The  Mussulmans  being  completely  abandoned  to  sloth  and  insolence,
the  Jews  exercise  nearly  all  the  arts  of  industry,  and  control  most  of
the  commercial  traffic.  But  for  them  the  condition  of  Morocco  would  be
more  unfortunate  than  it  is.  Yet  they  are  regarded  by  the  Mohamme-
dans as  unclean  dogs,  entitled  to  no  respect,  and  unworthy  to  live.  A
few  of  them,  it  is  said,  the  more  wealthy  and  influential,  in  fact  enjoy
the  protection  of  foreign  representatives,  notwithstanding  international
laws  in  this  regard.  But  this  excites  jealousy  and  a  spirit  of  revenge,
60  that  the  condition  of  the  great  mass,  the  unprotected,  is  all  the  worse


30     CONTINENT   OF   AFRICA:    FRENCH  AND   TURKISH   DOMINIONS.
on  account  of  the  privileges  enjoyed  by  the  few.  Cannot  something  be
done  by  the  United  States  in  their  behalf?

I  have  reason  to  think  that  this  subject  has  recently  been  under  con-
sideration and  discussion  by  the  English,  French,  Italian,  and  Spanish
Governments,  with  what  result  I  am  not  informed.
Neither  Jews  nor  any  other  persons,  except  Mohammedans,  are  per-
mitted to  testify  in  the  courts  of  Morocco,  or  their  oaths  are  disregarded,
and  all  the  laws  are  framed  in  a  special  manner  to  favor  Mohammedan
subjects.
In  the  interest  of  humanity  it  would  be  well  if  the  Christian  nations
of  the  world  could  in  some  way  intervene,  by  way  of  a  mixed  commis-
sion or  otherwise,  to  establish  in  Morocco  greater  equality  of  rights,  and
a  better  and  more  impartial  method  of  administering  justice.
Morocco  is  not  a  large  consumer  of  foreign  products.  The  poverty,
habits,  and  prejudices  of  the  people  have  so  far  prevented.  Of  the
little  trade  existing,  France  has  the  greater  share,  owing  to  her  prox-
imity through  Algeria,  and  the  convenience  of  Marseilles  as  a  shipping
point.
