MOSQUES. 
207 
For the security of the shops, dogs are every night turn- 
ed loose into the streets of the market ; these animals, 
trained for the purpose, perform their duty so zealously, that, 
but for the interference of men who sleep near, they would 
inevitably devour such passengers as chance or business 
attract to the spot confided to their charge. 
No monument of departed splendour exists at Fez to 
awaken curiosity or recal the former magnificence of the 
conquerors of Spain : but it boasts of many mosques, each 
surmounted by a square tower of about a hundred feet in 
height, upon which a white flag is hoisted as the signal for 
prayer. I visited several of them, accompanied by the good- 
natured negro of Mequinaz ; and found them large edifices 
of an oblong square form, containing several galleries raised 
upon well-built arcades. The only one which appeared to 
merit particular attention is called by the Moors Mouladrib, 
probably from the name of its founder. It is the chief or- 
nament of the city. The interior is preserved with the ut- 
most care; it is paved with small pieces of well varnished 
Dutch tiles, of various colours and shapes, tastefully arranged 
in mosaic ; and the whole compass of the walls, to the height 
of two feet and a half, is inlaid in the same manner. The 
arches which support the roof are of far superior workman- 
ship to those of the other mosques ; two of them are 
raised on finely sculptured marble columns, the other pillars 
are of brick, covered with plaster. The vaulted ceiling is 
composed of boards, painted yellow and red, and adorned by 
a broad band of gold colour forming the cornice. Within 
a sort of sanctuary, in the middle of the mosque, stands a 
small altar, covered with a cloth embroidered with flowers 
in gold ; and around it are placed several glass lamps and 
flambeaux, and near it is a handsome lustre hanging from a 
gilt cupola ; a multitude of suspended lamps are also dis- 
persed throughout the temple, to enlighten the faithful. 
The thirsty traveller is^efreshed by a very beautiful fountain 
