Chapter XI

General Commerce of Marocco. — Annual Exports and Imports of the Port of Mogodor. — Importance and Advantages of a Trade with the Empire of Marocco. — Cause of its Decline. — Present State of our Relations with the Barbary Powers.

The city of Marocco, besides its trade with the various districts of the interior, receives the most considerable supplies of European merchandize from the port of Mogodor, which is distant from it four days journey, caravan travelling;[181] some of the more valuable articles, however, are transported from Fas to the Marocco market, such as muslins, cambricks, spices, teas, pearls, coral, &c. and the elegant Fas manufactures of silk and gold. There is a considerable market held at Marocco every Thursday, called by the Arabs Soke-el-kumise,[182] which all articles of foreign as well as home manufacture are bought and sold, also horses,[183] horned cattle, slaves, &c. Samples of all kinds of merchandize are carried up and down the market and streets of the city by the Delels, or itinerant auctioneers, who proclaim the price offered, and when no one offers more, the best bidder is apprised of his purchase, the money is paid, and the transaction terminated.

The shops of Marocco are filled with merchandize of various kinds, many of which are supplied by the merchants of Mogodor, who receive, in return for European goods, the various articles of the produce of Barbary for the European markets. The credit which was given by the principal commercial houses of Mogodor to the natives has of late considerably decreased owing to the change of system in the government; for, in the reign of the present Emperor’s father, the European merchants were much respected, and their books considered as correct, so that a book debt was seldom disputed, and every encouragement was given to commerce by that Emperor; but Muley Soliman’s political principles differ so widely from those of his father, that the most trifling transaction should now be confirmed by law, to enable the European to be on equal terms with the Moor, and to entitle him to recover any property, or credit given; these measures have thrown various impediments in the way of commerce, insomuch that credit is either almost annihilated, or transformed into barter, which has necessarily thrown the trade into fewer hands, and consequently curtailed it in a great degree. For the purpose of showing at once the traffic carried on in the port of Mogodor, I shall here give an accurate account of its exports and imports during the years 1804, 1805, and the first six months of 1806, which are carefully extracted from the imperial custom-house books.

Imports into Mogodor in 1804.

From London,	661 pieces, of from 40 to 50 yards each piece.
	210 pieces, scarlet or media grana, from 40 to 50 yards each piece.
	150 pieces, plunkets, about 40 yards each piece.
Superfine Cloths.	— From	London	50	pieces.
		Leghorn	12
		Other parts	—
				62 pieces.
Long Ells.	— From	London	640	pieces,	coloured.
			30		scarlet
			60		embossed.
		Leghorn	300		coloured.
Druggets.	— From	London	40	pieces,
Red Cloth.	— From	Amsterdam	17	pieces.
LINENS.
Creas.	— From	London	902	pieces.
		Amsterdam	765
		Leghorn	60
				1115 pieces.
Plattilias.	— From	London	1047	pieces.
		Amsterdam	4708
		Leghorn	650
				6405 pieces.
Brettagnias.	— From	London	500	pair.
		Amsterdam	400
				900 pair.
Cambricks.	— From	London	20	pair.
Muslins.	— From	London	21
		Amsterdam	20
				41 pieces.
Indian Blue Linens.	— From	London	749	pieces.
		Amsterdam	30
				779 pieces.
Striped India Silk.	— From	London	40	pieces.
Silk Velvets.	— From	London	131	cubits.[184]
		Leghorn	250
				381 cubits.
Damask.	— From	Leghorn	456	cubits.
		Amsterdam	150
				606 cubits.
Raw Silk.	— From	London	1150	lb.
		Leghorn	1200
		Lisbon	560
				2910 lb.
Allum.	— From	London	95524	lb.
Copperas.	— From	London	91061	lb.
Sugar in loaves.	— From	London	36966
		Amsterdam	9653
		Lisbon	9600
				56219 lb.
Raw Sugar.	— From	London	7100
		Lisbon	2100
				9200 lb.
Iron.	— From	London	8871	bars.
		Amsterdam	1415
		Leghorn	375
				10661 bars, 522700 lb.
Gum Benzoin.	— From	London	14239	lb.
Gum Lac.			51800	lb.
Hardware.	— From	London	19	cases.
		Amsterdam	4	barrels
Gum Tragacant.	— From	London	1058
		Amsterdam	370
				1428 lb.
Pepper.	— From	London	9231	lb.
Cloves.	— From	London	6444
		Amsterdam	1056
				7504 lb.
Nutmegs.	— From	London	712	lb.
Rhubarb.	— From	London	246	lb.
Green Tea.	— From	London	1310
		Amsterdam	200
				1510 lb.
Wrought Pewter.	— From	London	5
		Amsterdam	7
				12 casks
Tin Plates.	— From	London	60 cases, 13875 pieces.
White Lead.	— From	London	2530	lb.
Copper in sheets.	— From	Amsterdam	1035	lb.
Thread.	— From	Leghorn	800
		Amsterdam	200
				1000 lb.
Mirrors, called in Holland Velt Spiegels.
	From	Amsterdam	7250	dozen.
		Leghorn	350
Mirrors of various sizes.	— From	Amsterdam	1750	pieces.
Earthen Ware.	— From	Amsterdam	70	cases.
		London	16	crates.
Wool Cards.	— From	Amsterdam	210	dozen.
Dutch Knives.	— From	Amsterdam	13738	dozen.
Brass Pans.	— From	Amsterdam	550	lb.
Osnaburg Linen.	— From	Amsterdam	180	pieces.
Irish Linen.	— From	London	170	pieces.
		Leghorn	150
				320 pieces.
Lanthorns.	— From	London	100	dozen.
Glass.	— From	London	5	cases.
Red Lead.	— From	London	1853	lb.
Calamine.	— From	London	2100	lb.
Argol.	— From	London	3	cases.
Paper.	— From	Leghorn	27	bales.
Cotton.	— From	Leghorn	2400	lb.
Tin in bars.	— From	London	6000	lb.
Espique Romano.	— From	Leghorn	3850
		Amsterdam	3000
				6850 lb.
Coral Beads.	— From	Leghorn	50	lb.
Amber Beads.	— From	Leghorn	150
		Amsterdam	100
				250 lb.
Sal Ammoniac.	— From	London	1200	lb.
Chaplets.	— From	Leghorn	7	barrels.
Gold Lace.	— From	Amsterdam	10	lb.
Looking Glasses, called bulls’ eyes.	— From	Leghorn	4	barrels.
Silk Handkerchiefs.	— From	London	100
		Amsterdam	10
		Leghorn	100
				210 dozen.
Glasses.	— From	Amsterdam	20
		Leghorn	1
				21 cases.
Corrosive Sublimate.	— From	Amsterdam	50
		Leghorn	50
				100 lb.
Venetian Steel.	— From	Leghorn	2500	lb.
Hebrew Books.	—	Leghorn	10	cases.
Romals.	— From	London	286	pieces.
Baftas.	— From	London	821	pieces.
		Lisbon	350
Rouans.	— From	Amsterdam	505	pieces.
China.	— From	London	330	dozen cups and saucers.
		Amsterdam	30	dozen ditto.
Cochineal.	— From	London	375
		Cadiz	700
		Lisbon	230
				1305 lb.
Wire.	— From	Amsterdam	5000	mass.
Copper Tea Kettles.	— From	Amsterdam	119
Brazil Wood.	— From	Lisbon	600	lb.
Iron Nails.	— From	London	11573
		Amsterdam	1000
		Leghorn	1000
				13573 lb.
Deals.	— From	Amsterdam	1886	pieces.
Empty Cases.	— From	Amsterdam	900	cases.
Sealing Wax.	— From	Amsterdam	20	lb.
Coffee Mills.	— From	Amsterdam	20
Buenos Ayres Hides.	— From	London	350
		Cadiz	300
				650 hides.
Mexico Dollars.	— From	London	18000
		Cadiz	47000
		Lisbon	16000
		Teneriffe	10000
		Amsterdam	8000
				99000
Total value of Imports in 1804, £151450.

Exports from Mogodor in 1804.

Sweet Almonds.	— To	London	6853
		Amsterdam	231638
		Leghorn	4505
		Lisbon	15524
		Cadiz	61041
		Teneriffe	2356
				321917 lb.
Bitter Almonds.	— To	London	233019	lb.
		Amsterdam	126607
		Leghorn	2980
				362606 lb.
Gum Barbary.	— To	London	99417
		Amsterdam	213540
		Leghorn	10254
		Lisbon	2583
		Marseilles	9642
				335436 lb.
Gum Soudan or Senegal, from Timbuctoo, by the caravans.
	To	London	36416	lb.
		Amsterdam	59021	lb.
		Marseilles	519
				95956 lb
Gum Sandrac.	— To	London	16995
		Amsterdam	9056
		Leghorn	3314
		Lisbon	2869
				32234 lb.
Bees Wax.	— To	London	1957
		Leghorn	52616
		Lisbon	11595
		Marseilles	30022
		Cadiz	93791
		Teneriffe	4878
				194859 lb.
Goat Skins.	— To	London	12726	dozen.
Oil of Olives.	— To	London	5850	lb.
		Amsterdam	30757
		Lisbon	14729
		Teneriffe	5900
				57236 lb.
Cow and Calf Skins.	— To	London	64376
		Leghorn	41611
		Marseilles	14496
				120483 lb.
Sheeps Wool.	— To	Amsterdam	62972
		Marseilles	29624
		Teneriffe	5300
				97896 lb.
Ostrich Feathers.	— To	London	555	lb.
Elephants Teeth.	— To	Amsterdam	800	lb.
Pomegranate Peels.	— To	London	2184
		Amsterdam	44097
				46281 lb.
Dates, of the quality called Adamoh, from Tafilelt.
	To	London	1129
		Lisbon	1305
				243 lb.
Raisins.	— To	London	200	lb.
Worm Seed.	— To	London	465
		Lisbon	2468
				2933 lb.
Rose leaves.	— To	Amsterdam	138	lb.
Wild Thyme (Zater).	— To	Amsterdam	2860
		Lisbon	1714
				4574 lb.
Glue.	— To	Amsterdam	84	lb.
Anice-seeds.	— To	London	200
		Amsterdam	4650
		Lisbon	829
				5679 lb.
Fennel.	— To	Amsterdam	856	lb.
Gingelin Seed.	— To	London	460
		Amsterdam	2044
				2504 lb.
Walnuts.	— To	Lisbon	240	lb.
Straw.	— To	Lisbon	24	bales.
Tallow.	— To	Teneriffe	1465	lb.
Tallow Candles.	— To	Teneriffe	350	lb.
String.	— To	Teneriffe	2852	lb.
Total value of Exports from Mogodor in 1804, in Europe, after paying freight, European duties, &c. £127679. sterling.

Imports into Mogodor in 1805.

WOOLLEN CLOTHS.
Yorkshire Cloths.
From London,	Scarlet 300 demi-pieces from 20 to 25 yards each.
	Alto of various colours 970 demi-pieces from ditto to ditto.
	Tier blue, or plunkets		80	ditto.
	Superfine cloths		62	ditto.
	Long Ells		900	ditto.
	Embossed Purpetts		85	ditto.
German Cloths.	— From Leghorn and Amsterdam 22 pieces.
Nankeens.	— From	Lisbon	1000	pieces.
LINENS.
Plattilias.	— From	London	1300
		Amsterdam	6050
		Leghorn	1395
				8745 pieces.
Creas.	— From	London	600
		Amsterdam	788
		Leghorn	550
				1938 pieces.
Rouans.	— From	Amsterdam	618
Brettagnias.	— From	London	625
		Amsterdam	1000
				1625 pieces.
Baftas.	— From	London	1600	pieces.
Romals.	— From	London	1010
		Leghorn	300
				1310 pieces.
Muslins.	— From	London	70	pieces.
Blue Linens.	— From	Amsterdam	117	pieces.
Gum Benjamin or Benzoin.	— From	London	19237	lb.
Stick-lack.	— From	London	18546
		Amsterdam	7959
				26505 lb.
Musk.	— From	London	20	lb.
Raw Sugar.	— From	London	6568
		Teneriffe	10400
				16968 lb.
Sugar in loaves.	— From	London	7892
		Amsterdam	3913
		Lisbon	3759
				15564 lb.
Green Tea.	— From	London	1420
		Amsterdam	350
				1770 lb.
Cloves.	— From	London	10941
		Amsterdam	2159
		Leghorn	476
				13576 lb.
Sal Ammoniac.	— From	London	8941	lb.
Cochineal.	— From	London	558	lb.
Tin in plates.	— From	London	295	cases.
Tin in bars.	— From	London	5114	lb.
Wrought Pewter.	— From	London	7	barrels.
		Amsterdam	5	ditto.
Iron.	— From	London	10753	bars,
		Amsterdam	2074
				641756 lb.
Copperas.	— From	London	147882	lb.
Allum.	— From	London	93600	lb.
Raw Silk.	— From	London	1300
		Amsterdam	255
		Leghorn	2478
				4033 lb.
German Looking-glasses or Mirrors.
	From	Amsterdam	18696
		Leghorn	600
				19296 dozen.
Dutch Knives.	— From	Amsterdam	12874	dozen.
Gum Tragacant or Dragon.
	From	Amsterdam	150
		Leghorn	675
				825 lb.
Wire.	— From	Amsterdam	3900	mass.
Cowries.	— From	Amsterdam	32000	lb.
Needles.	— From	Leghorn	200	million.
Red and While Lead.	— From	London	3320	lb.
Brass Pans.	— From	Amsterdam	1000	lb.
Thread.	— From	Leghorn	1050
		Amsterdam	430
				1480 lb.
Arsenic.	— From	London	1872	lb.
Silk Handkerchiefs.	— From	London	93
		Leghorn	100
		Amsterdam	10
				203 dozen.
Files.	— From	London	200
		Amsterdam	135
				335 dozen.
Lavender.	— From	Leghorn	14800	lb.
Razors.	— From	Leghorn	500	dozen.
Box Combs.	— From	Leghorn	3600	dozen.
Amber Beads.	— From	Leghorn	300	lb.
Coral.	— From	Leghorn	50	lb.
Nails.	— From	Amsterdam	1181	lb.
Wool Combs.	— From	Amsterdam	2268	pair.
Padlocks.	— From	Amsterdam	515	dozen.
British China.	— From	London	40	dozen.
Osnaburgh Linens.	— From	Amsterdam	50	pieces.
Swedish Steel.	— From	Amsterdam	7000	lb.
Espiquo Romano.	— From	Amsterdam	13088
		Leghorn	5213
				18301 lb.
Hebrew Bibles.	— From	Amsterdam	4	cases.
Dutch Boxes.
	Green Gin Boxes containing 12 square bottles each.
	Case 392 cases full.
	300 do. empty.
Potatoes.	— From	London	9000	lb.
Bellows.	— From	London	60	dozen.
Copper Kettles.	— From	London	242	dozen.
		Amsterdam	13
				255 dozen.
Cotton.	— From	Teneriffe	5400	lb.
Vermillion.	— From	Amsterdam	150	lb.
Turners Boxes.	— From	Amsterdam	1000	nests.
Venetian Steel.	— From	Leghorn	11400	lb.
Planks.	— From	London	886
		Amsterdam	1250
				2136 pieces.
Coffee.	— From	Teneriffe	3600	lb.
Sarsaparilla.	— From	Amsterdam	150	lb.
Scales for Gold.	—		48	pair.
Candlesticks.	—		64	pieces
Painted Boxes.	— From	Amsterdam	240	pieces.
Earthen Ware or British China.	— From	London	10	crates.
Sealing Wax.	— From	Amsterdam	100	lb.
Medicinal Drugs.	— From	Amsterdam	1	case.
Chaplets.	— From	Leghorn	3	casks.
		Amsterdam	1	cask.
				4 casks.
Toys.	— From	Amsterdam	300	dozen.
Capillaire.	— From	Leghorn	2200	boxes, or 2200 bottles.
Confectionary.	— From	Leghorn	300	boxes.
Ivory Combs.	— From	Leghorn	25	dozen.
Quicksilver.	— From	Amsterdam	50	lb.
Mercery.	— From	Amsterdam	1	case.
Glasses.	— From	Amsterdam	2	cases.
Gold Thread.	— From	Leghorn	25	lb.
Manufactured Silks.	— From	London	50	pieces
		Amsterdam	239	cubits
				1239 cubits.[185]
Hardware.	— From	London	3	barrels.
Wrought Copper.	— From	Amsterdam	1	case.
Clocks.	— From	Amsterdam	20.
Mexico Dollars.	— From	London	24,000
		Amsterdam	3,200
		Lisbon	29,500
		Cadiz	4,000
		Gibraltar	12,000
		Leghorn	12,000
		Teneriffe	4,000
				88,700

As the prices of these merchandise vary considerably, the calculation of their value in West Barbary is omitted.

Exports from Mogodor in 1805.

Sweet Almonds.	— To	London	24020	lb.
		Amsterdam	474994
		Barcelona	6148
		Teneriffe	300
				505462 lb.
Bitter Almonds	— To	London	128442
		Amsterdam	357198
		Barcelona	2620
				488260 lb.
Gum Barbary.	— To	London	277534
		Amsterdam	211598
		Lisbon	2409
		Barcelona	809
				492350 lb.
Gum Senegal.	— To	London	8047
		Amsterdam	23509
				23509
Gum Sandarac.	— To	London	11367
		Amsterdam	27776
		Other ports	1040
				40183
Gum Euphorbium.	— To	Amsterdam	782	lb.
Elephants Teeth.	— To	London	1373	lb.
		Amsterdam	336	lb.
				1709 lb.
Sheeps Wool.	— To	Amsterdam	29731	lb.
Cow and Calf Skins.	— To	London	250783
		Lisbon	9178
				259961 lb.
Goat Skins.	— To	London	9957	dozen.
		Lisbon	80
				10,037 dozen.
Pomgranale Peals.	— To	Amsterdam	650,40	lb.
Citrons.	— To	Amsterdam	1540	pieces.
Olive Oil.	— To	Teneriffe	35727
		Lisbon	10217
				45944 lb.
Worm Seed.	— To	Amsterdam	12483	lb.
Fennel.	— To	Teneriffe	1360	lb.
Tallow.	— To	Teneriffe	1600	lb.
Tallow Candles.	—		178	lb.
Packing Thread.	— To	Teneriffe	3895	lb.
Marocco Goat Leather.	— To	Teneriffe	600	skins.
Marocco Calf Leather.	—		300	pieces.

Imports to Mogodor

During the first seven Months of 1806.

Cloths. —	79	pieces Superfine Cloth
	360	pieces Media Grana
	230	pieces Alto
Long Ells. —	120	pieces coloured
	180	pieces embossed
Linens, viz. Osnaburgs,	50	pieces
Baftas (India Cottons)	1303	pieces
Irish Linen —	33	pieces
India Blue Linens —	784	pieces
Muslins —	300	pieces
Plattilias —	3224	pieces
Creas —	1020	pieces.
Rouans —	200	pieces
Striped Silks —	80	pieces
Brettagnias —	632	pair
Silk Handkerchiefs —	406	dozen
Romals —	200	pieces
Raw Silk —	68	lb.
Cloves —	875	lb.
Gum Benjamin —	5113	lb.
Ginger —	675	lb.
Stick-lack —	18600	lb.
Arsenic —	4876	lb.
Sal Ammoniac —	8029	lb.
Spianter —	1673.
Mercury —	150	lb.
Vitriol —	375	lb.
Red Lead —	1852	lb.
Tin plates —	70	boxes.
Hardware—viz. Tea-trays, Tea-pots, Candlesticks, Knives, &c. —28 cases.
Allum —	578,27	lb.
Copperas —	655	lb.
Pepper —	3123	lb.
Sarsaparilla —	400	lb.
Wine —	12	pipes
Iron —	2864	bars.
Raw Sugar —	5000	lb.
Loaf Sugar —	213,48	lb.
Green Tea —	1074	lb.
Paper	30	bales
Venetian Steel —	19000	lb.
Cochineal —	571	lb.
Liqueurs —	2	cases
Coral —	1	case
Capillaire —	400	bottles
Razors —	1000	dozen
Files —	100	dozen
Wire —	2000	mass.
Wool Cards —	128	dozen pair
Gum Tragacanth —	801	lb.
Dutch Looking Glasses, called Velt Spiegles — 4950 dozen
Crown Mirrors —	450	pieces
Brass Pans —	850	lb.
Needles for Tapestry —	9000
Coffee —	1823	lb.
Dutch Knives —	875	dozen
Spico Romano —	1236	lb.
Turners’ Boxes —	4000	nests
Coffee Mills —	100
Empty Bottles for Tea —	200
Mexico Dollars —	78,000

Exports of Barbary Produce

From the Port of Mogodor from January 1, to July 31, 1806.

Sweet Almonds —	5062,58	lb.
Bitter Almonds —	2138,11	lb.
Bees Wax —	2345,55	lb.
Gum Barbary, Tolh, or Arabic —	1839,12	lb.
Gum Sandrac —	270,000	lb.
Gum Soudan (Senegal) —	6330	lb.
Calf Skins —	2130,30	lb.
Raisins —	842	lb.
Anice-seeds —	3687	lb.
Carraway Seeds —	219	lb.
Dates (Adamoh) —	1237
Pomgranate Peals —	5155	lb.
Worm Seed —	563	lb.
Elephants Teeth —	5536	lb.
Goat Skins —	6480	dozen
Ostrich Feathers —	556	lb.
Cummin Seeds —	2013	lb.
Lead Ore —	320	lb.
Citrons —	340	lb.
Capers —	100	lb.
Caraway Seeds —	219	lb.
Oil of Olives —	5604	lb.
Tanned Leather —	2660	lb.
Packing Thread —	3900	lb.
Tallow —	625	lb.

By a careful perusal of the foregoing account of the exports from, and imports into, the port of Mogodor, the commercial reader will be enabled to form an accurate idea of the trade of that place: there are several things exported in such small quantities, that they cannot be reckoned as articles of trade, but rather as samples; but being in the custom-house books, they are given here to make the account complete; they shew the produce of the country, and might, if the trade were duly encouraged and protected, form articles of considerable importance in a commercial view; but, with consuls, who are equally unacquainted with the language of the country, and the manners, politics, and complexion of the court, we must not expect that the British merchant will be sufficiently encouraged to make considerable adventures to West Barbary; and hence one reason why the trade has of late years been in a great degree abandoned by us, and has fallen into the hands of a few Jews, subjects of the Emperor.

The French, aware of the importance of a trade which carries off manufactured goods of all kinds, and furnishes in return raw materials, were induced to attempt an establishment of considerable capital; but the British cruizers in the Mediterranean rendering it almost impossible for their ships to sail to or from Marseilles, have lately obliged them to relinquish their enterprize for the present, though, there can be no doubt, that in the event of a permanent peace, it will be resumed with additional vigour. The same causes have also compelled the other merchants, natives of countries now under the dominion of France, to remain almost entirely inactive, waiting impatiently for some change that may enable them to resume, with some security, their commercial negociations; so that, with the exception of two or three houses, there is, at present, no European establishment of any consequence at Mogodor.

The commerce of Mogodor with America during the years 1804 and 1805, was impeded by a dispute between that country and the Emperor, which however has been amicably adjusted, and the trade is now resumed. Vessels going from Salem, Boston, and other parts of America with East and West India produce to Mogodor, receive, in return, the various articles of Barbary produce; and by this means, the agents of the American merchants established at Mogodor are enabled to undersell us in all East and West India articles.

A close connexion with the empire of Marocco is of the greatest importance to Great Britain both in a political and commercial point of view; for besides the various articles of trade already enumerated, it affords ample supplies of provisions; and if a friendly intercourse between the two nations were firmly established, we should never have any difficulty in victualling not only Gibraltar, but also all our different fleets which cruize in the Mediterranean, and on the northern coast of Africa, a resource, which, in the present state of things, certainly merits the serious attention of this country. The advantages of a trade with this empire must be evident from what has been detailed in the preceding pages, where it will be seen that nearly the whole of the exports to Marocco consists of manufactured goods, and that the returns for these are entirely raw materials, many of which are essentially necessary in our manufactures. That the present trade is so inconsiderable, arises entirely from the little encouragement and support it meets with; for British subjects, finding they had to depend on their own exertions alone, for the protection and safety of the property embarked in this traffic, have, for the most part, abandoned it, and now it is falling into the hands of subjects of Marocco, established in England. This is the more to be regretted, as we have it in our power, by proper representations and a judicious negociation, to supply, through this channel, a great part of the interior of Africa with our superfluous manufactures, while we might receive in return many very valuable and useful articles, such as oil of olives, hides, skins, almonds, gums, wax, silver, and gold, in addition to which may be mentioned oranges and lemons, of which a greater quantity might be procured from two ports[186] in the empire, than is afforded by both Spain and Portugal. The oranges of Tetuan are the finest in the world, and are sold for eight drahims, or about 3s. 6d. per thousand. Those of Marocco, of Terodant, of Fas, of Mequinas, of Rabat, and the adjacent country, are also very good, abundant, and equally cheap; they might be imported from Rabat to England with considerable advantage: but I believe the exportation has lately been prohibited, this fruit being included in the general prohibition to the exportation to Europe of all articles of provision. The season for gathering them for exportation is from November till January.

It may, perhaps, be objected by some, who have experienced difficulties in treating with the Emperor, that he would not, probably, allow fruit to be exported: to this I answer, that it is possible, by proper means, to obtain almost any favour from a Sovereign who is uncontrollable; it is not gold which rules his conduct, though some ingenious persons have imagined that to be the only means of procuring any thing from him: had this been the case, he would not have granted me the privilege of exporting mules to the West Indies at half the duty that another house offered him. In short, nothing is wanting to secure a most extensive and lucrative trade with Marocco, but an established friendship between the two nations, strengthened by a mutual return of good offices and attentions. Indeed the present Emperor, Muley Soliman, may be said to have made overtures of this nature; but from our impolicy, and inattention, added to the ignorance of the proper mode of treating with him, these overtures were neglected.

When we recollect, however, that the envoys to Marocco for the last century, have been men almost wholly unacquainted with the manners, customs, and religious prejudices of the people, and ignorant of their language, we shall cease to be surprised that our connection with that empire has been so limited, and impeded by mutual misunderstanding of each others sentiments, originating, but too often, in deficiency and inaccuracy of interpreters. What expectations can be indulged of terminating successfully negociations with a prince, in conversing with whom some ignorant illiterate interpreter, generally a Jew, and a devoted subject of the Emperor, must be made the confidential servant of the party treating? besides, every one acquainted with the nature of the government, and political principles of the Court of Marocco, is well aware, that, even supposing it possible to procure a Jew, capable of interpreting accurately the English into Arabic, and vice versa, yet there are many expressions necessary for an Envoy to use to the Emperor, which no Jew in the country would dare to utter in the imperial presence on pain of losing his head: the general garrulity of these people, moreover, is such, that they are perhaps unworthy of being entrusted with any secret wherein the interest of a nation is concerned. Of this the Emperor himself is convinced, as was also his father, who frequently, during his reign, expressed his regret to Mr. A. Layton, that no English consul could be found, capable of holding direct intercourse with him. The weakness and instability of our treaties are generally in proportion to the weakness and inaccuracy of the interpreter, their force and meaning being often frittered away by the misplacing of a word through his indecision or fear; and possessing, probably, but a slight knowledge of the style of writing, he is obliged to have the treaty read by a Moor, and explained according to his own manner, in the vulgar Arabic, or Moorish language, which alone is sufficient, without any additional cause, to do away the force and intent of any document, possessing that energy of expression for which the Arabic language is so remarkable. Suppose we were negociating a peace with France, what would be the probable result if there were no person attached to our embassy but a French subject, who understood the French and English languages sufficiently to convey the aggregate only, but not the precise sense of the stipulations? we should certainly have but little expectation of success under such circumstances, and should probably be worse off than if no treaty had been concluded, so easy would it be to give a turn to any clause, the force and point of which was not distinctly ascertained. This has been literally our case with Marocco: treaties have been made without being understood, or even translated, till many months after the conclusion of them; how then can we expect to acquire influence or consideration at a court, where a man who does not speak the Arabic is considered as an illiterate barbarian (ajemmie m’dollem), and is treated accordingly? The Emperor has frequently expressed a wish to communicate with our Sovereign, but the publicity to which his sentiments must be exposed in the present routine of British diplomacy, deters him from it, and restricts or diminishes the intercourse between the two countries.[187]

By way of shewing the extreme disadvantages under which our negotiations are carried on with the Barbary powers, I will relate a circumstance which happened during the last embassy to Marocco; I do not mean to say any thing prejudicial to Mr. Matra, who conducted that embassy; he was a man of capacity, and understood the nature of the court, as well as a long residence in the country, without a knowledge of the language, could enable him: he was attended by a Jewish interpreter, a subject of Marocco, who was required by the Emperor to wear the dress of his tribe,[188] but being in the suite of the Ambassador, and his interpreter, Mr. Matra repeated his injunction to the Emperor, alleging, that as he was in his immediate service, he was, and ought to be considered as, a British subject, and therefore entitled to wear the dress which the Jews of Great Britain wore: this argument was admitted by the Emperor, and the Jew was accordingly permitted to appear before him in the English dress. This was certainly a point gained by the Ambassador, and might have been the prelude to more considerable concessions, had it been judiciously followed up; indeed, the Emperor was desirous to temporise with the English, and treated the Ambassador and his suite in a better style than he had done any former one, and, as I was credibly informed, even permitted Mr. Matra to sit down by him, an honour never before conferred on any but a prince. Much affability and politeness of this kind was terminated by a long treaty of peace and amity, written in Arabic, but which unluckily nobody in the Ambassador’s suite could properly understand, except by circuitous and inaccurate explanation by a Moor to the Jew interpreter, and then from him to the consul; the latter, however, being dissatisfied with it, was persuaded to entrust it to a Spanish student, who, instead of giving an accurate translation to the Ambassador, sent one, as it was reported, to Madrid, kept the paper a month, and then returned it to Mr. Matra, so that the whole treaty was known at Madrid before it was known at London, or even by the Ambassador himself at Tangier! and in this manner, I am sorry to say, are our affairs conducted at Marocco. In short, I am well persuaded, that so long as gentlemen are sent to the Barbary powers as ambassadors or consuls, and remain there four or five years before they can make themselves sufficiently acquainted with the complection of the Mohammedan courts and intrigues, not to say the language, which but very few are at all likely ever to acquire sufficiently to hold colloquial intercourse at Court: we must not expect to gain any considerable commercial or political advantages with these countries.

It may also be necessary here to observe, that there are various expressions, not considered indelicate, among Europeans, which ought not to be used before the Ceed, or Emperor, by any one who is desirous to negociate advantageously. I have known a negociation totally frustrated by one trifling, or incautious expression. Accuracy of pronunciation, and refinement of expression, added to easy and affable manners, and a good person, would be attended with incalculable advantages in negociations at this court, the language, as well as the manners and customs of which, although fixed and regulated by invariable rules, are unknown and unattended to by the nations of Europe, at least by those of the North: and this I conceive to be one of the reasons why a negociation with the Court of Marocco seldom or ever terminates advantageously to the European negociator.

In treaties of peace between any European power and the Sultan of Marocco, one of the clauses always affects to protect the subject: so in the English treaties, if an Englishman residing in the empire commit any misdemeanor, he is not to be judged by the Mohammedan law, but by that of his own country, and is to be delivered up to the Consul until satisfaction be given; From the supineness of Consuls, however, this clause, as well as many others, has been often disregarded, and the wording altogether misunderstood or misconstrued.

As various reports have gone abroad relative to the affair of Mr. A. Layton, a British merchant at Mogodor, having had his teeth pulled out by order of the Emperor, it may be interesting to set that transaction in its true light.

Mr. A. Layton was the chief partner in a house of considerable capital and respectability; the other partners were Frenchmen, who having had official notice given them, that as the King of France had broken off all connection with Marocco, the French merchants should quit the country, or seek some other protection; accordingly, the affairs of this House being extended in the country, various impediments rose against their quitting their establishment suddenly; they proposed therefore to take Mr. A. Layton as a partner under the firm of A. Layton and Co. making it by this stratagem an English house. One afternoon the three partners, A. Layton, Secard, and Barré, together with a clerk, went out on horseback with some greyhounds belonging to the former; and in returning towards Mogodor, one of the dogs attacked a calf belonging to a neighbouring village; a Shelluh, who was the owner of the calf, shot the dog; on this a fray ensued, and the village was soon in an uproar; in the scuffle some Shelluh women were seen to throw stones, and Mr. Barré was considerably bruised: Layton also received and gave several blows. The party returned to Mogodor, when Layton immediately made a complaint to the Governor, who promised him justice should be done, and accordingly sent for the parties, who on their part insisted on justice being done to them, alleging, that a woman had had two of her teeth knocked out by Layton, and called out in the name of God and the Prophet for justice from the Emperor himself: this appeal obliged the Governor to write to the Emperor, and the parties were ordered up to Marocco: witnesses having been brought against Layton, who declared that he had knocked the woman’s teeth out with the thick end of his whip, the Emperor was compelled to order two of his teeth to be pulled out as a satisfaction to the lady for the loss of her’s: his Majesty, however, did not appear disposed to put the sentence into execution, but the people, who had assembled in immense numbers on this extraordinary occasion, exclaimed loudly for retaliation;[189] when the tooth drawer approached, Layton requested that he might have two of his back teeth taken out, in lieu of two of his front teeth, which request the Emperor granted. His Majesty was pleased with the courage with which Layton suffered the operation, and apologized to him the next day, and it was intimated, that he would not have allowed the sentence of the law to have been executed, had it not been necessary to allay the fury of the people; he then desired him to ask any favour, and he would grant it; Layton accordingly requested permission to load a cargo of wheat, which was granted, and, I believe, free of duty; he afterwards conferred on him similar favours, and wished so much to have him appointed British Consul, that he offered to request his Majesty to appoint him, but this Layton declined; the Emperor, however, often repeated to him this wish, alleging the advantages of negotiating with a person who could converse with him in his own language, and promising, in case of his accepting the appointment, to grant every favour that England should ask of him. Whether Layton felt himself not sufficiently supported by his country, after this personal outrage, or what other reason he had to refuse the repeated overtures of Seedy Mohammed, is not for me here to declare. Some general remonstrance was made by all the European Consuls collectively respecting this affair, and the Emperor, it appeared, would have made proper apology to the British Consul had it been demanded with energy and resolution; the influence of Great Britain suffered by not supporting her subject, and ever since this transaction, encroachments have been making on the privileges of Europeans, insomuch, that it is now a remark at the Court of Marocco, that, “If the European nations will not protect their own subjects, how can they expect that we should protect them? The Consuls at Tangier are of no use but to determine disputes of captures amongst the belligerent powers of Europe, which we do not understand, nor wish to interfere in, and if they refuse to adjust these matters they may all leave the country, they are of no further service to us.”[190]

FOOTNOTES:

[181]A caravan journey is 24 miles.

[182]The word kumise signifies the 5th day of the week.

[183]The (Delels) auctioneers, who sell the horses, have a mode of shewing them off to great advantage, so that if a person be not experienced in the purchase of them he will very often be imposed upon; to prevent which, the best judges, even the Arabs, give a small fee to the Delel, by way of purchasing his fidelity; and when this mode is adopted, he may be depended on as far as his judgment extends. When the horse has been rode up and down the market several times in different paces, he is sold to the highest bidder, who is immediately apprised of his purchase: he then repairs to the Cadi, or chief judge, and procures from the court of law a (Akad el beah) declaration of sale, which is signed by two (Ukils) attorneys, and confirmed by the Cadi at the bottom or left corner of the paper; the declaration expresses the purchase to be, for better or for worse, by the Arabic term Eladem fie el Kunshah, which, if literally rendered into English, means the bones in the sack or skin. The same custom is observed in the sale and purchase of mules, and other animals.

[184]Seven cubits make four yards English measure.

[185]1¾ cubit = 1 yard. To bring cubits into yards, multiply by 4, divide by 7.

[186]Viz. Tetuan and Rabat or Sallée.

[187]In a conversation with the Minister at Marocco for European affairs, his Excellency asked me if, in the event of his master’s writing to his Majesty, the latter would be able to get the letter interpreted; I answered in the affirmative, and a very polite and friendly letter was afterwards written, which requested an answer; but it remained here in the Secretary of State’s office, without any attention being paid to its contents, a mark of disrespect which gave great offence to the Emperor.

It appears to me extraordinary, that a language which is spoken over a much greater extent of country than any other on earth—a language combining all the powers and energy of the Greek and Latin, should be so little understood, that an Arabic letter written by the present Emperor of Marocco, to the King of Great Britain, actually lay in the Secretary of State’s office some months without being translated. The circumstance coming to the knowledge of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the Right Hon. Spencer Percival), that gentleman expressed a wish to a friend of mine, to have a translation, and the letter was transmitted to me for that purpose. Doctor Buffé, who delivered it, assured me, it had been sent to one, if not both Universities, and to the post-office, but that, either from a difference in the punctuation of the characters, or in the language itself, no one could be found capable of rendering it into English. This statement, however unaccountable it may appear to many, was afterwards farther confirmed, by passports and other papers in African Arabic being sent to me for translations, the want of which had detained vessels in our ports, and caused merchants in London to suffer from a loss of markets.

[188]The Emperor being on horseback in the place of audience one day at Marocco, he perceived a man at a distance dressed in an European dress of scarlet and gold; he enquired if he was an Ambassador, and sent some of the people in waiting to know his business; he was found to be a Jew, which being reported to the Sultan, he was highly displeased, and ordered him to be stripped, and Jewish clothes put on; this was instantly performed, and orders were issued to every port in his dominions, that Jews should be allowed to appear only in their own dress, in order that they might not, in future, be mistaken for ambassadors, alleging, that nothing was more proper and agreeable to reason, than that a Mooselmin should dress in his costume, a Christian in his, and a Jew also in his, that it might be known, and not concealed, which was which!

[189]The laws of Mohammed, like those of Moses, adhere strictly to retaliation— “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”

[190]This observation was made a few years since by the prince Muley Teib, at that time Khaliff at Tangier, to shew the contempt in which he held the representatives of the European powers!

AN
ACCOUNT OF WRECKS,
AND THE
CAPTIVITY OF BRITISH SAILORS,
ON THE
WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA.

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