During all this time we had remained grimly sitting on horseback, no way anxious, until it should be quite necessary, to commit ourselves for the night to the unpleasant accompaniments that surrounded us; but there was no longer any choice, and the order was given to pitch the large tent and unload the baggage. During the interval we had been much struck by the demeanour of the people, who had from time to time passed by as we stood grouped together in this most public place of the city. Whether in obedience to orders, or from a spontaneous desire to display their utter indifference as to the doings of the infidels, no one paid the slightest attention, or even turned a head to notice us or our proceedings. Even the very boys engaged in some rough play when we first arrived on the square showed the same ostentatious disregard—in striking contrast to the eager curiosity of the Arab children in Algeria and the East, who will sit for hours together watching every movement of European travellers. By this time, however, the night had closed in, and the great square was silent and dark before our large tent was pitched and the baggage brought under cover. Soon after there appeared a train of men bearing dishes—the evening _mona_—along with twenty-four soldiers sent by El Graoui to guard our camp during the night, and about half-past 9 we were able to get the rather long delayed evening meal and discuss our further prospects and proceedings. While thus engaged the sound of angry voices outside the tent interrupted conversation; it was evident that a violent altercation was going on, in which many voices took part. When all was again quiet, we ascertained the cause of the row. Ten soldiers sent by Ben Daoud as a guard for the night had come to take their places round the camp, when they found the ground already occupied. El Graoui’s men warned them off, telling them they had no business there, and when the others insisted on remaining to carry out their master’s orders the first comers threatened to thrash them if they did not immediately depart. Peace was re-established when Ben Daoud’s men retired to the farther end of the square behind the great mosque.