A RIDE TO MAGNESIA. 165 



how the sense of authority was kept up, notwith- 

 standing the simplicity of his good humour. 



When a man asks you to dinner, unless, indeed, he 

 be a gipsy living under a hedge, it is usual to suppose 

 that you must enter his house. We had reckoned on 

 being introduced to the particular establishment of 

 the Miraliihi, and rejoiced in the prospect of so 

 befitting a conclusion to our morning's researches. 

 But our friend marshalled us onward through stables 

 and gardens to the prettiest little kiosk you would 

 wish to see, snugly ensconced beneath vines and 

 creepers, at one end of his dwelling. Hereaway 

 nature assumes a regularity in her moods of which 

 we Englishmen know little in our own land. Here 

 it really does rain in the rainy reason, and really is 

 hot in summer. Thus knowing, almost to a degree, 

 the heat or cold they are at any time to expect, the 

 happy indigenous are in condition to suit their man- 

 ner of life to the humour of the season. This kiosk 

 was the usual summer sitting-room, contrived to a 

 nicety in all respects so as to woo all cooling influ- 

 ences, and exclude the sun. The sides were open 

 towards that quarter whence the breeze was wont to 

 come, and a beautiful fountain threw up its abundant 

 stream so near to us that we almost received its 

 splashing. We were raised somewhat above the 

 level of the garden, which lent to our enjoyment the 

 blended odours of lemon and citron. No carpet was 

 there, nor woollen substance, nor aught that looked 



