annual donations.  Generally, however, when new consuls are appointed, they bring with them presents, and visit the Emperor in person.  On the occasion of fetes, they sometimes make presents to the governors of districts.  Whenever the Emperor condescends to come down to Tangier, three days after his arrival, it is the required etiquette for the consuls to seek his presence, and to make their obeisance to the Shereefian Lord.  The consuls are accustomed to decide upon and control the affairs of their own countrymen, and those placed under their protection; but when a Moor and an European are concerned in a transaction, it is usually a mixed commission of the consulate and the Moorish authorities.

Many curious anecdotes are current respecting the consuls and the Moorish government.  A Spanish consul once took it into his head to strike his flag and leave Tangier.  Whilst he was gone, the Emperor ordered all the Jews to go and take possession of his house and live in it, as a degradation.  The consular house was soon crammed with dirty Jews, whose vermin and filth rendered the house untenantable, until it had undergone a thorough repair and cleansing.  Sometimes the Emperor shows a great affection for a particular consular family.  The family of the Portuguese Consul were great favorites.  During the war of succession in Portugal, the Portuguese Consul contracted debts in Tangier, not being able to get his salary amidst the strife of parties.  The Moors complained to the Emperor of the consul’s debts.  Muley Abd Errahman, though a thorough miser himself, paid the consul’s debts, alleging as a reason, “the consul was a friend of my ancestors, and he shall be my friend.”  The Portuguese government wished to remove this consul on account of his alleged Miguelite propensities, but the Emperor threatened, if they did, that he would not receive another.  Our government compelled the Portuguese to gratify the personal feeling of the Emperor.  Senhor Colaso is a native of Morocco, as his father was before him, and the Emperor calls them his own children.  The Jewish servants of the consulates are free from the poll-tax and other obnoxious contributions, and their Moorish servants are also exempt from government conscriptions.

At times, very serious misunderstandings and disputes occur between the consuls and the Emperor on the subject of his Imperial Highness.  Our consul, Mr. Hay, was shot at by a fanatic marabout, the ball missing him, but killing a horse of one of the party.  This affair was passed over, the consul very properly taking no notice of a mad saint.  But I will cite another instance, as showing the intimate perception which the Moors have of the peculiar precepts of our religion, as well as exhibiting their own moral ideas, in each case representing them to us in a favourable light.  One of the Emperor’s subjects had insulted the French consul, M. Sourdeau, and Muley Suleiman addressed to him the following singular epistle.