HOW THE MOORS ARE GOVERNED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2587, 9 February 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW THE MOORS ARE GOVERNED.

Soiiß very interesting facts relating to the mode of irovernment in Morocco were given by the Tangier correspondent of the Times. It seems that the legitimate .sources of ihe revenue of lho;conntry are the tithe on agricultural produce, the tax of 2 per emt. on domestic animals, the tax on shebbel, a fish.that abouuds in the rivers, tho mouopoly of tobacco and hascheesh, the poll tax on the Jews, duties of 10 per cent, on all .goofs exported and imported, and a gate duty iyvied on, every camel-load of goods which enters any city, or town. But, though these - aro fixed, imposts, their scale is habitually,'set aside on some pretext or another. Fines are l'jvied at discretion, and all sorts of pretexts. A quarrel between two members of a Kabila may deprive both of half their possessions. If a robbery is committed each inhabitant of die d i'iar or village, is fined double the value of the stolen property. Every little village trouble, whether domestic or public, is made an instrument for extortion. METHODS OK TOKTURE. The governors of provinces have the law absolutely in their own hands. They cannot nominally indict sentence of death, against which there is no law, or by some other form of cruelty. One of the favourite forms of torturing prisoners for the extortion of money is that ea'led the wooden jellabcer (shirt). This is a noi't of wooden box, large enough to receive the patient in a sitting posture ; on the inside it is studdied with sharp nails. Prisoners have, been kept in this instrument for months at a time, until at length released by death. Another favourite torture is by means of an iron collar, by which the victim is chained to the wall at such a height as to avoid strangu-. lation. The cutting olf a hand as punishment for theft, tliH loss of an eye in return for the malicious destruction of an eye, the amputation of a liin'o for ft limb, and the punishment of libel by nibbing the lips of tho offender with capsicum pods, are matters ol daily practice in this country. Two products of the barbarous application of the savage law are the murder-cairn and the Zuouia, or sanctuary. One and tho oth;r are to be found all through the Country. The murder-eaim is but a heap of stones ov t the spot where a murder wis committal, to which every pas-er-by adds one. Toe sanctuary is a nfuge in which the criminal who roaohes it is fir a time perfectly safe. ' TWO CONDEMNED SMUOC, MSKS. The decrees of th Sultan are held in absolute reverence by the people. This 'st->ry illustrates this remarkable loyalty. Two prisoners, bound hand and foot, passed au Englishman, who asked. what

critno they lnd. committed. " The an," wis the answer—" may God pro--1 ■ inrr his days ! —lists ordered their hoads to bo struck off because they havo been engaged in smuggling on tho Riff coast." " It is a very severe punishment," urged tho Englishman. "Do not argue with me, Nazarone," said tho officer; "I havo received my orders and must obey." The execution was to take place in the Jewish slaughter-house. A Moor, repulsive in appearance and dressed as a butcher, was there awaiting the condemned. 1 His weapon was a small knife, with a blade some Gin, long. He was a stranger, and had offered his services because all the Mohammedan butchore of Tangier had taken refuge in a sanctuary. A heated discussion arose between this wretch and tho officer in chartro as to tho blood money ho was to receive for the job. The two victims stood by and listened.. Tho butcher deinauded 20fr, a head. The officer finally agreed, though with- ill-grace. THE EXECUTIONER 'AT • WOttK. Then the butcher tho Rifiin, threw him oh the ground, and knelt on his chest. The Englishman turned away his head. Ho heard souuds of a horrible struggle, and the head was hewn from tho body.. The soldiers cried . faintly, '• Gjd prolong tho life of our lord and master !" Then oamo tho second victim. He had watched the operation. The prisonar begged that his hauds might be unbound, and, taking off his belt, gave it. to the butcher, saying, "Take it, and. for the love of God deal mure quickly with mo than with my brother." Then he stretched himself on the earth, in the, blood, and the executioner.. 'knelt on him. "A reprieve! Stop !" cried tho Englishman. A hor<eman galloped towards liitn. 'The butcher held.his knife, )' It is only tho Governor's son," said a soldier, come to see the execution ; wait for liirn." They waited.