At 8 A.M. a morning meal of wheaten cakes and milk came from El Graoui, and throughout that and the following days he continued to supply our wants and those of our followers on the most liberal scale. Besides a light breakfast, three copious meals with meat and vegetables cooked in the most approved style, accompanied by dates and oranges, were regularly furnished; and the addition of a mule-load of oranges that came later in the day furnished in abundance the most acceptable luxury that nature affords in this region. It was clear that the question debated among the Marocco authorities as to the best way of dealing with the troublesome Christian visitors was considered a rather knotty one, for fully two hours elapsed before our Mogador _kaïd_ returned with the Viceroy’s answer. We were welcome to Marocco, he said, and he had ordered the palace of Ben Dreis, with the adjoining garden, to be prepared for our reception. That building belonged, it was added, to his father, the Sultan, and not to the Governor of Marocco, so that we should consider the use of it as a mark of the personal favour and friendship of the Sultan. The request for an interview was evaded, probably to avoid any further demands that may have been apprehended; but we had obtained a complete victory, and had nothing more to ask so far as our stay in Marocco was concerned. Although the sequel of the story was not unfolded till a day or two later, it may as well be here given. Si Boubikir, one of our Moorish friends who had interested himself on our behalf, was sent for by the Viceroy, and at the same time Ben Daoud was also summoned. The latter was addressed by the Viceroy in the coarsest terms: ‘You dog! you slave! you son of a slave! how have you dared to neglect my father’s orders? Were you not ordered to provide a suitable residence for these English gentlemen?’ With further additions of threats and abuse. On the following day (after we had paid our visit to El Graoui) a person sent by Ben Daoud came to Abraham, our interpreter, to express a hope that we should also pay a visit to the Governor of the city in token of reconciliation. He was to assure us that Ben Daoud was no way to blame for anything that had happened, as he had acted throughout by the express orders of the Viceroy, who had desired him to begin by offering the smaller house, then one somewhat larger, and to leave it to the Viceroy to meet our demands, if we persisted in asking for a house with a garden. It was quite impossible to guess how much or how little truth there might be in this tale, and how far the scene got up before Si Boubikir was a mere comedy; but it is characteristic of the country, that it should not be considered improbable. Hooker decided that it was not expedient to overlook the affronts of which Ben Daoud was either the author or the instrument, and his message was met by a curt refusal.