GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH MAROCCO. 381 



more thaii three and a half centuries ago, and that of the 

 present day. 



So far as regards the manners, ideas, habits, and mode of 

 living of the inhabitants, the changes are qtdte insignificant, 

 save in so far as these are affected by a general decline in 

 material prosperity. The central authority was at that period 

 much weaker, and the S3parate tribes led a more independent 

 existence. Amongst the Bereber people of the mountains, 

 and even in many of the larger towns, such government as 

 existed was ordinarily of the democratic type. Thus we read 

 that in Tarudant four chiefs were elected to manage the affairs 

 of the city, holding office for only six months at a time. 



If it were possible to doubt the results of the establishment 

 of a system of grinding despotism, administered by officials who 

 enjoy practical impunity so long as they satisfy the pecuniary 

 demands of their master, the pages of Leo Africanus bring 

 ample evidence. It is, indeed, true that a slight improve- 

 ment has ensued as regards internal tranquillity. There is 

 now rather less of habitual turbulence ; the miitual encounters 

 between neighbouring tribes m.ay be somewhat less frequent ; 

 and brigandage, which appears to have been not uncommon in 

 the open country, is now comparatively rare. It may be 

 doubted whether this advantage, such as it is, is not as much 

 due to diminished population as to the successful administration 

 of the Moorish Sultans. 



On the other hand, there is overwhelming evidence of a 

 general and progressive decline in prosperity. Throughout the 

 southern jjrovinces, and especially in Haha and Sous, Leo 

 Africanus found numerous flourishing towns, most of them 

 visited and described by him. In each one of these he found 

 people living in comparative ease, inhabiting good houses with 

 gardens, and possessing, according to the standard of the age, 

 some literary education. From the towns, and even from the 

 inner valleys of the Atlas, students flocked to Fez, then the 

 head-quarters of Arabic knowledge and civilisation. All the 

 principal places were then local centres of production, the arti- 

 ficers being principally Jews. 



It is notable that excepting the city of Marocco, then full 

 of a numerous and active population, none of the towns men- 

 tioned owed their foundation to the conquering race. Leo, not 



