The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-07

ttCO months uHo9
than Spain is like our own country.
Entering the forest, we found ourselves
on all sides by prodigious
high palm trees, which hitherto we had
seen only singly here and there cult
waited as curiosities And noble trees
they are, standing so to 100 feet high,
with never branch, but only great
crown of leaves, with strings
of dates hanging down from their midst.
Beneath in marshy places grew sugar
canes as high as any bagstock, and else
where were patches of rice, which grows
like corn with us, but thrives we'll in
the shade, curiously watered by artificial
streams of water. And for hedges to
their property these Mours have agaves,
with great spiky leaves which no man
can penetrate, and other strange plants,
whereof l will mention only one they
call the fig Of Barbary, which is no fig
at all, but plant having large, fleshy
leaves growing one out of the other,
with fruit and flower sprouting out of
the edges, and all monstrous prickly. To
garnish and beautify this formidable
defense nature had cast over all net
work of creeping herbs with most ex-
traordinary flowers, delightful both to
see and smell, but why so prickly no
man can say.
"Surely this must be paradise, cries
Moll, staying to look around her.
And we were of the same thinking I'M
til we came to the town, which, as /
have said, lies in the midst of this for
est, and then all our hopes and expecta-
lions were dashed to the ground, for we
had looked to find city in keeping
with these surroundings-of fairy pal
aces and stately mansions. In place
whereof was naught but wilderness Of
mean, low, squalid houses, with me-
andering, i'll paved alleys, and all past
everything for unsavury smells-heaps
of refuse lying before every door, stark
naked brats of children screaming every
where and a pack of famished dogs
swapping at our heels.
Don Sanchez leads the way, we fol
lowing, with rueful looks one at the
other, till we reach the market place
and there he takes us into house Of
entertainment, where dozen Moors are
squatting ON their launches in group.
about sundry bowls of a smoking mess
called cuscusson, which is kind Of
paste with little butter in it and Q
store of spices Their manner of eating
it is simple enough. Each man dips his
hand in the pot, takes out handful ant
dances it about till it is fashioned int
ball, and then he eats it with all the
gusto in the world.
For our repast we were served with {
joint of roast mutton, and this being
cut up we had to take up in our hands
and eat like any savages, their religion
denying these Moors anything but til,
bare necessities Of life. Also their Law
forbids the drinking of wine, which die
most upset Jack Dawson, he having fol
drink with his meat nothing but tn,
choice of water and sour milk, but which
he liked least know not, for he woult
touch neither, saying he would rathe
go dry any day than be poisoned witt
such liquor.
While we were at our meal a goo
many Moors came in to stare at us, a
at raree show, and especially at Moll
whose bright clothes and loose hair ex
cited their curiosity, for their women d
rarely go abroad, except they be old
and wear only long, dirty white robes
muffling the lower part of their faces
None of them smiled, and it is noticea
BILE that these people, like our own don
do never laugh, taking such demonstra
ton as sign of weak understandin
and foolishness, but watching all GU
actions very intently. And presently a
old Moor, with white beard and NOR
clearly dressed than the rest, pushin
the crowd aside to see what was fol-
ward, recognized Don Sanchez, who O
once rose to his feet, we, not to be be
hind him in good manners, rising also
MAY Babar?" says the old Moor
and repeating this phrase thrice, whic
is sure sign Of hearty welcome, b
claps the don's hand without shaking
and lays his own upon his breast, tn
don doing likewise. Then Don Sanchez
introducing us as we understood by hi
gestures, the old Moor bends his hea
gravely, putting his right hand first I
his heart, next to his forehead and the
kissing the two foremost fingers lai
across his lips, we replying as best W
could with bowling and scrapint
These formalities concluded, the do
and the old Moor walk apart, and "
squat down again to our mutton bone
After a lengthy discussion the oil
Moor goes, and Don Sanchez, havin
paid the reckoning, leads us out Of til
town by many crooked alleys and croi
passages, he speaking never word an
we asking no questions. but narve''
exceedingly what is to happen mex
And following wall overhung by grea
palms we turn corner and find ther
our old Moor standing beside an ope
door with key in his hand. The oil
Moor gives the key into Don Sanchez
hand, and with very formal salutatio
leaves us.
Then, following the don through tn
doorway, we find ourselves in a spaciou
garden, but quite wild for neglect, flow
er and weed and fruit all minglin
madly together, but very beautiful I
my eye nevertheless for the abundanc
of color, the richness of the vegetable
and the graceful forms Of the adjaceu
| palms.
A house stood in the midst of thi
wilderness, and thither Don Sanche
picked his way, we at his heels still to
amazed to speak. Beside the house wa
we'll, with little wall about it, an
seating himself on this Don Sanche
opens his lips for the first time.
MY friend, Sid ben Ahmed, ha