80 ORIGIN OF MOGADOR. ch. iv. 



rank. This was more than was requisite for security, as, 

 with all its barbarism, the Marocco Grovernment is efficient 

 enough within the parts of the territory where the Sultan's 

 authority is recognised and feared. Within those limits 

 it is enough to let it be known that a traveller enjoys the 

 Imperial protection ; no one will ever think of daring to 

 molest him. 



After devoting a good part of the day to indispensable 

 preparations for our futiure journey, we were free to look 

 about us in the singular little town which, as the chief port 

 of South Marocco, is the last outpost of civilisation on the 

 African coast at this side of the French settlements of 

 Senegal. Like many other places in Marocco, this owes 

 its existence to the caprice of a Sultan. It was founded in 

 1760 by Sidi Mohammed, the most energetic of recent 

 Moorish sovereigns, and became a considerable place when, 

 a few years later, the same ruler destroyed Agadir, and 

 ordered the merchants established there to remove to Moga- 

 dor. Jackson tells us that it received its European name 

 from the sanctuary of Sidi Mogodol, standing somewhere 

 among the neighbouring sandhills ; but a town of Mogador 

 is shown in a map published in 1 608,' standing a short way 

 north of the island, which is there marked 'I. Domegador.' 

 As have most of those marked on the early maps, the 

 ancient town had doubtless disappeared before the found- 

 ation of the present one, called by the Moors Soueira ; but 

 the old name must have survived in the country. 



The low rocky island lying opposite to the town, and 

 separated by a navigable channel, affords shelter from all 

 winds except those from the SW, ; but the depth of water 

 is not great, and there are numerous dangerous reefs, so 

 that in threatening weather steam is always kept up, and 

 ships proceed to sea when SW. winds are expected. Al- 

 though the island is shown on the oldest maps, and the 

 channel is represented much as we now see it in the plates 



' See Appendix C. 



