MOROCCO, or MAitoceo, called by the natives _Magi/rib-el-Abu, extreme west," or briefly Maghrib, an empire or sultanate in the n.w._of Africa, is bounded on the e. by Algeria, on the n. and w. by the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean, and on the s. by a line which runs from cape Nun (lat. 28' 45 43° n.), Man easterly direction through the Sahara to the Algerian frontier in long. 2° east. At the present day, Morocco includes the three former kingdoms of Maghrib, Fez, and Tafilelet, and contains about 260,000 Eng lish sq.m., with a population of which the estimates vary from 2,500,000 to 8,000,000. The country is generally mountainous, the Atlas (q.v.) range traversing it in several parallel chains from s.w. to n.e., and sending out numerous spurs to both the coast-coun try and the desert. There are, however, mauy level tracts throughout Morocco, especially at its western and eastern extremities, and on the borders of the desert. The central range of the Atlas forms the wa.':er-shed separating the streams which flow into the Atlantic and Mediterranean from those which run southward to the desert. The former rivers have the shorter course and less volume, but they are perennial; while the latter become dry in summer, and even when running are lost in the sands of the Sahara. The chief rivers arc the Muluya, with its tributary the Sharef, which drains the n.e. of the country, and falls into the Mediterranean after a course of 400 ni; the Kos, Oom-a beg, Builegreb, Tensift, Suse, and Assaker, the last forming for part of its course the southern boundary of Morocco, drain the central and western districts, and fall into the Atlantic; the Drana, Fileli, Ziz, and Gir, irrigate the dry plains of Talilelet, and the first mentioned then empties itself into the Atlantic ocean. The subsequent courses of the other three rivers are not yet well ascertained.
The climate between the central range of Atlas and the sea is temperate, the ther mometer seldom falling lower than 40'F., or rising above 00' F., owing partly to the regulating influence of the sea breeze, and the shelter afforded by the mountains front the scorching winds of the desert; in the s.e. districts, extremes of heat and cold are
said to prevail, and rain is there unknown.
Among the Nhief products of the country are wheat, barley, rice, maize, dorm, and sugar-cane; and among fruits, the fig, pomegranate, lemon, orange, and date are com mon; while cotton, tobacco, hemp, etc., are largely produced both for home use and export. Morocco is supposed to be rich in mineral treasures; plentiful supplies of copper are obtained at Teseleght. near the source of the Assaker, and gold and silver occur in several places. Iron, antimony, lead, tin, and rock-salt, the last three in considerable quantity, are also found. Owing to the character of the country and its thin population (35 to the English sq.m.), Morocco is much infested with wild animals. Lions, panthers, hyenas, wild boars, and various kinds of deer, gazelles, etc., abound in suitable localities, and occasional devastations are committed by locusts. Ostriches are found in Tafilelet. The Moorish horses, formerly so famous, are now much degenerated. The breeding of sheep, oxen, goats, camels, mules, and asses forms an important item of national indus try. Oxen and bulls arc chiefly employed in field labor.
The inhabitants, like those of Barbary in general, consist of Moors, Berbers, Arabs, Negroes, and Jews, with various intermixtures between these races. More than two thirds of the population belong to the race commonly called Moors, the remaining third consisting mainly of Berbers or Amaziyelis (including the Berbers of the Hitt' coast, and the Shelluhs of the Great Atlas); Jews, estimated] at 340,000; and negroes. Very few Europeans reside in Morocco. The state of civilization is very low, and many of the Amaziychs arc complete savages. Excepting the Jews and the few Europeans, the whole population is Mohammedan. Negroes arc brought into the country as slaves from Sudan.