300 FRAGMENTS he was. The governor, in order to enable M Depras to converse with Ali Bey, invited them both to tea ; this introduction being effected the next day, Depras called on Ali Bey, and conversed with him during an hour in the French language, which he spoke so well, that the former thought there was no doubt ofhis being a Frenchman. But soon after this, the Spanish Consul wa& announced, and being introduced, Seed Ali Bey changed his discourse to Spanish, which he also spoke so correctly, that Depras now altered his opinion, and conceiving him to be a Spaniard, took his leave. He then reported to the governor what he had seen and heard, that he spoke French and Spanish so fluently, that he really did not know whether he was a Frenchman or a Spaniard.

Ali Bey continued to live in a most sumptuous and costly style, and afterwards resolved to visit Marocco. On his journey thither, he was particularly inquisitive respecting the population, produce, names and residencies of the (sheiks) chiefs of Haha and Shedma, through which provinces he passed. On his arrival at Marocco, he still continued his magnificent establishment and sumptuous mode of living j distributing money to the people bountifully, on the most trifling occasions, which mode of conduct procured him universal popularity among the lower orders.

This soon excited the suspicions of Alkaid Bushta, the governor of Marocco, who ingenuously 4