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11 April 1874 — Tangier | |
Saturday. 11th April [1874]. A pouring wet day & looks bad for our return to Gib. The “Escort” is to come over to fetch us. It cleared a little & Sir J & Miss Hay, Henry & I went off to pay a visit to a Jewish family that of one of the interpreters of the Legation—there were 3 elderly ladies who had jewels in their ears & kind of head dresses & a lot of false hair—but the attraction was the daughter of the house who was got up in the true Jewish costume with beautiful necklaces of misshappen pearls & uncut stones emeralds & sapphires & handsome medallions in spread eagle form—a kind of greek jacket—& a purple velvet petticoat bound with gold braid which came up the side. The petticoat was not all in one but was wrapped over the side– The dress reminded me of the costume of Salamanca only prettier. This girl spoke English very prettily & seems to have read. It was the first time she had put on her smart dress & she said she did not like it– She had beautiful black hair which hung down her back in 2 plaits. All the family spoke Spanish so we got on very well. They showed us a splendid new house they are building of marble & tiles wh we recognised as made by Mr Pickman of Seville. The conversation happening to fall on the Rothschilds Henry said he would like to have a small percentage of their fortunes. The Jew said “yes 3 per cent”—Henry laughed & said “that’s a good deal I should be content with one”—to which the Jew answered “oh yes so should I but it is always good to ask for more than you want.” very characteristic– After partaking of some sweet wine we departed & then altho’ it was pouring Miss Hay & I went on to visit a Moorish ladys. We were let in by an ugly old slave & went up stairs where we found a little patio covered in with glass & a room with pillars carpeted & with a divan all round. The lady being the Govrs sister in law was in mourning ie. she wore no jewelry—but was dressed in all colours with an over all of white sprigged muslin. She was delicate looking—dark eyes & hair but fair complexion & very melancholy looking. A little black slave brought her jewel box & her smart clothes for us to see– We sat on the divan & Miss Hay interpreted as she speaks Arabic very fairly– Presently we were joined by a cross looking Spanish woman who wanted to interpret but we would not let her—then came the old slave woman & brought the youngest child a little girl of about 3 years old very fat & chubby with bare feet & a kind of dark red stuff shirt on & silver bangles. Then the little negroe slave brought tea. The tea was green tea with aromatic herbs & a great deal of sugar & I struggled thro’ nearly 3 small cups & attempted to eat the biscuits a good many of which I managed to hide away in my pocket. The room was carpeted with good English carpets & hung round with coloured cloth tapestries. After sitting some time with the Moorish lady we rose, very stiff in the joints, to depart. She showed us the house—her bed room was a long slip with divans & at each end a recess with a british brass bedstead—& we departed. It was raining & blowing hard & the “Escort” had not turned up. Just at the end of lunch there came a message to say the “Escort” had arrived—but when Mr Slup the captain came up he said we could not start today as the weather was too bad– The Laffans & several other people came in her but were very ill & wet through. Spent the afternoon working & talking to Miss Hay & when it cleared we went up on the roof. We were just gone to dress for dinner when Giovanni said there was a wedding procession coming so I called Miss Hay & we rushed off to the street but it was so wet under foot that we did not stay to see it. A Mr White Eng Consul’s son dined– We had music, besique, backgammon & whist in the eveng. It was a very wet rough night. | |
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