34 FRAGMENTS stances before-mentioned, these people consi-. dered themselves so much benefited by the opening of the port of Santa Cruz, that they thought they could not do enough for me. I was, therefore, every where received in that province with the most cordial marks of disin* terested hospitality.

The laws of hospitality are sacred and inviolable. This I will elucidate, by relating a circumstance that happened while I was at Marocco. The Emperor was dissatisfied with the. conduct of four sheiks of Suse : they had not discharged the duties of their public vocation, but had abused their office ; the Emperor had issued orders to arrest them, but by some means they got intelligence of the orders ; they there, fore immediately ordered their horses, and decamped in the evening from Marocco : they knew they should not be safe any where from the Emperor's grasp, but under the protection of the Kbalif Muhamed ben Delemy, whom, however, they had in some manner injured ; nevertheless, knowing the noble character of the man, they were resolved to try their fate j accordingly, they made haste to reach the gates of his castje in Shtuka, before the Emperor might discover their departure. They arrived, and exclaiming Deef AUahy they were admitted. Delemy told them, that although they had not behaved friendly to him, he would protect them.

His gates, he said, were always open to the children of adversity, and they might depend on