156 DEMEANOUE OF THE "WILD BIEDS. oh. tii. 



or bushes, scarcely seemed to notice our passage, and would 

 remain perched upon a bough close beside the track. 

 Here in the city of Marocco a small bird about the size 

 of a sparrow, but much more elegant in shape and 

 attractive from its green-grey plumage — the Fringillaria 

 Saharce — displayed still greater boldness. During our 

 meals, which were always taken in the central saloon open 

 to the sky, they would boldly alight beside us, and pick 

 up the crumbs that were sometimes purposely scattered 

 for their benefit. 



We saw nothing of the harmless serpents, one of whicli 

 at least is said to inhabit every house in Marocco, and 

 which the natives consider it unlucky to destroy or drive 

 away. Probably they find the food that suits them only 

 in inhabited houses, and ours had been so long untenanted 

 that they had deserted the empty rooms. 



Sunday, May 7, was fully employed in completing the 

 arrangements for our journey, and packing up the bota- 

 nical collections already secured. Our men had doubtless 

 enjoyed the rest, and were gratified by a distribution of 

 new shoes, or rather slippers, which replaced those pretty 

 thoroughly worn out on the journey from Mogador. In 

 a country where the surface is generally stony, and the soil 

 abounds in plants beset by thick sharp spines, the thin 

 slippers universally used by the people are very soon 

 consumed. 



Abraham appeared to-day gorgeously arrayed in a new 

 suit, with dark yellow boots siich as are worn by Moors of 

 the better class. He had grown much in importance 

 during the last few days, since, in his capacity as our in- 

 terpreter, he, a Jew, has sat with his slippers on in the 

 presence of El Graoui, the most powerful subject in 

 Marocco. 



With regard to the position of the Jews, there can be 

 no doubt that the benevolent efforts of Sir Moses Monte- 

 fiore, backed up by the representatives of England and 

 other civilised States, have produced some permanent 



