Our usual evening occupation was pursued under greater difficulties than usual. There was not much wind; but the cold was severely felt in the open verandah, and the portion of our day’s harvest that was gathered in a wet state had to be left till the morning’s light should enable us to give our specimens the requisite treatment. Our design, not disclosed to any of our native followers, had been to remain another day at Arround, and, if circumstances were favourable, to ascend some projecting point in the range that should command a panoramic view. We had, however, scarcely opened our eyes on the morning of May 17 when we clearly perceived that the fates had decided against our scheme. Snow had fallen steadily during the night, and both branches of the valley above the village were thickly covered. The sky overhead was of the same leaden complexion as that of the previous day, and flakes of snow falling slowly showed that the disposition of the weather continued unchanged. The continuous fall of the barometer for three days before the rain set in had prepared us for a persistent fit of bad weather; so we were less disappointed than we should otherwise have been, and acquiesced as a matter of course in the preparations for our departure. The natives still flocked to the entrance of our house, seeking medical advice from the Christian _hakim_. When these had been disposed of, and all seemed ready for our departure, an unexpected incident occurred. Eight or ten women, dragging with them a sheep, entered the house in a tumultuous way, crowding up the stairs and into the verandah, addressed vehement entreaties to Hooker, and suddenly cut the sheep’s throat in his presence. Then followed more passionate entreaties, a document was thrust into his hand, and we were left at a loss to guess the meaning of the strange scene. At length, through Ambak’s increasing skill as interpreter, the matter was made sufficiently clear. A number of men of the village, the husbands or fathers of our suppliants, had been carried off as prisoners to Marocco, for non-payment of taxes, and were there confined in the horrible subterranean dungeons that serve as prisons. The object of these poor women was to obtain from El Graoui an order for their release, through the intercession of Hooker. A promise to do what was possible on their behalf was readily given; but, although a courteous answer was afterwards sent through the consul at Mogador, it may be feared that little attention was paid by the powerful Governor of this region to the representations of Christian strangers.