TANGIER, tlin-jer', or TANGIERS. The chief seaport of Morocco, and the capital of the Province of Ha5bat. on the Bay of Tangier, in the Strait of Gibraltar, 3 miles east of Cape Spartel and 35 miles southwest of Gibraltar (Map: Africa, D 1). It is a healthful town in spite of wretched sanitary conditions. It is fortified and surrounded by ancient ruins of walls and by gardened areas. it is picturesquely Oriental and its life is highly interesting. The white Moorish houses. amid towers and gates, rise above one another from the sea in the form of an amphitheatre, the highest point being crowned by a castle. The houses are of one story; the streets, steep, and too narrow for wagons or carriages. The main street leads from the harbor on the east to the new market and to the Soceo de Barra on the southwest. It passes the Great Mosque. whose handsome gate and tower are noteworthy. Near by is the Small Soc co, with its interesting bazaars—the business centre of the town. The Kasba, or castle, dating from the fifteenth century, stands on the plateau in the northern part of the city. The plateau ex tends from the lofty Marshan toward the sea, and furnishes a superb view. The castle or cita
del is a dilapidated mass of buildings. The ad jacent palace of the Sultan and the residence of the Governor are imposing edifices. The North American Mission and the Gospel Union of Kansas have their headquarters in Tangier, and there are a Catholic chapel, several syna gogues, and a hospital. Tangier is lighted by electricity. The harbor is the best in Morocco, although it is both small and shallow. The an nual exports are about $1.300,000. The imports are about $1,500,000, largely represented by cot ton. The shipping entered in 1900 was 424,000 tons. The famous Morocco leather is made here. Population, about 30,000, including 6000 Chris tians and 7000 Jews.
Tangier is the Roman Tingis, and was the capital of a Roman province. It was held in turn by the Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and Portuguese, who obtained possession of it 1471. It came to the English in 1662 as part of the dowry of Catharine of Braganza, wife of Charles II.. but was abandoned by them to the Moors in 1684.