UAN.

[_To face p. 236._]

Meanwhile, Fatima signed to a slave to carry across the cups of tea which
she had poured out, together with thin china plates; then we were
supplied with the fine sweet bread. Miss Banks explained that I was not a
_tabiba_ (doctor). Fatima told her I was to ask about anything which I
did not understand, and with interpretations we carried on trifling
conversation. It was like stepping into "The Arabian Nights" come to
life. These women seldom go out of doors, or, if they do, nothing is to
be seen of them except a figure in an immense creamy woollen haik from
top to toe, heavily veiled: possibly a pair of haunting eyes and
beautiful slippers suggest an attractive "beyond." But here were we "i'
the centre of the labyrinth," where mere men can never go; in a maze of
hot imperious colour; in a world of ivory-tinted faces, flowing lines,
and stately gestures; among _abandon_ such as one little dreams of in a
Mohammedan double-locked world.

They lie at the ends of the pole, the women of Morocco: the countrywomen,
beasts of burden; the wives of the rich, sumptuously fed and caparisoned
lap-dogs.

Amidst such a show of silk and embroidery no English-woman, in the
utilitarian coat and skirt best fitted for travel, could feel other than
out of place, nor resist the weak desire that the imperious Fatima and
her circle should have another impression of our countrywomen made upon
their ignorant minds than that given by short skirts and nailed
boots--say, Covent Garden one night when the opera has drawn all the
diamonds in town.

I remember the Moorish French Consul, in the Tetuan post-office, saw R.
writing a card in there once.

"What a great thing it is," he said to Mr. Bewicke, "that your women can
write and can arrange things for themselves. I go away; my wife cannot
write to me. Our women are just like animals."

As far as I could gather, a Moorish woman does not think for herself
until she is divorced. Her father, mother, or brother marries her to
whomsoever he or she chooses; but when once she is divorced, she is free
to marry after her own heart, and no one can interfere with her. Divorce
was of course allowed by Mohammed. It is so common that no wife is
surprised at being divorced a year after marriage, or six months, even a
week. If she does not get up in time in the morning, her husband can
divorce her, or if she becomes ill, or for a hundred petty reasons.
Therefore upon the marriage-