knew the nature of the dish, and rejected it. He then went out to a yard, where there was a large tub full of children, cut up and salted down for future provision. Over this he made the sign of the cross, when the children all rose up, whole and well.

This incident is depicted in bas-relief on a font in Winchester Cathedral. The Saint is represented holding his hands over the tub, from which the children are just emerging. They are all clapping their hands; for joy, no doubt, at getting out of the "pickle" they had been in.

It was on account of this good deed that St. Nicholas came to be regarded as the patron saint of children.

I have often since regretted, that I did not at the time recollect this miracle to tell it to Selam when he told me of Hadji-el-Arbi and the stewed cat; and so have kept up the dignity of my country and its religion in his eyes. But probably he would not have believed it. It is strange how incredulous people are about other people's miracles. We are all so apt to think our own swans are swans, but our neighbour's swans only geese. This is a pleasanter way of putting it than to say that we regard our own geese as swans, but our neighbour's geese as only geese.

Here is another Moorish marvel,-goose or swan, as we choose to take it,-narrated by Selam, and believed devoutly by him; also, doubtless, believed by many of his fellow-countrymen.

The present bashaw of Tangier, Kaid Abbas-em

Kishet, was formerly governor of the Riff province; and was chosen for that post over the heads of two other competitors, in the following strange manner.

Each of the three candidates had an equal space of ground assigned to him, which was planted with barley. But the land of the first competitor produced only weeds; that of the second bore a scanty crop; while on the portion of Abbas-em-Kishet such an abundant supply of barley sprang up and ripened, that sufficient sickles could not be procured to reap the produce. It was plain that Allah favoured the Kaid, and he was accordingly chosen as governor.

To have expressed any doubt in the truth of this narrative, Selam would have regarded as great profanity. How indignant would he have felt if any one had suggested to him the possibility of presents,-"bribes " is an ugly word everywhere, and of one present having been three times as large as the others. If it had been hinted to him either that the descendant of the Great Prophet might condescend to have some barley well boiled previous to sowing; some more, probably just "coddled;" while another portion might possibly have been sown altogether uncooked, and in a well manured field.*

Though the above "miracle" might have been thus performed by means of trickery, I think it much more probable that it never took place at all. It would seem scarcely necessary to impose upon the Moors with sham miracles, for as they regard religious

If I had said this to Selam he might have called me "a rationalist;" so I didn't. People are often called “rationalists," in more civilised countries than Tangier, and by better educated men than poor Selam, if they attempt to offer explanations of pet traditions, -the appellation of "rationalists" not being at all intended to imply a compliment to superior "rationality." That is why I don't venture to hint any explanation of St. Nicholas, and the "little pickles."

Some people too may blame me for not having improved the occasion with Selam, and tried to enlighten his ignorance. But I did not do so for the reasons above named. I did not wish to vex my kind but credulous friend Selam; if I had, perhaps he would not have told me any more stories; and I liked to hear his stories, not being myself very keenly alive to the difference between geese and swans.

doubt, or demand for evidences, as sinful unbelief, it is quite enough to circulate such stories to have them unhesitatingly accepted.

CHAPTER XVI.

MISSIONS IN MOROCCO.

I AM not particularly interested in missions, but as manifestly there are a great number of people in England who are, I purpose giving some account here, of such efforts of this nature in Tangier, as came within my ken. Besides this, the picture exhibited in the foregoing chapter of the condition of religious superstition and ignorance in which the inhabitants of Morocco are sunk, must naturally prompt an inquiry as to what is being done by the people of more enlightened countries to rescue them from it, and this I should like to satisfy as far as lies in my power.

A very noteworthy mission took place some little time before my visit to Tangier, but I am enabled to give the following particulars concerning it, having received them from several trustworthy authorities.

The object of the effort in question was to convert the Moors to the doctrines of Christianity; and a very zealous clergyman belonging to a Protestant sect, was the missionary employed. Unfortunately, he understood no Arabic, and not one Moor out of a hundred in Tangier knows five words of English, or one out of twenty sufficient Spanish to comprehend a sermon in that tongue. The zeal of the missionary, however, was of a nature not

to be daunted by such slight obstacles as these. In order to bring home the light of the gospel to those who sat in darkness (cross-legged and generally very well contented, however) in Tangier, the missionary engaged a well-known Jew, a worthy descendant of his forefathers, to expound and explain to the Moors by means of verbal translation, the tidings which he came impart.

It may seem rather odd that a Jew should undertake such an office as this, involving, it would appear, an endeavour to convert to the religion he most abhorred, the people of another creed. But he who thinks so, reckons without his host, or rather without his Jew. Jews, certainly, do not believe in the Divine authority of the New Testament scriptures, but there is one useful precept contained in them which they seem to have adopted into their own creed, namely, "Be ye wise as serpents, but harmless as doves." Benoni, the Israelite in question, fully acted up to this injunction on the occasion I record.

He willingly undertook the duty required, and its accompanying emolument, and on a certain day he and the missionary took up their posts together in a commanding position in the market-place.

Before commencing operations, however, he informed his employer, that it was customary in Morocco on the occasion of any sort of gathering, for the promoters to offer, at its conclusion, refreshment in the shape of coffee