^46 
TRAVELS IN BARBARY. 
began to lose hopes of ever escaping from Mo- 
rocco, when a message arrived from the emperor, 
desiring him to repair to the harem, and attend 
one of his sultanas. All deliberation on the sub- 
ject was superseded, by considering, that the em- 
peror's request had the full force of a command. 
He was immediately conducted to the harem, 
that sanctuary which no European had ever be- 
fore entered. The door being opened, presented 
a wide court, filled with a motley group of concu- 
bines, domestics, and negro slaves, all seated on 
the ground, some conversing in circles, some em- 
ployed in needle-work, others in preparing cus- 
cusu. A general alarm spread through the whole 
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 permis- 
sion, they all emerged from their hiding places j 
the words ** Christian doctor" resounded through 
the hall, and a close circle formed round our tra- 
veller, all at once enumerating complaints, real or 
imaginary, thrusting forward their hands to have 
the pulse felt, and even pulling him by the coat to 
attract his attention. Far from deporting them- 
selves with that awful reserve usually ascribed to 
Mahometan ladies, they did not even confine 
themselves within the limits of common decorum. 
