CH. II. MOORISH CAEAVANSEEAI. 33 



range of open sheds wherein the camel drivers piled their 

 burdens, or the keeper of the caravanserai sheltered his 

 cattle. On the other sides a series of doors gave admission 

 to as many small cellars, or dungeons, with no other 

 opening than the door for admitting light or air, empty, 

 except for remnants of dirty straw and rubbish, but appa- 

 rently tenanted by every imaginable variety of insect and 

 creeping thing. The keeper of the caravanserai, a repul- 

 sive-looking old man, threw open one of the doors, and 

 explained that the apartment had been reserved for our 

 use. No deliberation was necessary on this occasion, for 

 a unanimous declaration burst from our lips — nothing 

 would induce us to enter such a filthy den — and we at 

 once announced our intention to pass the night upon the 

 roof. Our luggage was accordingly conveyed up through 

 a narrow stone staircase, and we proceeded to prepare our 

 frugal supper, of which portable soup was the chief in- 

 gredient, and soon afterwards to make our arrangements 

 for the night. 



Our so-called interpreter had become altogether ob- 

 noxious to us. During our mid-day halt he had coolly 

 appropriated the most comfortable spot in the shade, 

 devoured most of our oranges, and plainly showed that he 

 had no notion of taking the slightest trouble about a set 

 of Frankish lunatics, who spent their time in grubbing up 

 little weeds by the roots, and looking at them through bits 

 of glass. He relieved us altogether of his presence this 

 evening ; and we felt a certain satisfaction in thinking that 

 his well-fed carcase would during the night supply whole- 

 some and abundant food for the legions of hungry insects 

 that tenanted the ground-floor of our hotel. Old Bulbo, 

 whether because he shared our preference for the clean 

 and airy quarters on the roof, or because he wished to 

 display his zeal for our protection, installed himself with 

 the long gun in the red case at a convenient distance, 

 while we, after slowly consuming the evening cigar, un- 

 rolled our cork mattresses, and prepared our bivouac. We 



D 



