Tangier

Tangier, or TANGIERS (Arab. Tanja), a seaport of Morocco, on a small bay or inlet of the Straits of Gibraltar, 38 miles SW. of the town of that name. It is a small, ill-built town, situated on two hills, the houses—with the exception of the residences of the foreign ministers to the court of Morocco, consuls, and officials—being, as a rule, miserable edifices, and the streets being narrow and dirty. The town is surrounded by old walls, and protected by several forts. It has an extensive shipping trade, though the harbour is a mere roadstead. Tangier was taken by the Portuguese in 1471, and given to Charles II. of England as dowry with Catharine of Braganza. It was held by England till 1683, when, on account of the expense and the badness of the climate, it was evacuated and the fortifications dismantled. The notorious Colonel Kirke (q.v.) commanded the garrison, and Bishop Ken was for a short time chaplain. It was subsequently long a nest of pirates. Coal has been found here; and the place is visited by Europeans as a health-resort. Pop. 20,000, mostly Moors and Spanish Jews, with some 400 Europeans.