81 
shape of birds to come here; that they return again at a 
certain time to their country, where they resume their 
human form till the next season. 
For this reason it would be considered as a crime to 
kill one of these birds. They tell thousands of ridicu- 
lous stories upon this occasion. Undoubtedly it is the 
utility of these animals, who are continually making 
war with the reptiles which abound so much in hot cli- 
mates, which has occasioned the general respect and 
anxiety for their preservation. But the love of the 
marvellous here as elsewhere has substituted absurd fa- 
bles for the actual truth. 
The government of Fez is like that of the other towns 
of the empire. The ka'fd or governor, as the lieuten- 
ant of the sovereign, has the executive power: the kadi 
is charged with the civil jurisdiction. A minister called 
Almotassen fixes the price of provisions, and decides all 
points that arise on this branch of the public service. 
The governor has some soldiers under his orders. I 
have not seen any other guard than the porters at the 
entrance of the town and at the gates of some of the 
streets. 
Fez is surrounded by vast chains of walls, which are 
very old and in a state of utter decay. In this inclosure 
New Fez and a number of large gardens are com- 
prised. On two of the elevations on the east and west of 
the town two strong castles very ancient are to be seen, 
they consist of some square walls about sixty feet in 
front. It is said that there are subterraneous pas- 
sages which communicate between them and the town. 
Whenever the people revolt against the Sultan, cannon 
is planted on the castles with an hundred soldiers as 
their guard, though this would be but a miserable de- 
fence. 
VOL. I. M 
