Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 18

Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms

Volume 34: The Small Western Ocean

North Africa, Section 3

No legislative or parliamentary officials have been appointed. When matters of state arise, they are handled with extreme haste, and decisions are made without following any established precedents. Close relatives of the ruler frequently plot to seize the throne, and thus conspiracies and rebellions are seen time and again. The palace guard consists of five thousand men, but like the frontier defense troops, they lack any sense of discipline.

Land taxes are collected at a rate of one-tenth a tithe. For livestock, one head out of twenty is collected. The annual revenue from these taxes amounts to five million silver dollars original: 員 (yuan), likely referring to the Spanish silver dollar, the global trade currency of the 19th century.

The kingdom governs two large tribal provinces and fifty small ones.

The Province of Marrakesh original: 摩羅果 (Moluoguo). While the term is used for the whole country, here Wei Yuan uses it to describe the southern administrative division centered on the city of Marrakesh. is bordered by Algeria original: 阿爾尼 (A'erni) to the east, the desert to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It governs twenty-six small tribes. Its products include almonds, sheepskins, ivory, honey, beeswax, and resinous gums.

The Province of Fez original: 緋司 (Feisi) is bordered by Algeria to the east, Marrakesh to the west, and the Atlas Mountains to the south. It governs twenty-four small tribes. Its products include broadcloth, carpets, silks, towels, and felt? hats.

Haiguo Tuzhi: The "Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms" (1842), a landmark work of geography by Wei Yuan (1794–1857), intended to educate Qing officials about the world beyond China's borders.
North Libya: Wei Yuan's term for North Africa, derived from the classical Greek use of "Libya" to refer to the entire African continent.