THE LATE FAMINE IN MOROCCO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 321, 21 November 1879, Page 2

THE LATE FAMINE IN MOROCCO.

Yice-Consul Lapeen's report on the trade and commerce of Dar-al-Baido, contains the following remarks

" After a succession of prosperous years in every respect, Morocco has just passed over one of the most disastrous character on record. The complete failure of the crops was followed by an epidemic to which, in our town alone, nearly 15 per cent, of its population have fallen victims; then the great quantities of cattle, both black and small, which were so abundant in our neighborhood, and which constituted the principal riches of the tribes, have been enormously reduced through disease and want of food, the consequence of all this being ruin, with very few exceptions, and we see nothing but misery and famine raging amongst people who were well off only a few months previous. The losses suffered by the neighboring villages, which we may roughly calculate to extend within a radius of twenty-five miles, have been felt more severely by the mortality of their cattle than the failure of their crops, Taking the quantities of hides and skins expoited this year, compared with the live previous ones together, we have treble the quantities shipped, not calculating what there may be yet in stock for exportation ; we may safely say that fully 70,000 head of black cattle have died, and that the total value of them (sheep, goats, &c.,) is'between £fioo,ooo and £BOO,OOO sterling, and which it will, under the most favorable circumstances, take many years to recover. During the first few months of the year 1878, and before any judgment could be formed of the then growing crops, nearly 50,000 quarters of grain were exported belonging to that of the year 1877. When the first effects of the failure of the crops were felt, it was the general belief that the country—at least our neighborhood—held immense quantities of wheat and barley underground, which at the slightest rise of prices would be brought to market; but, unfortunately, these expectations were not realised. The demand being steady, the value of breadstuff's daily rose, and there being no supplies from the country visible, applications were n,ade abroad, and during the last and closing quarter of the year, when the demand was most

active, over 1000 packages have been imported weekly, consisting principally of flour, brought here from Marseilles, With the oxception of what has been done in provisions, the trade of our port, aa. might be expected under such unfortunate circumstances, has been generally dull, which was felt much more owing to thd large proportions our business had takeii during the last few years.