The Burton Holmes lectures; . THE SACRED CITY OK WAZZAN its rightful temporal lord. Fortunately for the internal peaceof the land the Shareefs have been content to exercise imperialpower by suggestion, to receive tithes in lieu of taxes, and toleave to the Sultan and his ministers at Fez the vexatiousdetails of the government and the semblance of absoluteauthority. So sacred is this city of \\azzan, so fanaticalare its inhabitants, that we dared not enter its gates until amilitary escort sent by the Shareef came to conduct us to thehome assigned us as a residence by that sainted potentate. 90
The Burton Holmes lectures; . THE SACRED CITY OK WAZZAN its rightful temporal lord. Fortunately for the internal peaceof the land the Shareefs have been content to exercise imperialpower by suggestion, to receive tithes in lieu of taxes, and toleave to the Sultan and his ministers at Fez the vexatiousdetails of the government and the semblance of absoluteauthority. So sacred is this city of \\azzan, so fanaticalare its inhabitants, that we dared not enter its gates until amilitary escort sent by the Shareef came to conduct us to thehome assigned us as a residence by that sainted potentate. 90 INTO M()ROCC(3 It cost our servants several hours labor to clean themansion and make it habitable. In the meantime, withHaj as interpreter and Kaid Lharbi to lend di.^nity to ourpartw we were escorted b\ a half-dozen raj^f^ed soldiers tothe Shareefs palace, which j^leams white in the midst ofgreen gardens. There \vc were received with high-breddignity and more than ordi-nary cordiality b\ the manwho, as has been said, is. TlIK MARKET-PLACE revered, from Morocco to Madras, as the holiest and greatestrepresentative of Islamism. ^ found the Shareef seated on soft cushions beneatha wnire pa\-ili()n in the midst ot a luxuriant garden. .Vroundhim courtiers were grouped ; old men with long, whitebeards, young men with fierce, hard faces — chiefs of theneighboring tribes. Tlie Shareef, a handsome man, black-bearded and completely robed in simj>le veils of white, borehis thirty-live years with dignit}, des{)ite a suggestion ofindolence, almost of letharg} in his manner. Haj approachedon hands and knees and kissed the Shareefs garments. Webowed and took the chairs which had been placed for our INTO MOROCCO 91 comfort just outside the pavilion. The dialogue ensuinbetween our host andg u i d e was deliberate,cordial, and much em-broidered with compli-ments, as is the customhere in good society. We,through our spokesman,thanked his holiness for hishospitality. He apologizesfor the cond
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectvoyages, bookyear1901
