CH, VI. MAEOCCO MONEY. 141 



mountain paths ; and the mule is decidedly superior to the 

 horse in endurance of prolonged fatigue, inferior food, and 

 vicissitudes of climate. In a journey of some length it 

 is decidedly economical to purchase horses and mules 

 rather than hire them ; and we resolved to supply a part of 

 our wants in that way, Mr. Hunot being good enough to 

 undertake to choose eight mules, for which on the following 

 day we paid 81. each. 



The current coin in South Marocco we found to be 

 French iive-franc pieces (called by Europeans, dollars) for 

 all except small transactions. These are carried on by 

 Moorish silver pieces, worth respectively something less 

 than four pence and two pence, and little coins of an alloy 

 of copper and zinc, called fious, of which about fifteen go 

 to an English penny. It was necessary to provide our 

 interpreter, Abraham, with bags of these coins to defray 

 the trifling expenses of our journey. It being understood 

 that the provision of food for our followers and the 

 animals of our train would be undertaken by the local 

 authorities, wherever we should go, the only serious 

 expenses we had to provide for were the purchase or hire 

 of mules, and such gratuities as we might think proper to 

 distribute amongst our escort and our servants on our 

 return to Mogador. For presents to governors, sheiks, 

 and others whom it might be desirable to conciliate or 

 reward, we had brought with us a supply which turned 

 out to be more than sufHcient for the purpose. 



To pass a quiet evening in our own liouse, free from 

 any immediate cause for trouble, and with the prospect of 

 a good night's rest, such as we had not known since we left 

 Mogador, was an enjoyment keenly felt ; and though our 

 quarters were absolutely devoid of furniture of any kind, 

 the mere sense of quiet and freedom from intrusion made 

 them seem to us perfectly luxurious. The position of our 

 dwelling was indeed admirably chosen. Completely sepa- 

 rated from the inhabited quarters of the city, with their 

 noises and their stenches, by large gardens and high walls. 



