98 PREPARATION OF LEATHER.

jewellers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, tanners, &c. &c. ; but that which is the most honourable, is a shoe-maker, because Muhamed himself was one. At Mequinas they make excellent shoes, of leather impervious to water, for Is. 8d. per pair.

The time now approached for our audience of business, and we had represented to the Tail) Cadus, that the export duties on some articles were too heavy, viz. on wax, almonds, and diive oil ; also on certain imports, viz. iron, steel, and Buenos Ayres hides ; but no diminution was obtained, except in the duty of bees' wax. The emperor gave hopes of an exportation of grain, and desired us to write to Europe for ships to come and load wheat, barley, Indian corn, caravances, beans, lentils, and millet. We were favourably received ; the emperor asked several questions respecting Europe, and informed us we should return to Mogodor in a few days. Three days after this audience we were ordered to meet the emperor in the Jenan En neely where we had our audience of leave, and the emperor gave each of us a fine horse, chosen by ourselves out of his own stable j and we took our leave and departed for Mogodor the following evening. We slept encamped under the magnificent and lofty date trees, in the neighbourhood of the city, the first night.