ntry, and encamped at the river, about
two miles south of this port, had the distemper with it. We have
been assured, that the soldiers who died, were immediately buried
within the tents, so that, by this stratagem, the mortality was not
perceived by the public; it was apprehended that, if the mortality
were known, the kabyls, through which the army passed from Mequinas
to Marocco, would not have supplied the troops with provision. This
detachment consisted of 20,000 horse and 10,000 foot. No disorder
has yet appeared here, nor in the adjacent provinces of Shedma and
Haha.

[Footnote 123: A garden in the province of Haha, five miles
from Mogodor, that was presented to the European merchants by
the late sultan, Seedy Muhamed ben Abdallah.]
159
July 5. We dispatched the Spanish brig yesterday; but she is still
at anchor in the road, waiting for passengers, who fly from hence
with precipitation, from fear of the fever or plague, which
prevails at Fas and at Marocco, and which, it is reported, has made
its appearance at the port of Saffy. We have, however, nothing of
the kind here yet, though we expect we shall not escape the general
scourge.

July 13. The epidemy in the interior provinces has greatly
augmented, insomuch, that the demand for linen to bury the dead
rapidly increases, and the stock is almost exhausted. This article
has risen to an unprecedented price. All the relatives of L'Hage
Abdallah have fallen victims to the epidemy. This gentleman is
consequently in possession of very considerable property; and (if
he be not also carried off) there will be no fear of our recovering
the debt he owes you.

We cannot ascertain if the disorder prevails in the outer town, and
in the Jews' quarter, or not; it is certain, however, that eight or
ten die daily of the small-pox, and as many more of fevers and
other disorders, as report proclaims.

July 25. We are so much engaged in making arrangements against the
epidemy, which is now confidently reported to us to be the plague,
of a most deadly species, that we have only time to refer you to
the captain of the Aurora, to whom we have communicated every
160 particular, and who is extremely anxious to be off for England. The
deaths in this town, which contained a population of 10,000,