Nearly all the streets were littered with rotten vegetables, feathers, rags, bones, and sometimes with deceased cats and dogs.
As may be imagined, the odors were often anything but agreeable.
At long intervals were seen groups of Arab children, playing or reciting verses from the Koran in a nasal drone.
Beggars were plentiful, squatting along the streets.
Here and there the nostrils of the boys were assailed by the odor of garlic, burnt aloes, benzoine, fish, and things unnamable.
The square was reached, and was found to be a little rectangular place, surrounded by wretched shops.
At one side was a fountain, around which was a crowd of Arabs and negroes, engaged in drawing water in various vessels.
At the other side of the square, veiled women were seated on the ground, offering bread for sale.
The little square was thronged with almost naked vagabonds, rich Moors, Jews, employees of the legations, the houses of which were near at hand; interpreters and beggars galore.
For the time, Ephraim forgot that he had received a ducking. He looked around, his jaw dropping.