en. VI. HALT OUTSIDE THE CITY. ]_2l 



from that of his companions, was Mr. Himot, brother of 

 the British Vice-Consul at SafE, and representative at 

 Marocco, of the house of Messrs. Pen'y & Co., of Liverpool. 

 His companions, grave and courteous-looking Moors of 

 considerable local influence, were Sidi Mohammed Has- 

 sanowe ' and Sidi Boubikir, with two or three more of less 

 note. We were invited into an adjoining garden, where 

 carpets were spread under .large olive trees, and a refec- 

 tion in the Moorish style, consisting of green tea, cakes of 

 wheaten flour and kabobs, was speedily prepared. 



Mr. Hunot had spent several months in the city, and 

 in the absence of M. Lambert, a French merchant, who 

 has lived there for many years, was the only European 

 resident. Although his thorough familiarity with the 

 language, customs, and ideas of the natives made his 

 position less difficult, he found it practically so irksome 

 that he was then on the point of returning to Saffi, his 

 ordinary residence ; and we owe it to his kind desire to 

 assist us during this critical period of our journey that he 

 postponed his departure for a day. The time passed very 

 pleasantly, and we listened with satisfaction to the opiuion 

 expressed by our hosts that no obstacles would be inter- 

 posed to our intended journey in the Atlas ; when the 

 first sign of rocks ahead was disclosed on the return of 

 the messenger despatched to ascertain what sort of lodg- 

 ing had been prepared for us. When the messenger ac- 

 knowledged that a very small house with but two rooms 

 had been provided, it became clear that, so far as the city 

 authorities were concerned, there was no disposition to 

 show us much coiu-tesy. Hooker at once sent back a 

 message to the Grovernor, that we should require a much 

 larger house, or else an enclosed garden in which to pitch 

 our tents. After about half-an-hour's delay, the messenger 

 again appeared, saying that a much larger house, with four 



' The designation Sidi, equivalent to the Italian Signore, given to 

 persons of consideration, forms no part of the name. In conversation 

 it is abbreviated to Si. 



