ABSTRACT
The French came to Morocco with over eighty years of experience of ruling Algeria and a wide knowledge of colonial government in Africa and Asia. In Algiers, after several experiments including the establishment of a French colonel as a sort of native prince, the Agha des Arabes, they went back to the earliest idea that had been tried under General Trezel. Marshal Bugeaud set up the Bureaux Arabes to rule newly acquired territory and placed an army officer in charge of each. The Chef de Bureau was responsible to the local military commander for the government and security of his area. He toured frequently, established new schools and markets, reported regularly to his chief upon all events, exercising the functions of a magistrate and a civil governor. He did not, however, command the troops in the area which might well come under another officer of similar or even higher rank.
