It appears, that Muley Yezid, the late Emperor, had a great and invincible antipathy to the Jews (indeed it was but too evident in the horrible transaction I mentioned in a former letter).  An unfortunate Israelite, having incurred the displeasure of that prince, was condemned to be devoured by a ferocious lion, which had been purposely left without food for twenty-four hours:  when the animal was raging with hunger, the poor Jew had a rope fastened round his waist, and in the presence of a great concourse of people was let down into the den; his supplications for mercy, and screams of terror, availing him nothing.  The man gave himself up for lost, expecting every moment to be torn in pieces by the almost famished beast, who was roaring most hideously; he threw himself on the ground in an agony of mind, much better conceived than described.  While in this attitude, the animal approached him, ceased roaring, smelt him two or three times, then walked majestically round him, and gave him now and then a gentle whisk with his tail, which seemed to signify that he might rise, as he would not hurt him; finding the man still continue motionless with fear, he retreated a few paces, and laid himself down like a dog.  After a short time had elapsed, the Jew, recovering from his insensibility, and perceiving himself unmolested, ventured to raise himself up, and observing the noble animal couched, and no symptom of rage or anger in his countenance, he felt animated with confidence.  In short, they became quite friendly, the lion suffering himself to be caressed by the Jew with the utmost tameness.  It ended with the man being drawn up again unhurt, to the great astonishment of the spectators.  A heifer was afterwards let down, and instantly devoured.  You may be sure this story was too great a triumph on the part of the Israelites, to pass without a number of annotations and reflections from the narrator, all tending to prove the victory of their nation over the heathens.  For my part, I could not help thinking that there was too much of the miraculous in it.  However, I have often heard it asserted that the lion will never touch a man who is either dead, or counterfeits death; indeed here they tell me, that, unless pressed by hunger or rage, it never molests a man; and they assure me even that upon no account will these animals injure a woman, but, on the contrary, will protect her, when they meet her at a watering-place.  This country abounds with lions, tigers, leopards, and hyenas, which sometimes make nocturnal visits to the villages, and spread desolation among the sheep and cattle.

LETTER XV.

Sudden Departure from Fez—­Arrive at Mequinez—­Attend the Emperor—­Melancholy Catastrophe—­Expedition against wild Beasts—­Extensive Palaces—­Seraglio—­Visit a Haram—­Founders of the City—­A fortified Town—­Inhabitants—­Jewish Town—­Rich Attire of the higher Orders—­Numerous Market-places—­Furniture—­Saints’ Houses—­Imperial Field Sports—­Pack of Greyhounds—­Abundance of Game.