a moist patch, and there is a large extent of market
gardens on the southern side o f the town. Gardens belonging
to the Kaid and others, are to be found in the
Moorish quarter, where the most has been made of some
spare courtyard.
But Mogador has more to recommend it than most
Moorish ports. It is the best planned and the cleanest
town in the Empire, and in consequence of this, as well
as on account o f its climate, it stands high as a health
resort.* “ A north-east wind, a cloudless sky, and a
Climate glowing sun, are the normal atmospherical
conditions of this part of the coast,” writes
Mr. Payton, for many years British Consul here,1 “ and
very delightful is our climate in consequence, the heat
of the sun being tempered by the bracing breeze; so
that, in Mogador at any rate, it is almost always pleasantly
warm, without being relaxing-fenever cold, yet
never nearly so hot as some summer days in London.
Our general temperature seems to be 70° to 75° in the
shade, though in winter, when it rains, the glass will
often go down to 6o°, sometimes even a few degrees
lower, when we Mogadorians go about shivering and
grumbling at the bitter cold.3 A charming climate this
for pulmonary or bronchial complaints, for the north-easter
which we have so often is not a keen cutting blast like
his namesake in England, but a bracing, invigorating,
* Dr. Seux, Chief Hospital Physician of Marseilles, after passing in
review the various health resorts of Egypt, Algiers, the Gulf of Lyons and
the Biscay Rivieras, Italy, Spain and Madeira, declares the climate of
Mogador to surpass them all. 3
1 Moss fr om a Rolling Stone, p . 268.
2 For meteorological observations see B e a u m ie r , Bull. Soc. Geog. Paris, 1872,
6 s e r ., t. iv ., p p . 150 a n d 308: a ls o Zeitsch. der Oesterrs. G e se ll.fiir Meteorologies 1873,
t. v i ii ., p . 7 : an d O l i v i e a s b e low .
3 See also D r . T h é v e n in , Du climat de Mogador sous le rapport des affections
pulmonaires. Bull. Soc. Géog., Paris, 1868, 5 sér., t. xxii., p. 335 ; and D r . O l i v i é , Climat
de Mogador et son influence sur le phthisie, l.c. 1876, 6 sér., t* x., p. 365.
health-giving breeze, laden with ozone and iodine, and
healthy particles of saline moisture.” A t the same time
this saline moisture produces a relaxing dampness which
some find very trying in time, especially the nervous. On
the other hand, a desert wind sometimes reaches even
to Mogador, but this is a rare visitant, an excess of the
north-easter being a more common annoyance.
This well-favoured spot lies some 35^ miles from Tangier
by sea, and thè same exactly from Las Palmas in the
Canaries, with both of which it is in regular Position.
communication by steamer.* From the former
port vessels usually take three or four nights, the days
being spent in Casablanca, Mazagan and Saffi, or longer if
other ports are touched at. It is about 80 miles further
to Agadir. The inland journey to Marrakesh, about n o
miles E. by N., occupies about three days and a half, or
by skirting the Atlas another day or two can be very well
spent. Its exact position is 310 3° ' 5" N. by 90 46' 2" W.
Mogador harbour is well sheltered from all winds except
the south-west, but is sometimes difficult to escape from
when that wind blows, as the channel between the town
and the island is shallow and somewhat hazardous.
Vessels not drawing over 19 ft. can enter between a
small island and the north end of the large one, and
anchor some distance from the shore, f
The water-port of Mogador is the best in Morocco.
It has a passage cut in the rocks to allow boats to
approach the gate except at low water, with ^ Landing.
a path cut and levelled to the end of the
* The “ Mersey Line” (Messrs. Forwood Bros., Crosby Square, London),
have of late years done much to encourage the visits of tourists to this
coast, and especially to Mogador. They have now a frequent service of
fine steamers which make the round from London, returning by way of
the Canaries in about a month at moderate fares. French and Spanish
steamers also run between the Canaries and Mogador.
t The Admiralty plan is No. 1594-