204 PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 
would be injurious to my health, I made preparations for re- 
moving to Mequinaz : this, it was observed, was not the road 
to Algiers, but I was unwilling to increase my distance from 
Rabat and Tangier, and reported my intention in going to 
Mequinaz to be to throw myself at the feet of the Emperor, 
and make known to him my miserable situation ; not doubt- 
ing that his compassion would furnish me with the means of 
proceeding to Algiers, whence I should more easily obtain a 
passage to Alexandria. The importance of this application to 
the sultan being obvious, no farther observations were made 
on my project. I was happy in finding so satisfactory a pre- 
tence for approaching the sea coast, but internally resolved to 
avoid the Emperor as solicitously as I affected to seek him. 
Fez is the finest town I have seen in Africa; I shall en- 
deavour to describe it as minutely as the shortness of my stay 
there will permit. 
