No. 504.
Mr. Mathews to Mr. Evarts.
Tangier, December 7, 1879. (Received January 17, 1880.)
Sir: * * * * * * *
Down the coast of Morocco we hear of copious falls of rain which have rendered the prospects of a good harvest next year very hope [Page 791] ful, and if the weather continues to favor the land it may be expected that the trade, which at present, with the exception of the shipment of a few bones, is at a standstill, will be enlivened; in some of the southern provinces, however, and notably those of Abda, Hamar, Erhauma, Sedla, and Haha, matters are in a very pitiable condition.
Both men and beasts were decimated during the late famine, and the survivors amongst the miserable peasantry have neither cattle nor seed. Such animals as did not succumb to the famine have subsequently been seized by the governors and sheiks for arrears of rent, and the state of misery and desolation which consequently prevails is most distressing. In order to make up for the great scarcity of animals, the women as well as the men are all turning their hands to the field, and may be seen in great numbers digging the land.
The rains at Tangier and its neighborhood have been unprecedented, the floods causing considerable damage both to property and to the early crops. The rainfall from September 9 to date has been 17.94 inches.
I have, &c.,