This Country Abounds With Lions, Tigers, Leopards, And
Hyenas, Which Sometimes Make Nocturnal Visits To The Villages, And
Spread Desolation Among The Sheep And Cattle.
LETTER XV.
_Sudden Departure from Fez - Arrive at Mequinez - Attend the
Emperor - Melancholy Catastrophe - Expedition against wild
Beasts - Extensive Palaces - Seraglio - Visit a Haram - Founders of the
City - A fortified Town - Inhabitants - Jewish Town - Rich Attire of the
higher Orders - Numerous Market-places - Furniture - Saints'
Houses - Imperial Field Sports - Pack of Greyhounds - Abundance of Game._
Mequinez.
No doubt, my dear D - - , you will be very much surprised to observe my
letter dated from this place. I assure you I had not the most distant
idea, when I wrote last, of removing so suddenly from Fez. On the
evening of the same day that I dispatched my letter to you, as I was
preparing for rest, an express arrived from the Emperor, begging me to
repair hither without delay. Concluding that nothing less than life or
death depended on my speedy arrival, I accordingly renounced the
pleasures of the drowsy god for a very uneasy seat on the back of a
mule, and at midnight set off for this place, leaving my baggage and
attendants to follow in the morning. I rode very fast all night, and
arrived here about nine o'clock the next day. When I dismounted, I was
so extremely stiff, that it was with the utmost difficulty I could
stand; I was most dreadfully fatigued, and stood in very great need of
repose; but waving all selfish considerations, I thought only of being
serviceable, and therefore lost no time in waiting on the Emperor.
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