132 INDIFFEEENCE OF THE NATIVES. ch. ti. 



Grraoui, expressing his regret that we had not been lodged 

 to our satisfaction, and forwarding a letter that he had 

 addressed to Ben Daoud on the subject. Nearly an hour 

 passed, when at last a final answer came from Ben Daoud, 

 saying that it was then too late to comply with our wishes, 

 but that on the following morning we should have a good 

 house with a garden. 



During all this time we had remained grimly sitting 

 on horseback, no way anxious, until it should be quite 

 necessary, to commit ourselves for the night to the un- 

 pleasant accompaniments that surrounded us; but there 

 was no longer any choice, and the order was given to pitch 

 the large tent and imload the baggage. 



During the interval we had been much struck by the 

 demeanour of the people, who had from time to time 

 passed by as we stood grouped together in this most public 

 place of the city. Whether in obedience to orders, or from 

 a spontaneous desire to display their utter indifiference 

 as to the doings of tlae infidels, no one paid the slightest 

 attention, or even turned a head to notice us or our pro- 

 ceedings. Even the very boys engaged in some rough 

 play when we first arrived on the square showed the same 

 ostentatious disregard — in striking contrast to the eager 

 curiosity of the Arab children in Algeria and the East, 

 who will sit for hours together watching every movement 

 of European travellers. By this time, however, the night 

 had closed in, and the great square was silent and dark 

 before our large tent was pitched and the baggage brought 

 under cover. 



Soon after there appeared a traiu of men bearing 

 dishes — the evening mona— along with twenty-four sol- 

 diers sent by El Graoui to guard our camp during the 

 night, and about half-past 9 we were able to get the 

 rather long delayed evening meal and discuss our further 

 prospects and proceedings. While thus engaged the sound 

 of angry voices outside the tent interrupted conversation ; 

 it was evident that a violent altercation was going on, in 



