f RAVELS J» BARBARY. 
treated him with neglect and ingratitude. He be- 
gan to lose hopes of ever escaping from Morocco, 
when a message arrived from the emperor, desir- 
ing him to repair to the harem, and attend one of 
his sultanas. All deliberation on the subject was 
superseded, by considering, that the emperor's 
request had the full force of a command. He 
was immediately conducted to the harem, that 
sanctuary which no European had ever before en- 
tered. The door being opened, presented a wide 
court, filled with a motley group of concubines, 
domestics, and negro slaves, all seated on the 
ground, some conversing in circles, some employ- 
ed in needle work* others in preparing cuscusu. 
A general alarm spread through the whole of this 
group at the appearance of an European ; some 
fled precipitately to their apartments, others cla- 
morously demanded the cause of his entrance. The 
moment, however, that they learned who he was, 
and that he came by the emperor's permission, 
they all emerged from their hiding places ; the 
words " Christian doctor" resounded through the 
hall, and a close circle formed round our traveller, 
all at once enumerating complaints, real or imagi- 
nary, thrusting forward their hands to have the 
pulse felt, and even pulling him by the coat to at- 
tract his attention. Far from deporting them- 
selves with that awful reserve usually ascribed to 
Mahometan ladies, they did not even confine 
VOL. II, Q 
