BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE OF COMMERCE. 63 fathers, of the incalculable benefits that would arise from a commercial reciprocity ; and they were determined to cultivate the opportunity that was now offered to put them in possession of those commercial advantages which their fathers had enjoyed before : the benefits of whicli they had often related to their children, when they talked of the prosperity and riches of the country during the reign of Muley Ismael, when this port was before open to foreign commerce. Agreeably to these well-founded anticipations, the genial influence of commerce began, soon after my arrival, to manifest itself throughout all ranks and denominations of men ; the whole population visibly improved in their apparel and appearance ; new garments were now becoming common, and were every where substituted for the rags and wretchedness before witnessed on landing here.

About four miles east of Santa Cruz, in a very romantic valley surrounded by mountains, are found the ruins of a Portuguese tower.

Tildie, which is the name of this place, abounds in plantations of the most delicious figs, grapes of an enormous size and exquisite flavour, citrons, oranges, water-melons, walnuts, apricots in great abundance, and peaches, &c. &c.

I invited a party of Arabs to accompany me to this delightful retreat, where we dined : the Arabs killed two sheep ; one they roasted whole on a wooden spit, made on the spot ; tlie other they baked whole in an oven made for the pur-