RECENT NARRATIVES, 
^51 
The reigning emperor of Morocco is named 
Muley Soliman. He is about forty ; is in his ap- 
pearance rather handsome, and possessed of a 
quick comprehension. Ali Bey saw him first in 
his camp, which he makes his constant residence, 
neglecting the palaces of Morocco and Mequinez, 
and despising all the pomp with which his ances- 
tors were accustomed to surround themselves. 
Like his predecessors, he pretends to high emi- 
nence as a doctor and expounder of the Maho- 
metan faith ; but is exempt from the cruelty so 
characteristic of Moorish sovereigns. He viewed 
with great interest the philosophical apparatus, 
and particularly the electrical machine in the 
possession of Ali Bey, and made curious inqui- 
ries into their structure and use. That traveller 
was much surprised when he received a present 
wrapped up in a cloth, which, on opening, proved 
to be merely two black loaves j but he was as- 
sured that this was the highest testimony of re- 
gard which the Sultan could bestow, and amount* 
ed to declaring him his brother. 
Fez was supposed by Ali Bey to contain one 
hundred thousand inhabitants. It exhibits a sin- 
gular mixture of splendour and ruin. The walls 
to the street are built of earth, and in many places 
cracked and tumbling down. All the magnifi- 
cence, as usual in Mahometan countries, is spent 
upon the interior. Here are found spacious 
