CHAP. VIII. 
MORZOUK. 
291 
diately enclose them in a small case of leather or cloth ; if this is 
not to be procured, they carefully tie up the paper with cord or 
thread. 
It has erroneously been supposed that the Moors or Arabs will 
not permit any one to draw views or figures, in consequence of a 
prohibition to that effect in the Koran, evidently taken from our 
Second Commandment. As far as regards myself, I certainly found 
no opposition in taking sketches, farther than being told that it was 
forbidden to make likenesses on paper or otherwise, as the Komees, 
or Christians, worshipped such images. I explained to them, how- 
ever, that it was not for a rehgious purpose that I employed my pencil, 
but merely to make resemblances of my friends : all jealousies then 
vanished, and I was ever after quietly suffered to proceed. It was a 
matter of much speculation and wonder that I could possibly contrive 
to represent such little men on paper, and they never failed to trace 
a likeness to some one of the company present, even although the 
colour of the skin, or the costume itself, might be different. In one 
instance I excited evident jealousy in the Sultan, who could not be 
persuaded that a Negress I had drawn w as not one of his favourites ; 
and he asked me, in no very gentle manner, how and where I could 
have seen her, as she was confined to the Castle, and was visible to 
no one but himself? Many of the people, on first taking up a 
drawing, did not appear much struck with it ; but no sooner had 
they discovered the eyes than their astonishment and dehght were 
expressed by loud laughter, by cries of Allah ! Allah ! and by placing 
the back of the open hand against the forehead. Few, however, 
confined themselves to this mode of admiration, but boldly pushed 
at the drawing with two fingers, one for each eye, to the great risk 
of its entire destruction, exclaiming, " There are his eyes ; 'tis Abd 
Allah, Mohammed, or some other of our friends. Look at his eyes i 
there are two of them ! God is merciful ! How wonderful ! Well ! 
r p 2 
