it also contains a well thirty feet deep.
From the garden we returned to the mosque, where Sidi-Abdoul-Rahman,
(this was the name of the young sherif) ordered one of his people
to carry me some bread and honey; and desired me to remain till
supper time, as he intended to provide me with that meal.
This good young man, about twenty-two years of age, favoured me with
a very obliging invitation to spend some days with him at Marca, in
order to recover from my fatigues, promising afterwards to forward
me to Fez at his own expense. I thanked him heartily, but urged
as an objection my impatience to reach home. The Berber brought
me a handsome dish of mutton couscous; and a moment afterwards the
sherif sent me a portion of his supper, and had the further kindness
to order one of his household to accompany me with a lantern to
our encampment.
On the 4th, at half after five in the morning, we departed,
journeying N. N. W., amongst mountains and along the banks of
a beautiful rivulet which fertilizes the neighbouring soil: the
resident proprietors understand how to avail themselves of this
resource; they form canals from it, by which they water their small
possessions; by this method they are enabled to cultivate corn and
maize in seasons of the greatest drought, and to produce abundance
of fine melons. Some palms and fig-trees grow on the margin of this
pretty rivulet; and I remarked throughout the route small habitations
scattered at very small distances. We advanced more than two miles
an hour notwithstanding the stony nature of the soil. At half past
two P. M. we halted at M-Dayara, a town defended by a high wall
and encompassed by a moat seven or eight feet in depth and of equal
breadth. We entered by a large gate and passed the night here. When
the cattle were unladen and the baggage arranged, my guide, the
sherif, noble scion of the prophet, recommended me to repair to
the mosque to seek my supper: without answering him, I remained
some time seated upon a mat, near a Moor of the town, who seeing I
was in no hurry to withdraw, and no doubt fearing the necessity of
dividing his supper with me, advised me to rejoin my companions,
and take my share of the provision which the town would provide
for them. Thus repulsed on all sides I lay down beside the baggage:
my illustrious muleteer angrily asked, why I did not remain at the
mosque; to which I replied that he might go thither himself to seek
his supper; this answer silenced him. Finding him so desirous to get
rid of me, I thought that the Moors of the caravan intended to club
together to purchase food, and determined to learn how this might be.
The sherif Sidi-Moula-Sitec, a man of high nobility and who
enjoyed the imperial favour, travelled along with our caravan;
he carried his wife with him, concealed under a scarlet pavilion,
as well to preserve her from the intense heat as to screen her from
our observation: at the halting-places, four persons assisted her
to alight, and one of her women, who also appeared veiled in our
presence, lifted up a corner of the curtain to admit the air.
Sidi-Moula-Sitec, whose provisions for himself and his suite were
separately dressed, sent in the evening a copious supply of tea
to his travelling companions; they took it while waiting the
approach of supper time; and soon afterwards an enormous dish
of couscous was sent to them, which was speedily divided among
twelve or fourteen Moors, who disputed the possession of it. When
my muleteer had satisfied his hunger, he put the two or three
mouthfuls of couscous that remained, in a small basket, generally
used for feeding his asses with barley, and brought it to me, I
eagerly accepted this food, as I had eaten nothing all day but a
few dates. After this slender repast, finding that I should not be
permitted to remain beside the baggage, I went in search of a place
where I might sleep in quiet, and lay down at the door of the mosque,
near some travelling Moors, who were so much annoyed by my cough,
for I had a severe cold, that in great anger they even struck me,
to compel me to withdraw.
At five in the morning, I perceived by the arrangements which were
making, that we should not set out before evening, and determined,
though with repugnance, to beg in the town for some dates, a fruit
so plentiful in this country. I first applied to an old Moor,
who affected all the externals of devotion, but he shewed little
sensibility for my misery, recommending me to trust in God who would
assist me; a second brought me a handful of rotten dates, which I
could not eat; and a third, whose mien announced more charity, gave
me a considerable quantity, but they were harder and worse than those
which I had eaten at el-Harib. Losing my fortitude, and undeceived on
the subject of Musulman charity, so much vaunted among us, I returned
to our baggage, and, presenting my acquisition of fruit to the asses
which refused it, I breakfasted upon a handful of that which had been
given me at Boheim. Part of the day was spent in shoeing the animals.
About three P.M, being all ready, we took our departure, and
travelled N. W., over level and stony ground; the sun was setting
as we reached Rahaba, where we encamped under the palm-trees,
without the town. As I happened to be placed near the sherif
Sidi-Moula-Sitec, who had shewn me, on the road, the unexampled
courtesy of giving me a draught from the cup which he himself in
general used, I went to thank him; he gave me a friendly reception,
and, offering me his hand with a smile, told me that he had directed
one of his suite to supply me with provisions all the way to Fez,
and, to leave me under no uneasiness on this head, he renewed his
order in my presence; but the profligate servant took little notice,
and obeyed his master’s command for one night only.
On the 6th of August, at five in the morning, we continued our
route northward, at first on very level ground; after which we
reached a chain of mountains, stretching from E. N. E. to W. S. W.,
and struck into its gorges, following the course of a pretty little
rivulet called Guigo; the road being extremely stony and difficult.
About eight we passed L-Eyara, a village containing from twenty
five to thirty houses, all ill-constructed with a ground-floor
only; this village stands on a rock of black granite. Hitherto our
direction was N. N. E., here we turned due north.
At one P. M. we halted at Tamaroc till the heat, which was intense,
should abate: I lay down upon the grass, in the shade of a fine
rose-laurel, pleasantly situated on the margin of the rivulet,
the freshness and gentle murmurs of which inclined me to sleep. The
hills on each side of the route had no great elevation, and appeared
composed of brittle and coarse-grained rose-coloured granite,
in some parts combined with white quartz. At three P. M., the
heat having somewhat moderated, we proceeded northwards through
the defiles till half past five; we then turned to the west,
still following the sinuosities of the same rivulet. This stony
road led us into a valley, well cropped with corn and maize, the
verdant aspect of which amidst these barren mountains presented
an enchanting spectacle. About seven in the evening we halted at
Kars, where we passed the night. Between Tamaroc and this place,
we saw no more palm-trees.
On the 7th at five A. M., we resumed our journey, first in a
westerly, and subsequently in a northerly direction, still threading
the defiles of the mountains, through a less fertile tract than
that over which we had just passed; here though the country is
still watered by the Guigo it is generally barren.
The roving Berbers, who encamp in these narrow valleys, find
here and there a little forage for their cattle. About eleven
o’clock we arrived at N-Zéland (or Ain-Zéland) our beasts being
much fatigued. The hamlet is inhabited by Berbers, who breed fine
sheep. As these people are accustomed to give nothing to the Moors,
part of our caravan were compelled to forego their supper. The
sherif Sidi-Moula-Sitec ordered a couscous, and sent a portion of
it to the sherifs of the company; the Moors of inferior rank were
not included in the distribution.
The Berbers, thinking to gain something by us, made cakes of
barley-meal, which they sold for a good profit to those who had
money: encouraged by the success of this traffic, they killed two
sheep, which they cooked whole at a large fire, cut up into small
pieces, and sold for four mouganans, a sum equivalent to eight sous
of our money. But our company was so numerous that this provision
proved insufficient, and those who could not obtain any ate dates
only; a poor substitute for more nourishing food.
On the 8th of August, at three A. M., we quitted N-Zeland. The beast
I rode being excessively fatigued, I was compelled to perform part
of this day’s journey on foot; and still weak, I walked with
difficulty over the flinty mountain roads, pausing every moment
to recover breath. I was not singular in my misfortune, many of
our people were on foot, for the poor animals could scarcely drag
themselves along. Till eight o’clock we proceeded northward,
then for one hour westward, and afterwards turned again to the
north. The road was so bad that the asses sunk under their burdens;
their haunches were galled by the friction of a girth, which it is
customary here to pass over the rump in the fashion of a crupper,
to prevent the load from slipping forward in descending steep
declivities, while another, which girds the breast, performs the
same service in ascending. The guides without any remorse struck
these poor animals severe blows to quicken their pace. At two P. M.,
overcome with fatigue, we reached L-Eksebi, where we halted: this
pretty village is encompassed by a good wall, and contains about
eight hundred inhabitants; it is situated on an extensive plain,
watered by the windings of the rivulet which I have before mentioned,
and surrounded by high mountains wholly destitute of vegetation. The
plain is well cultivated, and even embellished by some olive-trees.
On our arrival, the inhabitants, all Moors, opened a market,
where we found in abundance bread, meat, raisins, and figs, which
were all sold by weight. Near this market is a kind of caravansera,
where travellers are received on payment of a small remuneration for
the animals only; these are lodged in little galleries constructed
for the purpose, and the men sleep near them on the ground.
As the dates presented to me by my host of Boheim were now exhausted,
and I had nothing whatever to eat, I determined to beg some,
not of the towns-people, for as the palm-trees do not grow in the
vicinity they are dear here, but of a young Moor of our own caravan,
who obligingly gave me some.
On the 9th, we set out at five in the morning, directing our route
to the north; about seven we turned to the W. N. W. ascending hills
from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five feet above the
surface of the plain. In every direction similar eminences meet
the eye, all exhibiting, with the exception of a few cork-trees,
complete sterility. Exhausted with fatigue, I feared that it
would be impossible to continue my journey; my limbs bent under
me, and I was compelled to sit down continually; my courage was
ready to forsake me: this ascent was indeed a terrible task for my
enfeebled powers. By the blessing of God we attained the summit
by nine o’clock; and thence descended into an extensive and
beautiful plain, surrounded by high lands, which were mostly barren
of vegetation. Four times in the course of the day our caravan
was stopped by the Arabs, who had encamped by the road-side, to
obtain payment of the passage dues, which was made in dates, and
bread baked a second time in the oven; I was told that they acted
under the sultan’s orders. Some Berbers as we passed spread a
pagne beside the road, that a few dates might be thrown to them:
this fruit is scarce and dear in this part of the country; and
some of them brought us water in exchange. About three o’clock we
arrived at L-Guim, a small Moorish village, where some cultivation is
visible and some forage may be obtained, but the general aspect of
the country is sterile and dry; not a single tree is to be seen. I
supped upon some pieces of barley bread, baked a second time, and
which I steeped in a little water. This bread Sidi-Moula-Sitec had
sent me as a present, the evening before, by one of his servants.
After this repast I lay down near a field of maize, making my pillow
upon a ridge between its furrows.
At five in the morning of the 10th, we set out again, our route
lying W. N. W.; at seven we turned to the north through defiles of
arid and stony mountains; at ten to the N. N. W. The landscape,
interspersed with lofty eminences, has a most dreary appearance;
on some of them only grows a quantity of box to the height of about
eighteen inches, the leaves of which were dry and yellow. In the
level parts we saw some Arab tents from which at our approach the
children issued to beg dates. About three P. M. we reached Guigo,
a small Berber village: its environs are naked, without any trace
of cultivation, and the wells are so distant, that it is not easy
to procure water without paying in dates, of which I had no more,
and was obliged to have recourse to charity for a draught; I applied
to several Moors, who all repulsed me like a dog, and bade me slake
my thirst at the fountain.
The heat, which had been intense, moderated towards evening; just
before our arrival a slight thunder-shower fell, which continued
for a quarter of an hour, and greatly cooled the atmosphere. A
sherif, who had long suffered from a bad foot, gave me some water
and a small cake of wheat and aniseed, on condition that I should
furnish him with a remedy; I had still a little diachylon left,
and divided it with him; he then opened before me several rags,
in which his foot was wrapped, and I saw two large white maggots
upon the nearly healed wound.
On the 11th, at three A. M. we quitted Guigo, journeying north upon
a very stony road: many shrubs, however, flourish in this country;
wild roses and mulberry-trees, the hawthorn, olive-tree, dwarf oak,
and others, are watered by the current of a meandering rivulet,[19]
in the transparent and delicious waters of which we found relief from
our thirst. About two P. M. we arrived at Soforo, a walled town,
situated in a fine and extensive plain, very stony but fertile;
maize and the olive are cultivated in this tract. The approach to the
town is ornamented by pretty gardens enclosed by quickset hedges,
and abounding in fruit-trees, round which creep in great numbers
vines loaded with fine grapes. We alighted at a fandac.[20] I walked
through this town which is the finest that I had hitherto seen. It
contains a handsome mosque, built of brick and plastered with mortar;
two fountains appropriated to the purpose of the Mahometan ablutions
conduce to its decoration. Two watermills are the most remarkable
objects in Soforo. The houses are chiefly built of brick and of one
story. The streets are narrow and dirty, nevertheless the vicinity
of several brooks which rise in the mountains, and the many pretty
gardens of the suburbs render this town an agreeable abode. A
market is held here daily, which attracts many strangers, and in
which the Jews have shops. Baked meat is sold in it, and remarkably
fine melons. A clumsy clock in the mosque tower excited my surprise.
In the evening, Moula-Sitec employed a Jew merchant to purchase
some wax candles for him; the poor Jew on his return was stopped
by a sherif, who, detaining him by his cloak, demanded one of
them. In vain he protested with an air of supplication, that he had
no means of making such a present, the Moor vehemently insisted,
and, seizing the Israelite by a lock of his hair, drew his poniard
with an apparent intention of killing him; quaking with fear the
poor wretch cried out with all his might, “Oh! spare me, my lord,
for the love of God.” The Moor at length released him, and the
Jew ran off at his utmost speed.
Moula-Sitec called me to his presence, and inquired, as though he
doubted my sincerity, whether I loved the Musulmans; he then made
me recite some verses of the Koran, and at length informed me that
on the following day we should reach Fez, which town is sometimes
visited by christians.
About nine in the evening, great bowls of couscous were served for
supper. The sherifs, being persons of high distinction, ate first,
and sent us the remainder.
On the 12th of August, at five A. M. we quitted Soforo, and again
observed in its outskirts a long line of pleasing gardens: the
road, shaded by trellises of fig-trees, is paved with flints to the
distance of nearly three or four miles from the town. As we gaily
pursued our route northwards, we fell in with many Jews proceeding
to the market of Fez, which place we also reached about noon. The
road had been good, less stony than that we had previously traversed;
but the ground was little cultivated.
Having neither acquaintance nor letters of recommendation, I took
up my lodging with my muleteer at the fandac. After a short repose
upon a mat, I was desirous of visiting the market. To reach it
I passed through several dirty narrow streets of low buildings.
The market is held in a street under a roof of trellis-work and
straw; the dealers occupy little shops, five or six feet square,
raised about three feet above the surface of the ground. Men keep
these shops and sit there the whole day in the fashion of tailors
on their board. No one took notice of me, and I bought for three
felouses[21] a small loaf and a few grapes upon which I dined;
then returning to the fandac I passed the night there with the
asses and mules.
On the 13th, I went with a negro of Mequinaz to visit the upper
part of the town; this good-natured man took pleasure in shewing me
its curiosities. We inspected several mosques: one in particular
attracted my attention as the finest; it is called by the Moors
Mouladrib.
Wishing to proceed as soon as possible, risked changing two English
crowns, in order to hire a mule to carry me to Rabat, where I hoped
to find a French Consul. I applied first to a Moorish merchant,
who bore the character of being very devout; he weighed my pieces
and offered much less than their value; I was refusing to part
with them on such terms when a Jew blacksmith passed us, and the
Moor proposed to him to purchase them. Notwithstanding the bad
character of his race, he proved less usurious than the Musulman.
After weighing the crowns in scales which he always carried about
him, he offered me a price much above that of the zealous follower
of Mahomet; I therefore treated with him: but having at the moment
no money at hand, to avoid detaining me he requested the Moor
to pay me the price agreed upon. The latter hastened to comply,
but gave me coin which would not pass without a diminution of
one fourth of its value. Such is the charity of these avaricious
hypocrites, who abuse with impunity the ignorance and simplicity
of an unfortunate stranger.
The Moors all questioned me incessantly upon my travels; they pitied
my sufferings, but not one of them invited me to eat; they gave me
no other consolation than the assurance that God would not abandon
me, but that it would please him to restore me to my country and
my friends.
On the 14th, fearing that a longer residence in Fez would
be injurious to my health, I made preparations for removing to
Mequinaz: this, it was observed, was not the road to Algiers, but I
was unwilling to increase my distance from Rabat and Tangier, and
reported my intention in going to Mequinaz to be to throw myself
at the feet of the Emperor, and make known to him my miserable
situation; not doubting that his compassion would furnish me with
the means of proceeding to Algiers, whence I should more easily
obtain a passage to Alexandria. The importance of this application
to the sultan being obvious, no farther observations were made on
my project. I was happy in finding so satisfactory a pretence for
approaching the sea coast, but internally resolved to avoid the
Emperor as solicitously as I affected to seek him.
Fez is the finest town I have seen in Africa; I shall endeavour
to describe it as minutely as the shortness of my stay there
will permit.