Mercur Miner | 1905-08-12 | Page 6 | Odd Custon in Morocco

H ODD CU8T0N IN MOROCCO. H Estates of Fallen Favorites Invariably lH Confiscated. H It la a custom In Morocco that nil Pjlj jtlio property of an ofllclal reverts at Jbj hlB death to tho crown. Tho logic pilfl which lends to such results Is simple, j for tho government argues that all lfll fortunes thus accumulated consist ot JIIJ moneys Illegally retained by tho mi- lfll thorltles. A governor when appoint- BpJ ed Is probably possessed of no con- jH slderablo fortune. When ho dies ho PjH may bo a millionaire. Whcnco camo JbI this wealth? Squeezed most certain- jH ly from tho tribes under his authority, lH And therefore, amassed only by tho IIJ prerogatives of tho position In which H tho Sultan had placed htm. PjH It has nover struck tho Moorish jH igovcrnment that these great fortunes lflj flight moro honorably bo returned to lflj tho peoplo from whom they were stol- Pjlj on. The result Is cntlro confiscation lflj to tho crown, Including often such prl- lflj vato property as tho governor may lflj lmvo been possessor ot before his op- PjB A. polntroent. H j When tho mighty fall In Morocco H iA- mJ tho crash brings down with them PBJ 7 ' their families, even uncles and cons- J tins, and all connected with them, and, PBJ ,lt Is not stldom that tho sons of great ftH governors, who lmvo been brought upi r In tho luxury of slaves and horses and; j retinues of mounted men, havo to go' ! begging In tho streets.