A Few Thing's seen from the Headland.

Southland Times, Issue 19048, 16 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Few Thing's seen from the Headland.

The Orientalism of Morocco.

Morocco is far more Oriental than Turkey. Constantinople has still its European complexion spots ; Fez and Tangier have not. While Alexandria has become a kind of Marseilles, and ' Cairo a cheap imitation of Paris, Fez and Tangier, Marrakeah, Wazsan and Meguirey have Vetu-inail their Orientalism to the full. 'Tangier is the daily co.unovama of all Moslem life — camels stand in tho market place waiting for their loads of dates and gums and skins to be unstriii>i>fd ; light vis'aged Moors canter about upon their hardy horses ; men and women afoot lounge in aud out of the crowd ; Hebrews carrying on the petty barter of the mart ; while women, enshrouded by the huge luiks that clothe them from head to heel, squat, upon the ground ami engage in noisy gossip. Juniors are everywhere-, also story lellws, an>l the bkzc of colour is such as once seen can never be forgotten. For the most part the shops are poor, and their occupants appear to be obvious to gain. Seated on a carpet, with feet in red slippers, they seem to spend their time poring over the koran. though they are sufliciently alert to unbend to a European customer. Over all Tangier, as over all Morocco, is the disliked hurry, for not even in the rural districts of Spain are the people more inclined not to do to-day that which