176 LODGINGS AT THE MOSQUE. 
a lodging at the mosque^ an edifice destined at once for the 
service of God and the reception of travellers. In fact, I 
there met with several strangers, who surrounded me and 
overwhelmed me with questions. 
About two in the afternoon, I returned to the house of 
my host, to relieve the weariness which this importunate 
curiosity occasioned me, and was greatly astonished to find 
the same young men, who in the morning had expressed so 
much affection for me, now refuse me admittance. After 
having explained that they treated me thus on account of 
their women, they asked me if I wanted food, and, giving me 
about two ounces of bread with some dates, left me seated 
upon the ground at the door. After having taken this slight 
repast 1 returned to the mosque. About ten o'clock, the 
negro slaves came to call Sidi-Aly and his people to supper : 
as he would not allow me to eat with him, I received no 
notice ; however, finding the time elapse, and being by no 
means disposed to lose my supper, I determined to seat my- 
self at the door of my host's house. The slaves, as they 
passed, inquired what ] wanted ; I answered that I had had 
no supper, and begged they would inform their master ; 
they executed my commission, and returned saying, that I 
ought to have shared the supper of Sidi-Aly and his suite. 
I then described their misconduct towards me, at which 
they were indignant, saying, that he and his were infidels ; 
and, desiring me to wait a moment, they brought me an 
ample quantity of bad barley couscous, with a small bit of 
beef. I afterw^ards went to sleep under the roof of the 
mosque, among the Moors, who were necessitated like 
myself to take refuge there. As the sons of Haggi-Le 
Mekke had represented to me, no stranger is here admitted 
into the interior of the houses, lest the women, who are not 
allowed to see any other men but those of their family, 
might be exposed to indiscreet observation : consequently 
travellers obtain an asylum for the night in the mosques, and 
