In this city was an hospitium, or convent of Spanish monks, founded about a century since by the king of Spain, for the relief and spiritual comfort of Catholic captives, and Christian travellers. This convent, and that at Marocco, were much respected by the Mooselemin, from the essential service afforded by the monks to the poor, whom they used to supply with medicines gratis; but, after a long practice, they found their prescriptions were grossly abused by the Moors, who took them without any regard to regimen; they were therefore obliged to make a general medicine for all applicants, composed of a decoction of simples with honey, and this they denominated the _dua sheriff_, or princely remedy. This convent was deserted by the monks previous to the accession of Soliman, the present Emperor. The streets of Mequinas are not paved, and on this account it is a very disagreeable place in winter, as the rains cause the mud to accumulate, which renders walking abroad very unpleasant. The inhabitants are extremely hospitable: they invite strangers to their gardens, and entertain them sumptuously: indeed, the manners of the people in this part of the empire, are more mild, perhaps, than in any other. Nature seems to have favoured the women of Mequinas, for they are handsome without exception, and to a fair complexion, with expressive black eyes, and dark hair, they unite a suavity of manners rarely to be met with even in the most polished nations of Europe. FAS.