It Is True, The Authorities Plead The Reason Of Their Refusal To Be, "The Merchants Are Indebted To The Emperor:" Neither Will The Authorities Take Any Security, And Arbitrarily, And Insolently Prohibit, Under Any Circumstances, The Merchants From Visiting Their Vessels.

I have said enough to shew that our treaties (I beg the reader's pardon, "capitulations") with the Emperor of Morocco, require immediate revision, and to be amended with articles more suited to the spirit of the age, and European civilization, as likewise more consistent with the dignity of Great Britian.

The treaty for the supply of provisions, especially cattle, to the garrison of Gibraltar is either a verbal one, or a secret arrangement, for no mention is made of it in the published state paper documents. It is probably a mere verbal unwritten understanding, but, neverthelesss is more potent in its working than the written treaties. This is not the first time that the unwritten has proved stronger than the written engagement.

CHAPTER III.

The two different aspects by which the strength and resources of the Empire of Morocco may be viewed or estimated. - Native appellation of Morocco. - Geographical limits of this country. - Historical review of the inhabitants of North Africa, and the manner in which this region was successively peopled and conquered. - The distinct varieties of the human race, as found in Morocco. - Nature of the soil and climate of this country. - Derem, or the Atlas chain of mountains. - Natural products. - The Shebbel, or Barbary salmon; different characters of exports of the Northern and Southern provinces. - The Elaeonderron Argan. - Various trees and plants. - Mines. - The Sherb-Errech, or Desert-horse.

The empire of Morocco may be considered under two aspects, as to its extent, and as to its influence. It may be greatly circumscribed or expanded to an almost indefinite extent, according to the feelings, or imagination, of the writer, or speaker. A resident here gave me a meagre _tableau_, something like this,

The city of Morocco 50,000 souls. " Fez 40,000 " " Mequinez 25,000 " - - - - 115,000 "

The maritime cities contain little more than 100,000 inhabitants, making altogether about 220,000. Over the provinces of the south, Sous and Wadnoun, the Sultan has no real power; so the south is cut off as an integral portion of the empire. Over the Rif, or the northern Berber provinces, the Sultan exercises a precarious sovereignty, every man's gun or knife is there his law and authority. Fez contains a disaffected population, teeming some years since with the adherents of Abd-el-Kader. Then the Atlas is full of quasi-independent Berber tribes, who detest equally the Arabs and the Moorish government; finally, Tafilett and the provinces on the eastern side of the Atlas, are too remote to feel the influence of the central government.

As to military force, the Emperor's standing army does not amount to more than 20 or 30,000 Nigritian troops, and all cavalry. The irregular and contingent cavalry and infantry can never be depended upon, even under such a chief as Abd-el-Kader was.

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