187 
satisfaction to the inhabitants, and particularly to me, as I 
was waiting for him to take my leave, in order to begin 
my pilgrimage to Mecca. 
. The Sultan arrived in fact on the day which had been 
announced; I went to a pretty good distance to meet 
him. He was on his litter, which was placed between 
two mules. As soon as he saw me, he ordered it to stop, 
and conversed with me, assuring me of his particular 
affection. Mulei Abdsulem, who was with him, was 
as kind as a brother to me. During his absence, we 
had been corresponding together; and at the time I was 
ill, and unable to write, they sent messengers from Fez, 
with an order to have news concerning my health. As 
they now saw me recovered, and able to mount on horse- 
back, they did not know how to express their satisfac- 
tion; and during their stay, our relations continued on 
the most perfect intimacy. 
Some, days afterwards, I was strangely surprized, 
when I heard that the Sultan had sent me two women* 
As I had fixed my resolution in this respc «, and deter- 
mined not to give way till ray return from my pilgri- 
mage to the sacred Caaba, I refused the present. But 
as the women had once been dismissed from the Sultan's 
harem, and could not be admitted into it again, the good- 
natured Muley x\bdsulem took them to his house, afraid 
of speaking on this subject either to the Sultan or to me. 
The whole court was curious to know how this matter 
of state would finish. Every one was whispering into 
another's ears, without daring to make any reflection. 
In the meanwhile, I continued going to court, as if no- 
thing had happened. Muley Abdsulem at last found his 
silence too oppressive to him, and hinted something to 
me about the matter. I promised to discuss it next day. 
