to
the European as appreciated by the natives.

Gossip, the effervescence of an idle brain, is the prevailing pastime,
and at no afternoon tea-table in Great Britain is more aimless talk
indulged in than while the cup goes round among the Moors. The ladies,
with a more limited scope, are not far behind their lords in this
respect. Otherwise their spare time is devoted to minutely fine
embroidery. This is done in silk on a piece of calico or linen tightly
stretched on a frame, and is the same on both sides; in this way
are ornamented curtains, pillow-cases, mattress-covers, etc. It is,
nevertheless, considered so far a superfluity that few who have not
abundant time to spare trouble about it, and the material decorated is
seldom worth the labour bestowed thereon.

The fact is that in these southern latitudes as little time as
possible is passed within doors, and for this reason we must seek the
real amusements of the people outside. When at home they seem to
think it sufficient to loll about all the day long if not at work,
especially if they have an enclosed flower-garden, beautifully wild
and full of green and flowers, with trickling, splashing water. I
exclude, of course, all feasts and times when the musicians come,
but I must not omit mention of dancing. Easterns think their western
friends mad to dance themselves, when they can so easily get others
to do it for them, so they hire a number of women to go through all
manner of quaint--too often indecent--posings and wrigglings before
them, to the tune of a nasal chant, which, aided by fiddles, banjos,
and tambourines, is being drawled out by the musicians. Some of these
seemingly inharmonious productions are really enjoyable when one gets
into the spirit of the thing.

At times the Moors are themselves full of life and vigour, especially
in the enjoyment of what may be called the national sport of
"powder-play," not to speak of boar-hunting, hawking, rabbit-chasing,
and kindred pastimes. Just as in the days of yore their forefathers
excelled in the use of the spear, brandishing and twirling it as
easily as an Indian club or singlestick, so they excel to-day in the
exercise of their five-foot flint-locks, performing the most dexterous
feats on horseback at full gallop.

Here is such a display about to commence. It is the feast of
Mohammed's birthday, and the market-place outside the gate, so changed
since yesterday, is crowded with spectators; men and boys in ga