214 
RABAT. 
who we were and whither we were going : upon receiving 
our answer they permitted us to pass through the midst of 
them, for there was no other road, and it was necessary to 
cross a bridge. We proceeded by a fine road to the S. W. ; 
the soil composed of grey sand is naturally fertile. At eight 
in the morning we halted to take a slight repast of bread and 
some nuts purchased at Mequinaz, and ate it in peace beside 
a well. We continued our route to the S. W. over a soil 
similar to that which I noticed over-night, and arrived at an 
arm of the sea on the opposite shore of which Rabat is situ- 
ated; here I saw several Portuguese vessels. The vine 
flourishes in the environs of this town, and the fields are 
well cultivated. 
Upon entering Rabat, 1 proceeded with my guide to the 
fandac, where I rested awhile and then set out to walk 
through the town in hopes of finding the French consul, for 
I concluded that there would be one here. I held some 
shillings in my hand, by means of which I proposed without 
committing myself to find the consular house. I begged 
several Moors to change them for me, knowing that they 
would not (for they have little complaisance) but I foresaw 
that they would refer me to a christian, to whom I hoped by 
this innocent stratagem to be enabled to speak without ex- 
citing suspicion. In fact, the first Moor whom I requested 
to change my shillings for the coin of the country directed 
me to the christians ; I took advantage of this circumstance 
to inquire for the French consul, saying, that the money was 
French, and he, having no suspicion of me, immediately 
pointed out the consul's residence. I knocked at the door, 
aiid was thrilled with joy at the thought of being about to 
see a Frenchman. 
A Jew, who spoke tolerable English, opened the door ; 
he told me that the consul was at this moment with the 
sultan, but that he would soon return. 1 retired for a short 
time, and on my second application was by the same Jew 
