CHAPTER VII. 
Daparture from Tangier. — Journey from Mequinez to Fez. 
Having prepared every thing for my journey, the 
day of Tuesday, 25th October, was employed in send- 
ing my baggage out off the town. We encamped at 
about an hundred fathoms to the west of the walls of the 
town, where my people and equipages were assembled. 
After having said my prayers in the mosque, and tak- 
en leave of my friends, I set out on horseback towards 
five in the evening, accompanied by the kadi, who also 
was on horseback; all the other fakihs and talbes of the 
town, and some servants, followed us on foot. With 
this retinue I arrived at the spot where my tent had been 
fixed, and soon afterwards every body retired, leaving 
me to my repose. 
Before I set out, one of the fakihs took me by the 
thumb of my right hand, and made it trace on the wall 
of the room some mysterious characters. They were 
meant to obtain for me a pleasant journey and safe re- 
turn. 
The night was advanced when the kadi and the other 
fakihs returned to my tent; they drank tea with me, and 
brought me a plentiful supper; the principal saints also 
came to pay me a visit. Every body retired at the hour 
when the gates of the town were about to be shut. 
It was a fine day; the barometer was in the morning 
at 28"' 2I 1 . The night was serene and calm; the moon 
shone bright. My people had placed my camp on an 
elevation; it was about eighteen feet in diameter at its 
basis, and thirteen feet high; it had a double lining, her- 
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