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towns, the members of one trade (guild) live
Berbers, including fetishes such as the hanging
together and have their shops in one particu-
of bits of rag on sacred trees, a votive offering
lar district.
of the native women to ward off sterility.
Fewer than 10 percent of the native popula-
Habous (religious endowed property) lands
tion are literate. Although the French
and buildings are scattered throughout the
authorities claim to be engaging in a cam-
area, the income supporting religious and
paign against illiteracy, school facilities are so
charitable works and such institutions as
inadequate that fewer than one-fifth of the
schools and hospitals.
children can be enrolled in school.
The Moslem brotherhoods (confréries), or
religious organizations, also play an impor-
The Moslem religion permeates almost every
tant role in native life. Membership is pre-
aspect of life and the Koran regulates rela-
dominantly rural and Berber, and adherents
tionships and actions. Mosques abound in
are scattered widely throughout the area.
both urban and rural regions. Prayers are
Zaouias (headquarters) are located in all of
said five times daily; and the month's fast of
the principal coastal and interior cities where
Ramadan is observed annually by the natives.
a particular group is dominant, and in villages
Comparatively few North African Moslems
one or another of the groups usually plays an
make the pilgrimage to Mecca, however.
important role in communal affairs. The
There are local holy men, but no clergy in
principal differences between the various
the European sense. The Moslem Sunni
brotherhoods are the initiatory ceremonies,
(comparable to moderate Christian Protes-
prayers, and religious rites. These organiza-
tants) sect prevails, although a minority ad-
tions lack efficient organization, and attach-
heres to the Shiah (comparable to extreme
ment to the order in many instances seems to
Christian Catholics) sect. Synagogues and
be limited to a feeling of reverence for the
Christian churches are located in the principal
Sherif (hereditary leader). Ties to the
urban areas. The Roman Catholic is the
mother zaouia generally appear too loose to
largest of the Christian communities.
organize an effective group. The Arabic word
The Arabs as a whole are fanatical and
for the orders is synonymous with the word
deeply superstitious. On the other hand, the
"way," indicating that the brotherhoods are
Berbers are democratic by nature and, al-
thought of as a way of life and not as a politi-
though occasionally liable to fanaticism, rare-
cal or religious movement with determined
ly moved by religious enthusiasm. Many
objectives. The brotherhoods are a some-
religious customs common in the country be-
what amorphous but substantial force on the
fore the arrival of Islam survive among the
side of tradition and conservatism.
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"ocrText": "62\nECRET\ntowns, the members of one trade (guild) live\nBerbers, including fetishes such as the hanging\ntogether and have their shops in one particu-\nof bits of rag on sacred trees, a votive offering\nlar district.\nof the native women to ward off sterility.\nFewer than 10 percent of the native popula-\nHabous (religious endowed property) lands\ntion are literate. Although the French\nand buildings are scattered throughout the\nauthorities claim to be engaging in a cam-\narea, the income supporting religious and\npaign against illiteracy, school facilities are so\ncharitable works and such institutions as\ninadequate that fewer than one-fifth of the\nschools and hospitals.\nchildren can be enrolled in school.\nThe Moslem brotherhoods (confréries), or\nreligious organizations, also play an impor-\nThe Moslem religion permeates almost every\ntant role in native life. Membership is pre-\naspect of life and the Koran regulates rela-\ndominantly rural and Berber, and adherents\ntionships and actions. Mosques abound in\nare scattered widely throughout the area.\nboth urban and rural regions. Prayers are\nZaouias (headquarters) are located in all of\nsaid five times daily; and the month's fast of\nthe principal coastal and interior cities where\nRamadan is observed annually by the natives.\na particular group is dominant, and in villages\nComparatively few North African Moslems\none or another of the groups usually plays an\nmake the pilgrimage to Mecca, however.\nimportant role in communal affairs. The\nThere are local holy men, but no clergy in\nprincipal differences between the various\nthe European sense. The Moslem Sunni\nbrotherhoods are the initiatory ceremonies,\n(comparable to moderate Christian Protes-\nprayers, and religious rites. These organiza-\ntants) sect prevails, although a minority ad-\ntions lack efficient organization, and attach-\nheres to the Shiah (comparable to extreme\nment to the order in many instances seems to\nChristian Catholics) sect. Synagogues and\nbe limited to a feeling of reverence for the\nChristian churches are located in the principal\nSherif (hereditary leader). Ties to the\nurban areas. The Roman Catholic is the\nmother zaouia generally appear too loose to\nlargest of the Christian communities.\norganize an effective group. The Arabic word\nThe Arabs as a whole are fanatical and\nfor the orders is synonymous with the word\ndeeply superstitious. On the other hand, the\n\"way,\" indicating that the brotherhoods are\nBerbers are democratic by nature and, al-\nthought of as a way of life and not as a politi-\nthough occasionally liable to fanaticism, rare-\ncal or religious movement with determined\nly moved by religious enthusiasm. Many\nobjectives. The brotherhoods are a some-\nreligious customs common in the country be-\nwhat amorphous but substantial force on the\nfore the arrival of Islam survive among the\nside of tradition and conservatism."
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