282 
EUROPE AND AFRICA 
foreigners and natives have been afforded a precarious pro- 
tection when in districts under the immediate supervision of 
the imperial authority. But elsewhere life and property 
have had no security, and the natives have been compelled 
to buy protection, as in medizeval times, from powerful chief- 
tains or from influential government officials, or to put them- 
selves in some way under the mantle of foreign powers. In 
many cases it has been practically impossible for the sover- 
eigns to enforce their decrees or introduce reforms; and 
Mulai-el-Hasan, father of the present sultan, lost his life 
marching to Tafilet to put down a rebellion in 1894. 
Besides the strength of the local authorities, favored by 
the natural features of the country and the tribal conditions, 
the peculiar position of the Shereefian or royal family and 
the method of government contributed materially to the 
weakness of the empire. 
There are three Shereefian families, but the right of suc- 
cession is restricted to one — the Filali Shereefs of Tafilet. 
No regular law or custom of succession exists, but the new 
Sultan must be a relative of the old. Usually the old sover- 
eign designates some member of his family whom he con- 
siders the best qualified; but the office is elective, and no 
succession is legal without the consent and vote of the family 
council and of the Ulemas — the legal representatives of the 
religious orders at Fez. The other branches of the royal 
family — the Idrees Shereefs of Fex and of Wazzan — have 
a vote. They cannot rule, but no one can ascend the throne 
without their approval. Their social and political position 
is one of great importance; and they are really more re- 
spected by the masses than the sultans themselves. At 
present they are under the protection of France — the 
Idrees Shereefs of Wazzan being particularly friendly with 
the French; and their position cannot be interfered with by 
the reigning family. On the contrary, they have had to be