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splendid fountain with, the ladies of his haram, who row about in the flooded court for
the amusement of his highness, while he is seated in the colonnade. Great is the comr
motion when the ladies descend into the garden. A signal is given, aud the gardeners
vanish in an instant. We were all stnick vvith the ruddy cheeks and healthy appeaa*ance
of these men. They were principally Greeks ; and the gay colours of tliefr fanciful
costume,— each with a nosegay or bimcli of fruit in his h an d ,— combined with the
luxm-iant scenery around, gave them more the semblance of actors iu a ballet representing
a fête in Arcadia, than the real laboui'ers of a Turkish despot.” (Jaurney overland
from India, ^ c .)
S u b s e c t . 2. Gardening in the Mahometan States o f the North o f Africa.
816. In Morocco gardening is practised chiefly as an art of culture. In the towns
there are frequently gardens on the tops of the houses ; and there is always a display of
garden scenery, to some extent, in thcir neighboui-hood. “ The gardens, which extend
for some distance round Lai-ackc,” says Capel Brooke, “ are wüd aud luxuriant, producing
abundance of figs, pomegranates, and oranges ; the latter, in particidar, are
remaikably fine, and are equal, in flavonr and size, to those of Tetuan, Our walk
having made the party rather thirsty, we entered a large garden, which had formerly
belonged to a Moor of rank, but was now suffered to run to ruin. The appcai*ance of
the grounds, in general, and of a shattered alcove, stiU showed some marks of the care
that had once been bestowed upon them. Several of these gardens ai-e very prettily
situated on the slope of the hills which fall to the valley tlu-ough which the Luccos
winds along. The orange trees, which almost equalled Bi-itish forest trees in dimensions,
were completely gilded with the greatest profusion of beautiful tempting fmit ;
and, for a small present of about fom--pence, I was allowed to pick neai- 150 of the
finest oranges I ever saw : these lasted me, not only dm-ing the remainder of my
journey, but some time afterwai-ds. They were of a most delicious flavom-, theii- skins
being as fine and thin as the smallest pot-orangc.” ( Travels in Spain and Morocco,
vol. ii. p. 88.)
817. The gardens o f the palace o f the sultan at Tetuan are situated without the town,
and contain a summer palace, and a banqucting-room tlui-ty feet high. The fraits are
oranges, citrons, aud grapes. The ornamental fountains and basins of water are vei*y
fine ; and the gardens command varied aud cxtensiv'c views of the distant scenery.
{Ibid.) A valley in the ncighhom-hood of Tetuan is described hy Capel Brooke as
“ rich and highly cultivated, consisting chiefly of a succession of luxuriant gardens,
surrounded by lofty fences of cactus and aloe, overtopped by the towering cane, whicli
presented so thick a barrier, that it was dillicult to get even a peep at the beautiful
retreats within. The luxuriance of the vegetation, and the appearance of some
maize and barley, which were already several inches high, gave a look of spring
io the season ; aud as we passed along, om- senses were regaled with the delicious
fragrance of orange blossoms, large jasmines, and white roses. Having crossed a
river, which, dm-ing the rainy season, is very dangerous to ford, we ai-rivcd at the gate
o f the sultan’s gardens ; and, without dismounting, rode up a delightful ti-ellis walk,
shaded hy vines, and loaded with grapes, which hung down in the most tempting
manner possible. Having reached a second gate, or door, we dismounted, and entered
a kind of alcove, before which was a spacious basin filled with water as clear as crystal,
supplied by a stream which is conducted by a small channel through the gardens. This
delightful spot is the retreat of the sultans of Morocco wlien they risit Tetuan. The
view from the gai-dens is very beautiful, the mountains rising abraptly close to them ;
and, being well wooded, present a dark, wild, and striking contrast to the golden hues
which meet the eye. The Tetuan oranges are celebrated as the best in Morocco ; and
tho exportation of tlicm is a considerable source of revenue to the governor, large
.quantities being sent over to Gibraltar. A good sweetmeat is made from the blossoms
preserved. The Tetuan apples are good, and are superior even to those of Ronda, in
Spain, their flavour being sharper than what might be expected fi-om the climate, and
resembling more the English apple. Both white and red wine is made hy the Jews ;
the former somewhat resembling a light Malaga wine. The gai-dens of Kitain were
laid out hy the great and powerful pacha, Hamet, who built a summer palace, and a
hanqueting-room fifty feet in height, with arclicd galleries above, and a dome at top,
surrounded by fountains and basins of water, the sides of which wore shaded by orange
and citron trees.” {Travels, &c., vol. ii. p. 233.)
818. A t Tangier, tho gardens which belong to the European consuls are situated
without the walls, and are said, by Capel Brooke, to “ add greatly to the few enjoyments
of a residence at Tangier. The two best worth visiting are those of the Swedish and
Danish consuls. The former are close to the upper gates ; and, from thcir commanding
situation, afford a very striking -view of the whole town, the Alcasaba, and the Straits of
Gibraltar, terminated in the distance, on the European side, with that fortress. On
entering the grounds, one cannot help being agreeably surprised, in a place like
Tangier, where every thing is neglected and in ruins, not only at their beauty and
extent, but at the order in which they are kept hy the personal attention of Colonel
Ehrinhoff, the Swedish consul-general, who is a skilful horticulturist. The Danish
consul’s gardens, which are more remote from the town, are exceedingly extensive, and
present a sti-iking character of wildness and picturesque beauty. In the centre is a lofty
tower, from which a very extensive and interesting inland view is- obtained. These
gardens, which now belong to M. Schousboe, the Danish consul-general, were the
property, in former times, of Ali the Great, pacha of Tangier, who erected the tower.”
{Ibid., vol. ii. p. 293.)
819. Mount Washington was the villa of the late American consul, Mr. Simpson,
and is still in the possession of his family. The walk to this beautiful retreat, which is
situated on very elevated ground, is exceedingly w ild ; and the interest is increased by
the remains of an ancient aqueduct thrown over a pictm-esque glen. This aqueduct,
which was built for the purpose of conveying water to Tangier, derived its supply from
a spring which gushes from an elevated rock, and is distinguishable at some distance.
A small country-house of the late English consul-general, Mr. Matier, is seen on the
side of the hill. I t is prettily situated, but has a desolate appearance, from not having
been inhabited for some years. Tlie road is merely a tangled broken path, winding up
the side of the mountain, which is clothed with one continued thicket of arbutus, ilex,
and gum cistus, and forms an impenetrable retreat for numerous wild boai-s, whose
traces are visible at eveiy step. In the surrounding valleys is found the algaroba, or
locust tree, a bushy evergreen, which attains the size of a forest tree, and produces a pod
resembling a gigantic kidneybean. This is of a sweet flavour; and,^wlicn dressed by
the Moors, makes a dish by no means unpleasant to the taste. I t is generally used,
however, for feeding cattle. Wlien dried, the pods are of a chocolate colom-, and contain
small, hard, reddish kernels, which will keep good for years. After a steep and
lengthened ascent, says Brooke, “ we reached the summit, and were well repaid for our
fatigne by the beauty of the view. The villa itself is deserted; but, looking down
upon the ocean stretched at its foet, it commands a most enchanting ricw of the sea,
hemmed in on one side by the dark gloomy ban-ier of the Barhaiy mountains, and on
the other by the lofty rock and fortress of Gibraltar.” {Ibid., vol. ii. p. 296.)
820. The cemetery o f Tangier, which is beyond the walls (as is always the case iu
Barbary), is quite open, and extends to a considerable distance, containing almost as
much space as is enclosed -ivitliin the walls of the town. The gi-ound, which is high
and in-egular, is in a state of nature, being ovemni with scattered bushes; while the
hixuriancy of the vegetation almost entirely conceals the simple graves, wliich arc
merely sun-ounded hy a border of stones, placed edgewise. The tombs, which consist
gcneraliy of low white walls, are seen peeping out among the thickets of aloe and
prickly pcar, and have a pretty though mournful appearance. Here and there a white
rag, snspended on a stick, denotes the humble resting-place of a saint of inferior fame ;
while, occasionally, the appearance of a small <lome indicates one of greater reputation.
The tomb and sanctuary of Sidi Mohammed cl Iladje, wlio was a saint of I'ciy extended
cclchrity, strikes the eye a t a distance, for no Christian is pci-mittcd to approach i t ;
and its white cupolas, emerging from the thick suiTOunding foiiagc, render it a picturesque
object. The wild and melancholy look of this Moorish burial-ground is
heightened by the mounifal appearance of the Moorish women, who are to he seen at
all hours, even at dawn of day, wandering throngh it. Ou the afternoon of Friday,
the Mahometan sabbath, this burial ground is resorted to by great numbers of women
of all ranks, who, enveloped in their, deadly-looking hayks, wander, like unearthly beings,
along the tangled winding paths, visiting the graves of their departed friends, sfrcwing
them with flowers, and offering np prayers for their repose. Sometimes they sit by the
side of the tombs for hours, lost in meditation or in seeming coiii'crse with thcir
departed friends ; when their deathlike appcai-ance presents to the imagination the form
of a spu-it newly risen from the grave, and, attired in its grave-clothes, hoi'eriiig over
thc spot where its earthly remains have been laid. {Ibid., vol. ii. p. 279.)
821. Algiers is favom-cd -v\-itli a fertile soil, and a climate which admits o fth e culture
of all the products of the south of Europe. Of its gardening little is known ; but it is
said to have been much improved since the city was talvcn possession of by the French
in 1830.
822. In Tripoli, as in most of the countries on the African coast of the Mediterranean
Sea, the gardens are said to have no regular walks, and to be very indifferently
cultivated. “ In thcir gardens,” says the author of a Ten Years’ Residence in Tripdi,
“ the Moors form no w a lk s ; only an in-cgular path is left, which j'ou trace by the side
of white marble channels for iirigation. Their form is generally square,” as all
suburban, or at least street gardens necessarily must be ; “ and tlicy are enclosed by a
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