96 CUSTOMS AT MAROCCO.

visitor or a guest enters one of these houses, slaves come in with perfumes burning, in compliment to the visitor. Coffee and tea are then presented in small cups, having an outer cup to hold that which contains the liquor, instead of a saucer ; the sugar being first put into the pot. The coffee or tea being poured out, already sweetened with sugar, a negro hoy generally takes his station in one corner of a spacious room, pours out the liquor, and sends it to the guests by another boy. The tea table is a round stand, about twelve inches from the ground, at which the tea boy sits down on a leather cushion, cross legged.

When dinner is served, the food is in a large dish or bowl, on a round stand, similar to that above described ; three, four, or more sit round it; a servant comes to the company with a ewer and napkin ; each person wash their right hand, and eat with their fingers ; in the higher circles, rose-water is used instead of plain ; if soup is served, they eat it with wooden spoons ; in this respect the emperor himself sets them the example, who reprobates the use of the precious metals with food.

When the Moors sit down to eat ; high and low, rich and poor, (for I have partaken of food with all ranks, from the prince to the plebeian,) they invariably invoke God's blessing, previous to the repast, and offer thanks at the conclusion.

Their first grace is, invariable, short, and comprehensive ; bis'm illak, " In the name of God.'*