Page:Sixteen years of an artist's life in Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands.djvu/32

Rh appears to be in the enjoyment of that state of perfectly satisfied repose which can neither be called sleeping nor waking, and which individuals of the feline tribe appear to appreciate so much. This cat answers the purpose of soap, water, and towel to the Moor, who carefully wipes his hands on her back between each dispensation of butter to his waiting customers. He is not quite so successful in a labour which he undertakes himself, that, namely, of endeavouring, with a wand which he waves about incessantly, to keep of the flies that are fascinated in countless numbers by the sweets of which he disposes. Some dead rats may also be lying about; and probably some other animals, in the last stage of existence, too weak even to make their way across the street, may be drawing their last breath in the establishment over which he presides.

But there are now fresh objects in the street, to which our observation must in due course be turned. A drove of camels, under the care of a half naked Arab driver, is approaching in one direction, sniffing the air, as they come on, with a solemn mixture of patient stupidity and apparent pride, and gracefully arching their long necks over you as they proceed on their way. Disentangling yourself with some difficulty from them, you find