dwelling house, which does not appear, or is invisible to the
passenger. Some of these houses are very handsome, and are
furnished with couches, circular cushions to sit on, and other
96 furniture, in all the luxury of the East. When a visitor or a guest
enters one of these houses, slaves come in with perfumes burning,
in compliment to the visitor. Coffee and tea are then presented in
small cups, having an outer cup to hold that which contains the
liquor, instead of a saucer; the sugar being first put into the
pot. The coffee or tea being poured out, already sweetened with
sugar, a negro boy generally takes his station in one corner of a
spacious room, pours out the liquor, and sends it to the guests by
another boy. The tea table is a round stand, about twelve inches
from the ground, at which the tea boy sits down on a leather
cushion, cross legged.

When dinner is served, the food is in a large dish or bowl, on a
round stand, similar to that above described; three, four, or more
sit round it; a servant comes to the company with a ewer and
napkin; each person wash their right hand, and eat with their
fingers; in the higher circles, rose-water is used instead of
plain; if soup is served, they eat it with wooden spoons; in this
respect the emperor himself sets them the example, who reprobates
the use of the precious metals with food.

When the Moors sit down to eat; high and low, rich and poor, (for I
have partaken of food with all ranks, from the prince to the
plebeian,) they invariably invoke God's blessing, previous to the
repast, and offer thanks at the conclusion. Their first grace is,
invariable, short, and comprehensive; _bis'm illah_, "In the name
97 of God." The after grace is, _El Ham'd u littah_, "Praise be to
God."

A very excellent dish is generally eaten in this country, called
_cuscasoe_; it is made with flour, granulated into particles the
size of a partridge shot, which is, put over a steamer, till the
steam has sufficiently passed through it, so as to produce the
effect of boiling; it is then taken off, broken, and returned to
steam a second time; in the meantime, a chicken or some meat is
boiling in the saucepan, under the steamer, with onions, turnips,
and other vegetables; when the _cuscasoe_ has been steamed a second