Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/275

Rh rather, the small forest of fruit-trees and date-palms, we accepted with pleasure the invitation of our host to rest in a half-darkened, cool room off one of the courts.

Meanwhile my wife was invited to visit the harem and went off with Madame Ducore and the host, full of enthusiasm for this peep into another world. As we reclined on the soft cushions, smoked and chatted, I finally dozed off for a moment, to be aroused by the distant strains of a violin. I had no doubt but that it was my wife playing, as I recognized her technique, though I could hear that only two strings were being used and consequently concluded that she must be playing on an Arab instrument. First there came some of the melodies which she had collected in Spain, Andalusian and Gipsy songs, and then others picked up in Tlemsen. I dozed again and slept a full hour, which was good for me after mutton with beans and squash and the rich kouskous and other tasty but very filling dishes. When my wife returned, we thanked our host and went back to the hotel, where Zofiette immediately sat down and wrote in her journal the impressions of her visit. I leave it to her to describe the part of the house which we men were not allowed to enter.

"Today we were invited to a midday dinner with a rich Arab in his suburban villa. The luncheon was served in the shade of the olives, where we were given places on soft cushions before beautifully inlaid low tables. The sky was a deep, rich blue and seemed to hang very low over the sun-bathed Geelliz mountains. After a very delicious and hearty meal the host invited Madame Ducore and me to visit the harem with him, a chance which I eagerly accepted.