Sultan Muley Ismael, who, after having-secured to h im s e lf the undisputed sovereignty o f the small kingdoms which-now form the empire o f Marocco, determined, in order to keep his-people in more complete subjection, to have two imperial cities, and in consequence made Marocco the capital o f the south, and Mequinas that o f the north; he at the same time considerably enlarged the c ity to the westward, and erected a beautiful palace, w hich is defended b y two bastions mounted with a few guns o f small calibre. In the plain, on that , side o f the c ity towards the A tla s mountains, is a wall o f circumvallation about six feet in height, which was built as a defence against the Berebbers, whose attacks, though impetuous, are momentary, and do not require a long defence. Muley Ismael, and his successor, Muley Abdallah, have repeatedly defended themselves in this city against these people, when, in attempting to bring them under their yoke, th e y ha ve been routed, and their armies pursued to its v e ry walls. A t the south end o f the c ity stands the palace (which encloses the Horem, or seraglio), a v e r y extensive quadrangular edifice, b u ilt b y Ismael, after his own d e s ig n ; it contains several g a rdens admirably laid out, and watered b y numerous streams from the adjacent country. I obtained permission to view this buildin g from the Emperor’s brother, as no person is suffered to enter it without leave. In the centre o f the enclosure is the horem, within which is a spacious garden, planted w ith tall cypress trees; it is surrounded b y a gallery, supported b y columns, which communicates with the adjoining apartments, the largest o f which are appropriated to the women (the smaller rooms being for the eunuchs and female attendants), and terminate in a hall, or large chamber, built on a causeway which divides the gardens ; here the females look through the iron-latticed windows, and take the air, which, in the summer, is perfumed with the smell o f violets, jasmines, roses, wild thyme, and other delectable odours. T h e palace is also interspersed w ith buildings called Kobbah, w hich contain a spacious square room, the ro o f o f which is pyramidical, and on the inside curiously carved and ornamented with painting and gilding. . . This extensive palace is rendered more spacious b y being built altogether on the ground floor ; the rooms are long and lofty, but narrow, being about 12 feet wide, 18 high, and 2,5 long ; the walls are inlaid with glazed tiles o f bright colours, which give an air o f coolness to the apartments ; and the light is communicated b y means o f two large folding doors, which are opened, more or less, according to the degree o f light required in thé room. Between the different suites o f apartments: are courts regu larly paved w ith squares o f black and white marble ; and in the centre o f some o f these stands a marble fountain. . T h e Millah, or that part o f the c ity inhabited b y the Jews, iswalled round, and is extensive, and in good repair. Many of the Jews live in affluence. Contiguous to the Millah is another enclosure called the Negroes’ quarter, built b y Ismael for the residence o f the families o f his black troops ;* o f this, however, nothing remains but the " " in t h i s c i t y was an hospitium, or convent o f Spanish monks,, * He built a town for the same purpose in the plains of M ’s h a r r a h Rumellah,. and in-other places, all which are now in ruins.
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