DANGEROUS PASTIME.

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Their principal amusement, like that of the Greeks on Easter Sunday, consisted in firing muskets, but in a style altogether peculiar to themselves. The whole multitude divided itself into numerous groupes, each furnished with a band of music, which striking suddenly up, set the whole party dancing furiously, as if they had been so many puppets put in motion by wires. Each person seemed to take the lead in his turn; and during their wild evolutions, or rather antics, springing from the earth and at the same time whirling round, they all fired their pieces together. While engaged in these ludicrous rites, jumping, shouting, firing, laughing, beating up the dust, and perspiring like pick-pockets on the treadmill, they had the appearance of so many wild Indians, enjoying themselves after a successful scalping expedition.

This magnificent display of barbaric festivities took place in the grand square, fronting the governor's palace. We viewed it, along with Mr. Butler, from a house conveniently situated in the Jewish quarter. To have approached any nearer would have been imprudent; for, besides that Mohammedans always fire with ball on such occasions, a practice which sometimes occasions very awkward accidents, it is probable that a Christian, who should have ventured among them, would have been honoured with a direct application of the pistol. Nevertheless, I was assured, upon good authority, that they hold heretics in so much contempt, that they would scarcely waste powder and ball upon them. But this appears to be a somewhat fallacious source of confidence; for not many

years ago, the French consul was shot on his own terrace at Tangiers during one of these festivals: and I observed that not a single Jew approached within. musket-shot of the scene of their revelry, which was kept up for eight days.

One part of the ceremony which particularly struck me, was the cortège bearing the presents of the governor to the inhabitants of a neighbouring town, sent in return for those they had made his son. The whole economy of the thing reminded me most forcibly of the gift-bearing procession from the house of Aladdin to the emperor's palace, in the "Thousand and One Nights," where each slave bore a portion of the costly offering on his head. What the pasha's slaves carried on this occasion, we could not learn; but the whole was so contrived as to create the idea of much grandeur and munificence.

On the following Sunday we quitted Tetuan to return to Tangiers. As our road on the way back was precisely the same by which we arrived, it is unnecessary to enlarge on what we saw. I may remark, however, that at no great distance from the former place, we came up to a party of soldiers guarding two dead bodies, shot on the preceding night. Upon inquiry, we found that two Arab tribes had been skirmishing on the spot, and these were the trophies they left behind them. It took us thirteen hours to accomplish the journey, which is exactly forty miles; so that our horses, though apparently spirited, were none of the swiftest.

LEVYING AN INTERPRETER.

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CHAPTER VIII.

TANGIERS TO LARAISH.

Interpreter-catching-A Liverpool Jew-Depart from Tangiers -Appearance of the Country-The River Marha—Visit a Saint's Cell-Our Encampment—A Beautiful Night-Lovely Scenery Humours of a Moorish Fair-Keltic RemainsA Druid's Circle Ghost-hunting — Tombs of Holy MenMyrtle Plains First View of Laraish- Moorish FerryHospitable Landlord- Stroll over the Town PopulationGardens.

BEFORE our departure for the capital, we were exceedingly desirous of engaging an interpreter well acquainted with English and Arabic. Mr. Trenery, Mr. Bell, and several other friends, exerted themselves, however, in vain to discover one; and, at length, it was suggested that the shortest way would be to make application to the governor. Our request was seconded by a handsome present; moved by which, the old gentleman hit upon an expedient often put in practice as a last resource, and sometimes productive of tragical results. He commanded four soldiers to station themselves at the door of the Jewish synagogues at the hour of prayer, and make inquiries among the polyglot Hebrews for a person of the requisite description. Supposing the service demanded