moossah's household at kazeh. 
49 
while the lady presided over the domestic arrange- 
ments of the interior. We had full access to both, and 
no house could be conducted with greater regularity. 
At three o'clock in the morning, Moossah, who had 
led a hard life in his day, would call out for his little 
pill of opium, which he never missed for forty years. 
This would brighten him up till noon. He would then 
transact business, chat, and give you the gossip at any 
hour you might sit by him on his carpet. To us it 
seemed strange that he never stopped talking when 
prayers from the Koran were being read to him by a 
"Bookeen," or Madagascar man. Perhaps he had 
little respect for the officiating priest, as the same 
reverend and learned gentleman was accustomed to 
make him his shirts ! After a mid-day sleep, he would 
refresh himself with a second but larger pill, transact 
business, and so end the day. The harem department 
presented a more domestic scene. At dawn, women 
in robes of coloured chintz, their hair neatly plaited, 
gave fresh milk to the swarm of black cats, or churned 
butter in gourds by rocking it to and fro on their laps. 
By seven o'clock the whole place was swept clean. 
Some of the household fed the game-fowls, or looked 
after the ducks and pigeons ; two women chained by 
the neck fetched firewood, or ground corn at a stone ; 
children would eat together without dispute, because 
a matron presided over them ; — all were quiet, indus- 
trious beings, never idle, and as happy as the day was 
long. When any of Moossah's wives gave birth to a 
child there was universal rejoicing; the infant was 
brought to show its sex : and when one died, the 
shrill laments of the women were heard all night long. 
When a child misbehaved, we white men were pointed 
