they wished
to have the pleasure of paying Lady Montefiore a visit. They also sent
for her acceptance a fine large sheep.

Lady Montefiore, in her diary, gives full particulars of the visit.
The Governor, she was told, had four wives, but only three of them
came. They were attended by a black girl, and by a man as their guard,
as well as by the mother of the Governor's youngest wife. The first
wife, who is considered to be, and is also called, "The Great Lady,"
was a pleasing and intelligent woman; the other two were somewhat
younger, but equally good-looking, the age of the youngest being about
eighteen, and the eldest thirty. All of them were exceedingly
good-tempered. When Sir Moses asked them if they could read, the
eldest one replied in the negative, "but," said she, "the Agha intends
marrying another lady, so that she may teach us to do so; we shall all
be pleased if he does."

They became very chatty, and were most desirous that Lady Montefiore
should visit them, and go on the water with them to the bath. "The
great lady" smoked a chibouk, but did not offer it to the others. Lady
Montefiore made each of them a present of a neat gold ring set with
mosaics, with which they were much pleased. They said it was the first
visit they had ever paid; they were not even allowed to visit their
own brothers, but the Agha was so pleased with Lady Montefiore, that
he wished his wives to see her. The ladies remained two hours, and I
had to act as interpreter. About fifty members of the Portuguese
community came to see us, and we had a long conversation with them on
the subject of the cultivation of land in the vicinity of the town.
Many members of the German congregation arrived at the same time to
pay their respects to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, and also joined
our conversation on the subject. The early marriages, which are
customary in the East amongst all classes of society, were warmly
discussed by all present. To Europeans the custom appears strange, and
a great drawback to the promotion of happiness among the contracting
parties, as well as to society in general. Orientals, on the contrary,
think it most desirable to preserve a custom which they consider
beneficial, and conducive to the happiness of families.

_Thursday, May 30th._--On this day the distribution of money took
place. Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore themselves put their gifts into
the hand of every man, woman, and child of the Hebrew, as well as of
th