SULTAN WHO IS ALSO A POPE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3472, 9 June 1930, Page 7

SULTAN WHO IS ALSO A POPE.

POMP AND PAGEANT OF FRIDAY PRAYERS. (By H. J. Greemvali.) It is Friday, and'.the Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Moulay Ybussuf Ben El Hassan is going in state to worship at the royal mosque in the garden of his palace among the douars. There is a fanfare of trumpets, and the procession leaves the Makkzen, the royal household.

The .procession is headed by the mounted Black Guard, then come servants' of the household. foUo\V'ed by other troops, mounted and on-foot, all in gorgeous uniforms aid robe's.-, Then comes the Sultan himself, preceded by the holder of the umbrella,-- a- vast green sunshade. The Sul tap isdjiuiked by four men on either ’ side,‘ /cttifryiiig wonderfully fashioned fly-whisksh Music and more servants close the-pnScefesion. On certain Moorish days of festival the young Sultan drives out (he/ has a great collection of powerful • French motor-cars), and plays the-leading part in magnificent ceremonials .-ih v either Rabat, Mequinez or Marrakesh/' Some of tliesc festivities last lor three .days and nights, and thousands of tribesmen come into the city.fdr the festivities. During a “hedfaj” as some of these festivals ate called, the tribes offer presents to their--Sultan. Caskets of . gold ■or of- silver are brought forward, and others Lead out prancing Arab steeds, with -gorgeous native' saddles, trimmed with'- precious stones which outshine the; sun.- Others still bring pieces of handwoven Jmaterial and embroidery. Each gift is offered with much •ceremonial. The head of each tf-ibjp exclaims: “May Allah bless the reign of our Sovereign,” and the Sultan .in return extends his blessing.' It should be remarked that the Sultan ofMdrocco is both the spiritual and-teinpoi'aT head of the State, and is-in point of fact, a Moorish pope. On the occasion of 'the - festival of Aid-El-Kebir (the Festival : yof- the Sheep) the Sultan himself after prayers among bis people, immediately cuts the throats of two sheep. One sheep is taken by a galloping horseman to the cadi of the city, and 11 io other rushed to'the royal palace. Both sheep must arrive at their destination before they expire, as- it is only then that the coming year may be sure to bci happy. ' > _ A tea. party at the royal palace us a ceremony which has not changed with the centuries. -

The Sultan and his guests 'sit', crosslegged on low divans which nni>round the room. The-European guests are excused from sitting in the Moorish fashion. .

Then with great pomp, and- circumstance servants come mVwith-"'great brass platters aid place llffi).** on low stools on eithoif the right or left-hand side of the arched doorway. ’I hen enters the server of tea.

There is placed before him a large samovar containing boiling water' and a vase of brass containing green ’mint, dried, of course. On anoibcr.'plaller are numerous glasses, each with fjio I'ova! monogram.

Tim server of tea, puts a little. - mint in each glass, and then pours over it the boiling water. On another platter are numerous little cakes. Servants tin'll lake platters of tbe tea a nil- cakes, and with mncli ceremony band them to (he guests. ' ■"'*

Tea is sipped ajid the little cakes eaten, and each converses- with his neighbour. The tea begins about O.AO, and ends alout half an hour later, when tlie Sultan retires.

The present young Soil an was not Ihe direct heir to 1 lit* throne, but was chosen, according to tradition, by fbo important personages of Morocco.

The tiny eightcen-numths-old baby, now nestling in 1 lie arms ul his eighteen rear-old mother, the Sultana, may