CH. VI. UNIFORMITY OF EUDEEAL VEGETATION. 145 



throughout the Mediterranean region. Of 81 species enu- 

 merated there are but four (Brassica geniculata, Loni- 

 cera bifiora, Picris 'pilosa, and Leontodon hispidulus) 

 that do not extend to Southern Europe; fully one-half 

 are found in Northern France and Germany ; and 37 are 

 included in the British flora. 



About 4 P.M. we started by previous appointment to 

 pay our visit to El Grraoui. The usual course in this 

 country is to make the first visit to a man in authority 

 one of pure ceremony, wherein presents are made that are 

 intended to prepare the way for any serious business, which 

 is reserved for a second interview ; but the necessity for 

 deciding without delay on our future plans, which de- 

 pended altogether on the consent and assistance of El 

 Grraoui, forbade this dilatory mode of proceeding, and it 

 was decided that we should go at once thoroughly into 

 the subject of our intended journey. This was a proud 

 day for our interpreter, Abraham. While, in spite of some 

 concessions made to Sir Moses Montefiore, his coreligion- 

 ists in the city are forced to put off their shoes when 

 they leave their own enclosure, Abraham, rejoicing in a 

 pair of gamboge leather boots, could enter with head erect 

 the presence of the most powerful subject in Marocco. 

 Preceded by several mounted soldiers, we passed, by the 

 same filthy roads as before, through the great gate leading 

 to the palace. Perhaps the sight of a stately procession 

 irritated the feelings of the people ; certainly there was 

 on this occasion no doubt as to the disposition of the 

 bystanders, made sufficiently clear by muttered curses and 

 spitting towards us, and even by a few stones thrown in 

 the same direction, though scarcely intended to reach us. 



The walled space which surrounds the dwelling of the 

 sovereign appeared to be a nearly regular square, of which 

 the sides measure about half a mile. Besides the resi- 

 dence of the Sultan, rarely inhabited of late years, and 

 the extensive ranges of mean irregular buildings used by 

 his attendants and body-guard, another block of buildings 



