At Sunrise, Ali, With A Few Attendants, Came On Horseback To Visit
Me, And Signified That He Had Provided A Hut For Me, Where I Would
Be Sheltered From The Sun.
I was accordingly conducted thither, and
found the hut comparatively cool and pleasant.
I was no sooner seated in this my new habitation than the Moors
assembled in crowds to behold me; but I found it rather a
troublesome levee, for I was obliged to take off one of my
stockings, and show them my foot, and even to take off my jacket and
waistcoat, to show them how my clothes were put on and off; they
were much delighted with the curious contrivance of buttons. All
this was to be repeated to every succeeding visitor; for such as had
already seen these wonders insisted on their friends seeing the
same; and in this manner I was employed, dressing and undressing,
buttoning and unbuttoning, from noon till night. About eight
o'clock, Ali sent me for supper some kouskous and salt and water,
which was very acceptable, being the only victuals I had tasted
since morning.
I observed that in the night the Moors kept regular watch, and
frequently looked into the hut to see if I was asleep; and if it was
quite dark, they would light a wisp of grass. About two o'clock in
the morning a Moor entered the hut, probably with a view to steal
something, or perhaps to murder me; and groping about he laid his
hand upon my shoulder. As night visitors were at best but
suspicious characters, I sprang up the moment he laid his hand upon
me; and the Moor, in his haste to get off, stumbled over my boy, and
fell with his face upon the wild hog, which returned the attack by
biting the Moor's arm. The screams of this man alarmed the people
in the king's tent, who immediately conjectured that I had made my
escape, and a number of them mounted their horses, and prepared to
pursue me. I observed upon this occasion that Ali did not sleep in
his own tent, but came galloping upon a white horse from a small
tent at a considerable distance; indeed, the tyrannical and cruel
behaviour of this man made him so jealous of every person around him
that even his own slaves and domestics knew not where he slept.
When the Moors had explained to him the cause of this outcry they
all went away, and I was permitted to sleep quietly until morning.
March 13. - With the returning day commenced the same round of insult
and irritation - the boys assembled to beat the hog, and the men and
women to plague the Christian. It is impossible for me to describe
the behaviour of a people who study mischief as a science, and exult
in the miseries and misfortunes of their fellow-creatures.
CHAPTER X - A MOORISH WEDDING
The Moors, though very indolent themselves, are rigid task-masters,
and keep every person under them in full employment.
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