J. D. H. & J. B. delt.

TOWER OF THE KOUTOUBIA AT MAROCCO

[(Large-size)]

To the Moor the chief object of a garden is not pleasure but profit. In this admirable climate nearly all the vegetable products of the temperate and subtropical zones may be had in profusion wherever water is attainable, and of this the Great Atlas provides an unfailing supply to the city and its neighbourhood. Even at the low prices of the country, fruits are the most profitable of all crops; and it is asserted that the Aguidel Garden—the largest of those within the palace enclosure—containing about forty English acres, produces on an average 20,000l. a year.

The fruit-bearing trees planted in our garden were the date-palm, orange, olive, fig, pomegranate, apricot, almond, pear, apple, and mulberry, along with a few vines. Besides these were cypresses, willows (Salix babylonica), aspens, Robinia, Melia, and Celtis.

There were several tall bushes of Acacia Farnesiana, just coming into fruit, and of white jessamine. The only cultivated flowers were the rose, Mirabilis, and hollyhock, and a large-leaved variety of sweet violet, which has also been found in Madeira. Of wild arborescent plants we noted only Zizyphus Lotus and Lonicera biflora; the latter species (peculiar to North Africa) we observed here and there throughout our journey. Although the list of wild herbaceous plants includes few that are not common throughout the Mediterranean region, it may interest some readers to give it in full. Specimens of nearly all the species enumerated were preserved by us.

List of Plants growing wild in the Garden of Ben Dreis, in the City of Marocco. Those marked (*) are British species.

*Papaver Rhœas, L. Leontodon hispidulus, Boiss.
*Fumaria parviflora, Lam. Sonchus maritimus, L.
——— agraria, Lag.*——— oleraceus, L.
*Sisymbrium Irio, L.*Convolvulus arvensis, L.
——— erysimoides, Dsf. Solanum villosum, Lam.
Brassica geniculata, (Dsf.) Withania somnifera, (Link.)
*Capsella Bursa-pastoris, L. Hyoscyamus albus, L.
Lepidium sativum, L. Cynoglossum pictum, Ait.
*Viola odorata, L., var. Verbascum sinuatum, L.
Frankenia pulverulenta, L. Linaria græca, Chav.
Spergularia diandra, (Guss.) Scrophularia auriculata, L., var.
Lavatera cretica, L.*Veronica anagallis, L.
Malva parviflora, All.*Marrubium vulgare, L.
——— nicæensis, All.*Verbena officinalis, L.
*Erodium moschatum, (L.)*Beta vulgaris, Moq.
——— malacoides, (L.) Chenopodium ambrosioides, L.
*Oxalis corniculata, L.*——— murale, L.
Zizyphus Lotus, L.*——— album, L.
Medicago pentacycla, D.C.*Rumex crispus, L.
*Trifolium resupinatum, L.*——— pulcher, L.
Lotus arenarius, Brot.*Polygonum aviculare, L.
Lythrum flexuosum, Lag. Euphorbia pubescens, Vapl.
Bryonia acuta, Dsf.*——— peplus, L.
*Conium maculatum, L.*Mercurialis annua, L.
*Apium nodiflorum, (L.)*Urtica dioica, L., var.
Ammi majus, L.*Parietaria officinalis, L., var.
Carum Petroselinum, (L.)*Typha angustifolia, L.?
*Caucalis nodosa, (L.)*Cyperus longus, L.
*——— infesta, (L.) Phalaris minor, Retz.
Lonicera biflora, Dsf. Piptatherum multiflorum, P.B.
*Galium Aparine, L. Agrostis verticillata, Vill.
*Gnaphalium luteo-album, L.*Cynodon dactylon, L.
Anacyclus Valentinus, L.*Poa annua, L.
Chrysanthemum coronarium, L. Kœleria phleoides, Pers.
Senecio gallicus, Chaix, var. Cynosurus aureus, (L.)
Calendula stellata, Cav.?*Festuca rigida, (L.)
Carduus myriacanthus, Salzm.? Brachypodium distachyon, (L.)
Onopordon illyricum, L.*Bromus madritensis, L.
Picris pilosa, Del.*——— mollis, L.
Leontodon Rothii (Thrincia hispida, Rth.) ——— macrostachys, Dsf., var.
*Hordeum murinum, L.

This list affords a fair illustration of the general uniformity of what may be termed the ruderal vegetation throughout the Mediterranean region. Of 81 species enumerated there are but four (Brassica geniculata, Lonicera biflora, Picris pilosa, and Leontodon hispidulus) that do not extend to Southern Europe; fully one-half are found in Northern France and Germany; and 37 are included in the British flora.

About 4 P.M. we started by previous appointment to pay our visit to El Graoui. The usual course in this country is to make the first visit to a man in authority one of pure ceremony, wherein presents are made that are intended to prepare the way for any serious business, which is reserved for a second interview; but the necessity for deciding without delay on our future plans, which depended altogether on the consent and assistance of El Graoui, forbade this dilatory mode of proceeding, and it was decided that we should go at once thoroughly into the subject of our intended journey. This was a proud day for our interpreter, Abraham. While, in spite of some concessions made to Sir Moses Montefiore, his coreligionists in the city are forced to put off their shoes when they leave their own enclosure, Abraham, rejoicing in a pair of gamboge leather boots, could enter with head erect the presence of the most powerful subject in Marocco. Preceded by several mounted soldiers, we passed, by the same filthy roads as before, through the great gate leading to the palace. Perhaps the sight of a stately procession irritated the feelings of the people; certainly there was on this occasion no doubt as to the disposition of the bystanders, made sufficiently clear by muttered curses and spitting towards us, and even by a few stones thrown in the same direction, though scarcely intended to reach us.