TANGIER’S GREAT MARKET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 January 1929, Page 9

TANGIER’S GREAT MARKET

TUST within the walls of Tangier lies . the Sok-clc-Barra, or the Great Market. Here, on certain clays of the week, townsmen ancl countrymen gather to barter, to sell, and to buy. Many sit. conversing in the little refreshmen booths, in holes in the walls which frame the- market. Others may ensconce themselves on boxes, bales, or other merchandise fstates the ‘•Christian Science Monitor”). Dressed in the picturesque garb ol their country, they wear heautilnlly embroidered and colourful vests and a white woven burnoose, over which is worn an outer garment of camel or goat hair, jellab or jellaba. This garment is decorated around the cuffs ancl elsewhere with charming hits of colour of Moorish design. The jellaba, like the burnoose, is loose fitting and surmounted with a large hood. In inclement weather this can he thrown, and completely covers the head of the wearer. The entire garment is most effective in helping to f>hed rain ancl keep the wearer warm in the cold winds and rainy weather of the Moroccan winter season. The slippers of the men are usually of beautifully cured yellow leather, and sometimes ornamented. Those of the' women are red, and into these the feet are shoved, ancl Morocco scuffs its way skilfully through its narrow streets. The uninitiated would find it a difficult matter to negotiate these. Over a small white fez, often surmounted by a red one. :s wound a turban of decorated silk if he be a townsman, or ol brown cords of camel s hair if lie be u countryman. Other turbans are of various colours, although white predominates. Occasionally on the head .jC an individual in the great throngs that flow through the narrow town streets or fill the market places a green turban is seen. This signifies that its owner has performed the hadj, or pilgrimage of Mecca, and has thus fulfilled one of

PICTURESQUE SCENES

the missions of the faithful among j Mohammedans. The Moroccan is of the Arab and Berber race, except the negroes, who have wandered up from the Sudan, and the Oriental Jew. The townsmen, or Moors, dwell in some dozen large cities scattered over Morocco, of which Fez is the capital. The. countrymen—farmers and shepherds—live in little villages, called dollars, on the mountain sides or valleys, and during the last few vear,s the world has seen how tenaciously the tribes of the Biff have fought for their country and homes. The townsman, or Moor, ancl the hillsman of the country, are easily distinguishable by a photographer. The latter, more reticent, less sophisticated, sits back and withdraws himself from the camera, withdraws It is arms inside his jellaba, and looks out with a questioning as to what it is all ahount, trot fully assured of the photographer’s intentions; while the townsman shows a frank understanding ancl assurance of the Christian photographer. In fact, there is a direct charm, simplicity, ancl j kindliness in his whole pose ancl outjlook. Both his face and delicately shaped hands suggest an intelligent and refined nature. The writer has found the Moroccans, whether Moorish townsmen, primitive Kebyles, or Biffians of the Atlas Mountains, when once assured that one’s intentions are honourable and good, to be hospitable, generous, and loyal in their friendships. In fact, in all countries the writer has found that people at heart are kindly, and all seem to be seeking, although in greater or lesser degree, the same objective in life, although their customs ancl costumes may be different. If one approaches these folk with an understanding heart he will be greeted with understanding hearts. Where there is understanding among people there cannot be discord, even in A 1 Mogreb (Morocco), the Land of the West.