114 DUNGEON AT SALEE, figs, oranges, citrons, apricots, peaches, and water-melons ; the quality of the latter is peculiarly sweet, they are called Dilla Seed Billa ; the seed of which might be advantageously transported to our new colony, the Cape of Good Hope. The vineyards of Rabat are very extensive ; the vines are cultivated in the Arabian system, on the ground, which is a light sandy soil : the immense numbers of turtle-doves that are in these vineyards is such, that a bad sportsman cannot fail killing a dozen or two at every shot ; they rise just before you in thousands, and the foulahs, or vine cultivators, express their gratitude to the Christians who go to shoot them. These birds, from being unmolested, are so tame and so abundant, that they destroy an incalculable quantity of the best fruit.

On the 14th, the Comte de Fourban accompanied me, and we crossed the river, in the ferry, to visit Salee. The inhabitants of this town are inimical to Christians : we viewed the subterraneous cavern where the Sallee rovers formerly confined their Christian slaves : it resembled a mitfere or large subterraneous granary ; it had two grates to let in the air ; it appeared perfectly dry, but no one was in it. The Comte observed that it was far preferable to the prison where he was confined in France, during the reign or usurpation of Robespierre. The air of Salee and Rabat, and the adjacent country, is strongly perfumed, morning and evening, with the sweet