308 JIDDA. 
He sent for his little daughter to shew us ; she was extremely 
fair ; and he took off her cap, that we might see her hair was quite 
brown. He himself is tolerably fair, short, and fat, with a black 
beard. His grandfather was the first Mussulmaun of the family. He 
told us that his family were Mograbis, inhabitants of Barbary, oppo- 
site to Gibraltar, which they still call Jibbel Teir. Several of his 
relations were there, and one uncle who was as white as any of us. 
The room we were received in was flagged, and open at top. — 
The house was three stories high : at the first floor a curtain was 
placed, which could be drawn horizontally across. ^ It was open, 
and permitted us to see the range of latticed windows handsomely 
carved, which we soon perceived belonged to his Zenana. Several 
ladies were looking through the holes, but at length they lifted up 
the window. I was playing at chess with Jelani, whose back was 
towards them, and only ventured to look up, when I perceived his 
eyes and those of his attendants were fixed on the board. When 
my eyes met their 's they smiled, and turned their heads a little on 
one side, but did not attempt to move. They were as fair as Euro- 
peans, had black hair, eyes, and eyebrows. Their lips were of a 
most beautiful vermillion : some were so young, that I think they 
must have been his daughters. Fatima is by one of his wives, who 
is fair, and was probably one of those we saw. He has a son by a 
slave, who is very black, but none by his wives. At the oppo- 
site end of the room, from which we entered, was a raised room of 
smaller dimensions, separated partly by a rail ; to this was an ascent 
of two steps. It was covered with a carpet, and had cushions on 
three sides : on the right, by the rail, was his seat, upon \yhich his 
box and writing materials were placed : at the end of this room was 
