An account of the empire of Marocco, and the districts of Suse and Tafilelt; compiled from miscellaneous observations made during a long residence in, and various journies through, these countries. To which is added an account of shipwrecks on the western coast of Africa, and an interesting account of Timbuctoo, the great emporium of Central AfricaJackson, James Grey
History
An account of the empire of Marocco, and the districts of Suse and Tafilelt; compiled from miscellaneous observations made during a long residence in, and various journies through, these countries. To which is added an account of shipwrecks on the western coast of Africa, and an interesting account of Timbuctoo, the great emporium of Central Africa
Jackson, James Grey
Morocco
Sixteen miles south of Saffy, we reach the river Tensift, which
discharges itself into the ocean, near the ruins of an ancient town,
probably the _Asama_ of Ptolomy. Travellers pass the Tensift on
horseback in summer, but on rafts in the rainy season, which,
in passing, drift down to a square fort surrounded by trees,
on the opposite side of the river, built by Muley Ismael for the
accommodation of travellers.
Proceeding through the plains of Akkeermute, we discover the ruins
of a large town near the foot of Jibbel el Heddid,[47] depopulated
by the plague about 50 years since; and after a journey of 48 miles
from the river, we reach Mogodor, built by the Emperor Seedy Mohammed
ben Abdallah ben Ismael, in 1760, and so named from a sanctuary in
the adjacent sands, called Seedi Mogodol; but the proper name is
Saweera,[48] a name given by the Emperor in allusion to its beauty,
it being the only town altogether of geometrical construction in
the empire.
Mogodor is built on a sandy beach forming a peninsula, the foundation
of which is rocky adjoining to a chain of lofty hills, of moveable
sand impelled by the wind into waves continually changing their
position, resembling the billows of the ocean, and hence aptly
denominated a sea of sand, which sandy sea separates it from the
cultivated country. The town is defended from the encroachment of
the sea by rocks, which extend from the northern to the southern
gate, though at spring tides it is almost surrounded. There are two
towns, or rather a citadel and an outer town; the citadel (Luksebba)
contains the custom-house, treasury, the residence of the Alkaid,
and the houses of the foreign merchants, together with those of some
of the civil officers, &c. The Jews who are not foreign merchants
are obliged to reside in the outer town, which is walled in, and
protected by batteries and cannon, as well as the citadel.
[Illustration: _Plate 9._
_Drawn by J. G. Jackson._
_Engraved J. C. Stadler._
_West View of (Jibbel Heddeed) the Iron Mountains from the plains
of Akkurmute_
IN THE PROVINCE OF SHEDMA.
1 _Circular encampment of Arabs._
2 _Ruined town of Akkermute destroyed by the plague._
3 _Circular encampment of Arabs at a distance._
4 _Palm of Date Trees._
5 _Sanctuary at the top of the Iron Mountains._
_London Published June 4. 1811. by W. G. Nicholl Pall Mall._]
[Illustration: _Plate 10._
_Drawn by J. G. Jackson._
_Engraved J. C. Stadler._
_A South East View of Mogodor._
1. _Part of the Island of Mogodor._
2. _A Ship entering the Port._
3. _A Battery at the entrance of the Port._
4. _Do. Do._
5. _A Battery at the Landing Place._
6. _Building over the Emperor’s Scale._
7. _Emperor’s Coffee Alcove._
8. _British Vice Consuls tower._
9. _Mosque of the Citadel._
10. _French Vice Consuls tower._
11. _Spanish Vice Do._
12. _Batavian Vice Do._
13. _Entrance Port to the outer town._
14. _Grand Mosque of Seedy Usif._
15. 16. & 17. _Mosques._
18. _Duquella Battery._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account