Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/161

Rh Emdrasa dēl Emshīa.—College and mosque, stands near the south wall of the city; here are the sepulchres of the sultans of the Molūc Saidīa dynasty, once adorned with statues and busts, now, thanks to the bigotry of a rigid Moslem emperor, entirely effaced.

Fountains.—Several of these have traces of delicate sculpture, especially one near the mosque El Moazin, called

Shrub-ū-Shoof, ('drink and admire,') which has a cornice of white marble, shewing evident remains of former beauty.

Gates.—Of the eleven gates of the city, now open, that entering the palace, called

Bēb e'Rōm, is by far the best specimen of architecture to be seen; a Moorish horseshoe arch, (which, however false in principle, is not unpleasing to the eye.) richly sculptured in Arabesque work, in imitation of shoe-nails, &c. &c.: its name would imply that it was the work of Europeans, or—of Romans! the same word being used for both.

Streets of Marocco are narrow and irregular, seldom wider than lanes in Europe, in many eases connected across by arches and gates, possibly as a defence in case of attack; several open spaces, which cannot be called squares, used as market-places, &c.; the

Houses, usually one story, fiat roof and terrace, the side towards the street plain and whitewashed; here and there a narrow opening, not deserving the name of a window, none of which are glazed; but the interior disposition is much like the Spanish; rooms opening into a court, sometimes surrounded with arcades, and a fountain in the centre; many of the doors of cypress-wood, highly sculptured; the rooms long and narrow, owing probably to their want of timber; no windows, no fires, no furniture, except a mat and a cushion or two.

Al Kaisserīa, or Bazaar, is a long range of shops, or rather stalls, covered in from the weather, and divided into compartments; exposed for sale, were silk scarfs, shaw]s, and handkerchiefs, from Fas; Sulhams, haicks; gellabīas, and carpets, from Ducalia; cloth, linen, hardware, tea and sugar, from London! almonds, raisins, 'hhenna, and al kohol, from Suse; very fine corn, caravances, beans, &c., from Shragna; very luscious dates, from Taftlet; and abundance of boots, slippers, saddles, coarse pottery, mats, cord, &c., of domestic manufacture; and embroidery in gold and silver, in which they particularly excel.

Markets.—There are two or three; the principal is called

Sōk el Khamīse, held near the north gate of the city, and, as its name denotes, on a Thursday; well supplied with home manufactures; outside the gate is the market for camels, horses, mules, horned cattle, sheep, &c., but no great show; not much bustle except in the sale of horses. which is by auction—the auctioneer