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the shore; several cannons are planted for its defence. 
This island serves to confine prisoners of state. 
Notwithstanding these fortifications, the town of 
Sonera would not be able to stand an attack of any 
vigour, as it contains no other water but that which is 
taken from the river, at a mile's distance. 
My residence at Mogador was very dull, this place 
being confined by a desert of flying sand, which makes 
it impossible to walk out. It has no gardens; but about 
a mile further off some mountains appear, covered with 
woods of argan trees, and a fine vegetation. 
The vice-consuls and merchants of various European 
nations, who live at Souera form a kind of colony, which 
is increased by the Jew merchants of the country: 
the^e latter enjoy here much more liberty than at any 
other place in the empire; they are even permitted to 
wear the European dress, and to live like the merchants 
of other nations; they are the richest class, but from 
time to time they are compelled to pay dearly for these 
advantages by the most shocking oppressions. 
During the ten days that I staid at Souera the weath- 
er was very changeable; I made, however, some excel- 
lent observations, by which I was able to ascertain the 
latitude at 31° 32' 40" N., and the longitude ll g 55' 45" 
from the Parisian observatory. 
During these ten days the pashas of Hhaha, of Cherma, 
and of Sous, who were here with their troops, gave me 
the spectacle of some horse-races, of sham-fights repre- 
senting their battles, and some exercise with fire-arms, 
in which they squandered a deal of gun- powder, and 
made much noise. On one of these days they gave me 
a sumptuous dinner in one of the sultan's mansions, 
