CH. IX, MOORISH GOVERNMENT. 235 



The Moorish government is marked by two fatal de- 

 fects, from which it seems unlikely to free itself. That 

 religious fanaticism should have taken deep root in a 

 country long exposed to the attacks of not less fanatical 

 enemies was quite inevitable ; but for two centuries there 

 has been peace with Portugal, and the brief Spanish war in 

 1861 does not seem to have much altered the state of feel- 

 ing as to Europeans ; yet the hatred to Christians as such 

 seems to be quite as strong among the Moors at this day 

 as at any former period, and while it exists must continue 

 to be a serious barrier to industrial progress. Among the 

 Shelluhs fanaticism has evidently no deep hold on the 

 people. Some of the chiefs may share, or affect to share, 

 in what they doubtless consider the tone of good society 

 among the rulers of the country; but our experience of the 

 people agrees with that of Jackson, who lived for some 

 time near Agadir, and found there a positive desire among 

 the people of all classes that he should establish himself 

 permanently among them. 



More serious even than fanaticism, as an obstacle to 

 good government, is the seeming incapacity of the Moor 

 to estimate any but immediate results, or to mike any 

 effort of which the good effect will not be very speedily 

 visible. To prove to a Sultan of Marocco that such a 

 public work or other improvement would double his 

 revenue at the end of twenty or thirty years would be 

 sheer waste of breath. It would never occur to a Moor 

 that a benefit so distant, however great, was worth the 

 slightest present exertion. Hence the utter neglect of 

 public works, of mineral wealth, and of the forests which 

 should be an abundant source of national wealth. 



We were somewhat surprised to find among the Ait 

 Mesan people, a decided taste for ornament, of which no 

 trace is perceptible among the Arabs of the low country. 

 We noticed that the lintels of the doors at Arround were 

 decorated with rude carving in geometrical patterns, dia- 

 monds, circles, and triangles. Saddlecloths had similar 



