CH. T. COUNTRY MAEKETS. 105 



feet (436 metres) above the sea level. The view over the 

 gently heaving surface of the lower hills to the south was 

 very pleasing. The slopes covered with short herbage, the 

 green now beginning to turn brown and yellow, are studded 

 with trees, chiefly Argan, olive, and fig, sometimes in 

 clumps, sometimes dotted over the surface. Close to us, 

 adjoining the gate of the kasbah, were several very fine 

 Argan trees just coming into flower. 



We were rather late in this morning's start, and it was 

 near 9 a.m. when, after the tents and luggage were packed, 

 we got under way, accompanied by our host of last night, 

 the Governor's son, who volunteered to show us his father's 

 garden, of which he was evidently proud. We rode down 

 the hill, and soon reached a place called the ' Tuesday 

 Market ' (Souk el Tleta), beside which we were to inspect 

 the first example we met of Moorish horticulture. The 

 enclosed space, about an acre in extent, was divided into 

 oblong beds, in which the only cultivated flowers were roses 

 and marigolds, growing amidst an abundant growth of 

 weeds. Along with these we noticed several beds of mint, 

 which is in constant requisition for mixing with green tea. 



At the open space of the ' Tuesday Market,' our host 

 took leave of us. We had not thought it necessary to 

 make him a present, but he had no hesitation in asking 

 for such small articles as caught his fancy. Maw had 

 beguiled the tedious hour of waiting for dinner last night 

 by exhibiting the combustion of magnesium wire, and com- 

 plied with a request to that effect by giving up a small 

 portion of his store. The Moor had spied a small lens in 

 the hands of Crump, Hooker's servant, and now asked for 

 that. He next begged for some trifling European article 

 belonging to Abraham, our interpreter, and finally for a 

 box of fusees, the last possessed by Ball. 



In a country where shops are unknown, except in a few 

 large towns, the only chance for obtaining anything which 

 the peasant cannot raise on his own ground is at the nearest 

 market. These are held at some selected spot throughout 



