held up, but cloudy still; from 8. _a. m._ till past 3. _p. m._ it
rained, but moderately; then it held up a little, but rained after till
past 6. all Day cloudy, and at Night a great Fog.
19. About 9. _a. m._ some Drops; from 1. till past 3. _p. m._ very
gentle Rain.
Thence to the First of _July_, foggy, Morning, sometimes hot, but for
the most cloudy, and more temperate than could be expected from the
Climate.
Two Funerals, one the 9th of an Asthma; the other 21. of a Fever.
We saw some Sorts of Insects not usual here, whether monstrous or not,
I cannot tell. The most notable, a kind of Spider, about the Bigness of
a Beetle, the Form nearest of a Crab-fish, with an odd kind of Orifice
visible in the Belly, whence the Web proceeded.
_July, 1687._
1. Extream hot.
2. Foggy in the Morning; about 9. _a. m._ a few Drops; after clear.
3. In the Morning a great Fog; about 9. _a. m._ it rained small Rain
for near an Hour; toward night more foggy than ever before; about 6.
_p. m._ small Rain for a little time; from 8. till past 9. somewhat
more brisk Rain, after that it cleared up.
4. From 9. _a. m._ to 3. _p. m._ small Rain, the rest foggy; between
10. and 11. _p. m._ some Rain.
5. From 2. _a. m._ till past 8. constant Rain, sometimes very fierce,
sometimes moderate; about 10. _a. m._ some Rain; between 2. and 3. _p.
m._ it began to Rain, but continued not long; from 8. _p. m._ to 10.
Rain.
6. From about 2. _a. m._ to 6. Rain, after fair.
7. Foggy and cloudy; between 7. and 8. _a. m._ some Drops.
8. Foggy in the Morning, otherwise clear and hot.
9. About 1. _a. m._ a smart Shower, between 3. and 5. some more Rain,
the time of which we know not exactly. The Day after foggy.
10. Very dull and cloudy; from 3. _p. m._ till Night a very great Mist.
11. Tolerably clear, and very hot, yet somewhat foggy Morning and
Evening.
12. Cloudy; thence to 15. in the Morning and Evening foggy; else very
hot.
15. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ some Drops; from half an Hour past 2.
till 4. moderate Rain; about 7. some Drops.
16. Cloudy, several times it drop'd a little but nothing considerable.
17. A little before Day, a short Shower; after cloudy; thence to 20.
foggy Morning and Evening, and the most part cloudy.
20. Very clear all Day, and extream hot.
21. Not foggy at all; yet somewhat cloudy, but about Mid-day it cleared
up.
22, And 23. very clear and extream hot.
24. Cloudy in the Morning; after as the Two last.
25. Cloudy but not misty nor foggy, sultry hot.
26. In the Morning cloudy, after extream hot.
27. Hot and clear.
28. Thin Clouds, through which the Sun shone very hot.
29. And 30. cloudy.
31. About 3. _a. m._ Two short Storms of Rain, the Day after clear and
hot.
Two Funerals, one the 17th drowned; the other 21. of a Fever.
_August, 1687._
To 5. clear, for the most part in the Mornings cloudy; but without
Fogs; sometimes very hot.
5. About 5. _a. m._ a Shower near an Hour long, about 7. another for ½
Hour, till 10. some small Rain; thence cloudy till 1. about 7. _p. m._
a few Drops.
6. Cloudy all Day, sometimes it drop'd a little.
7. about 2. _a. m._ violent Rain, with Wind for above ½ Hour. The Day
after cloudy.
8. And 9. cloudy and foggy.
10. More foggy than ordinary; about 10. _a. m._ a great Mist, or small
Rain for most part of the Day after.
11. Foggy as the former and Misty; between 8. and 9. _a. m._ a Shower
of small Rain; after Noon clear.
12. Small Rain in the Morning; after as 11.
13. Clear and hot, the Land Breze very strong.
14. Cloudy all Day, the Land Breze turn'd to a kind of Hermitan, but
not troublesome, nor continued beyond this Day.
15. Cloudy, several times very misty, and some small Rain.
16. Cloudy, but no Mist; after Noon clear.
Thence to 22. clear and hot, but the Nights colder than at other times.
22. At 6. _p. m._ cloudy, a Wind Tornada but moderate, with some few
Drops of Rain very large.
23. Clear and hot.
24. Cloudy and misty at first; about 10. _a. m._ clear and hot.
25. Clear and hot.
26. Very foggy, Morning and Evening; for the rest hot.
27. From 5. to 10. _a. m._ it rain'd smartly; thence cloudy, about 2.
_p. m._ it clear'd up for a while; about 9. _p. m._ a sharp Rain for ½
Hour.
28. Between 12. and 3. _a. m._ it rained about Two Hours; about 7. some
few Drops, after Cloudy, in the middle of the Day, it clear'd a little,
but quickly overcast again.
29. In the Night some Rain; at 7. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; till past
12. a very thick Mist; about 3. _p. m._ clear; at Night a very thick
Mist.
To the end cloudy and Misty.
Three Funerals, 6. one of a Fever, 7. another of a Consumption, 29. a
third of a Fever.
_September, 1687._
1. And 2. as the last.
3. Some few Drops.
Thence to 8. cloudy also and misty.
8. About 6. _p. m._ some small Rain; between 8. and 10. _p. m._ for an
Hour pretty brisk Rain.
9. In the Morning cloudy and misty.
10. About 10. _p. m._ a little Rain.
11. Extream hot and clear; in the Night, considerable Rain for several
Hours.
12. About 10. _a. m._ some small Rain, the Morning very foggy,
Afternoon clear.
13. Clear and hot.
14. And 15. In the Morning extream cloudy, and some Drops of Rain.
16. Clear and extream Hot.
17. Moderate, about 7. _p. m._ some Drops; at Night also some Rain, not
considerable.
18. Cloudy; in the Morning about 12. some Drops; all this Week, Morning
and Evening Foggy and thick.
19, 20, 21. Extream hot, the Fogs ceased.
22. About 1. _a. m._ some Rain, the Day after cloudy.
23, 24, 25. In the Morning cloudy after very hot.
26. At Night also somewhat Misty, with many Flashes of Lightning, but
no Thunder.
The like Flashes most Nights to the end of the Month, also often
cloudy; at other times extream hot.
Two Funerals, one the 19th of a Fever, the other the 26th, whose
Disease I do not know.
_October, 1687._
1. About 3. _a. m._ a very fierce Rain for near an Hour, but milder
toward the end; the Day after some flying Clouds.
2. About 4. _a. m._ a little Rain, the Day after as before; from 8. _p.
m._ till 10. moderate Rain.
3. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ Rain for somewhat more than an Hour.
4. Cloudy between 8, and 10. _p. m._ a very smart Rain for above an
Hour.
5. About 9. _a. m._ a little Shower.
6. About 5. _a. m._ a little Shower; another past 6. the Day after, and
7 extream hot.
8. Hot in the Morning; after Noon a shew of a Tornada, with Thunder,
and a considerable Wind, but no Rain.
Thence to 16. some flying Clouds, but generally hot.
16. About 4. _p. m._ a little Rain, the Sun shining then, and the whole
Day very hot; about 8. _p. m._ a very strong Tornada, Wind and Rain for
about ½ Hour, afterward the Rain continued, but more moderate, for near
Two Hours.
17. Clear and hot. 18. So too, except that about 3. _p. m._ there was a
very short Shower.
19. And 20. somewhat cloudy.
21. About 7. _a. m._ a few Drops, after clear and extream hot, but
quickly cloudy again; at 11. _a. m._ a violent Tornada, with very
strong Rain and Thunder for near an Hour; thence all the time till
Night, thick and misty; till 2. _p. m._ Rain.
22. Cloudy. 23. Clear and hot.
24. Somewhat cloudy; at 7. _p. m._ a little Rain.
25. Cloudy; about 11. _a. m._ Expectation of a Tornada, with some
Thunder, but it ended in a few Drops of Rain about 1. _p. m._
26. About 2. _a. m._ a very violent Tornada, and after the Wind, Rain
not very fierce, which lasted till 8. _a. m._ the Day after cloudy.
27. About 10. _p. m._ a violent Wind with Rain, but it lasted not long.
28. About 3. _a. m._ a strong Rain for near an Hour the Day after
extream hot.
29. And 30. hot, yet with some Clouds.
30. Half an Hour after 11. _p. m._ began a very furious Tornada, the
Wind was quickly over, but the Rain lasted with extream violence about
Two Hours.
31. In the Morning very hot; about 2. _p. m._ a violent Tornada, with
Rain and Thunder very near; it ceased sometimes, but beginning again,
lasted till near 4. _p. m._ afterward cloudy.
Three Funerals, all upon the 6th Day, Two of Fevers, the other I know
not.
_November, 1687._
Clear and extream hot till the 6th.
6. About half an Hour past 1. in the Morning a very violent Rain for
more than an Hour.
Thence to 14. except that the 11th at Night there were some few Drops,
very hot.
14. Extream hot, about 9. _p. m._ a little Shower; the same Night about
1. a smart Rain for an Hour and half.
15. Hot; toward Night Cloudy and Foggy.
Thence to 19. very hot.
19. Some likelihood of a Tornada, but nothing followed.
20. About 1. _p. m._ a short Shower; about a quarter past 2. another
not much longer; till Night Cloudy.
Thence to 26. no Rain, but cloudy and somewhat cooler; yet some Days
extream hot.
26. About 10. _p. m._ a short Shower.
27. About 2. another; the rest clear.
30. About 2. _a. m._ fierce Rain for about ½ Hour.
_An Account of the _Moorish_ Way of Dressing their Meat (with other
Remarks) in _West-Barbary_, from Cape _Spartel_ to Cape _de
Geer_. _By Mr._ Jezreel Jones._
The _Mauritanian_ or _Barbarian Moor_, when he rises in the Morning,
washes himself all over, and dresses, then goes to their _Jiama_, or
Church, says his Prayers, and returns home, where his Wife, Concubine,
or Slave, hath his Breakfast provided for him, which is sometimes made
of Barly or Wheat-Gruel; for I have known both. It is made somewhat
thicker than ours, till it be ropy; they put Origan, and other Herbs,
powder'd, into it, which for such uses they keep dry'd all the Year;
some will put a little Pepper, and other Spice. I have often been
treated with warm Bread, fresh Butter, and Honey, in a Morning, which
is not seldom used among themselves, an Hour or two after they have
had Gruel; as also Hasty-Pudding, with Butter, and sometimes Butter
and Honey, (as the Guests are, and according to the Ability of the
Entertainers.) Some again give _Cuscusoo_, with Milk, others with
Flesh, a third with Roots. It is to be observed, when any one hath
a Guest or Guests in his House, the Neighbours bring their Dish to
welcome him or them, on account of the Respect and Love they bear
to their Neighbour, as well as to shew their Readiness to entertain
the Stranger. This Practice is found constantly used throughout the
whole Country among the _Moors_, one towards another, reciprocally.
And I have as often found the like Civility, as I had occasion to
take up my Lodging at any Place, where I was acquainted with any
of the Inhabitants. The _Jews_ likewise shew great Civility to any
_Christian_, and treat him with what they have, as stew'd or bak'd
Hens, Capons, hard Eggs, boil'd or roasted, which they press flat with
Pepper, and Salt, Wine, Brandy, _&c._ They have generally the best
Bread, and every thing else of the kind that they can get. They put
Annis, and two or three other sorts of Seeds, in their Bread; one is
black and angled, tastes almost like Carrot-seeds, and I think I have
seen these sometimes used in Bread in _Spain_; I know not the Names
of the other Seeds in _English_, nor any Language but _Arabick_. They
esteem Honey as a wholsome Breakfast, and the most delicious that which
is in the Comb, with the young Bees in it, before they come out of
their Cases, whilst they still look Milk-white, and resemble (being
taken out) Gentles, such as Fishers use: These I have often eat of, but
they seem'd insipid to my Palate, and sometimes I found they gave me
the Heart-burn.
In _Suse_ I had a Bag of Honey brought by a Friend who made a Present
of it, as being of great Esteem, and such as they present to Men of
greatest Note among them. This, he told me, I was to eat a little of
every Morning, to the quantity of a Walnut; it was thick as _Venice_
Treacle, and full of small Seeds. I used to breakfast on it for several
Days together, taking the said quantity at a time; it always made me
sleepy, but I found my self well, and in very good temper of Body after
it. The Seeds were about the bigness of Mustard, and, according to the
Description of them to me, and the Effects I found by eating the Honey
and them, they must be a large sort of Poppy-seed. The Honey was of
that sort they call in _Suse_, _Izucanee_, or _Origanum_, which (the
Bees feed on) and these Seeds were mixed with.
_Cuscus_, or _Cusksoo_, is the principal Dish among them, as the _Olla_
is in _Spain_: This is made of Flower of Wheat, and when that is
scarce, of Barley, Millet, _Indian_ Corn, _&c._ They shake some Flower
into an earthen Pan, made on Purpose, which is not glazed, sprinkling
a little Water on the bottom of the Pan first, and then working it
with both their open Hands flat, turning them backwards and forwards
to grain it, 'till they make it much resembling _Sago_, which comes
from the _East-Indies_. They stew their Flesh keeping their Pots close
covered, which are made of Earth, put the _Cusksoo_ into an earthen
Cullender, which they call _Caskass_, B. _vid._ Fig. and this Cullender
into the Mouth of the Pot, C. that so all the Steam which arises from
the Meat may be imbibed by the _Cusksoo_, which causes it to swell, and
make it fit to be eaten: When it is enough, for they love every thing
thoroughly done, they put this _Cusksoo_ out into the Dish they serve
it up in, which is somewhat like D. and the _Cusksoo_ being heaped up,
they make (as it were) a Bed or Place for the Meat to lie in, then they
put good store of Spice, as Ginger, Pepper, Saffron, _&c._ This Dish
is set upon a Mat on the Ground, and four Men may easily sit about it,
tho' I have seen six and more at one Dish; they sit with their Buttocks
upon the Calves of their Legs, with the bottom of their Feet on the
Ground. If there are many to eat at this Meal, there are more Dishes.
This Dish they have in use sometimes at Breakfast, as well as Dinner
and Supper, but it is commonly used for the two last Meals. They cover
it with a thing made on purpose, somewhat like E. and it will keep hot
enough two Hours. At a stately Entertainment they will have a Sheep
roasted whole, sometimes a half, or a quarter, on a wooden Spit, or
the most convenient thing they can find. They do not continually keep
turning it, as we do, but leisurely let one side be almost roasted
before they turn the other. The Fire is commonly of Wood burnt to
clear Coal, and made so, that the Heat ascends to the Meat. They baste
it with Oil, and a little Water and Salt incorporated. They let it
be thoroughly roasted; then they say, _Bismiillah_, _In the Name of
God_, after they have washed their Right Hands, and pulling the Meat
in pieces, they fall to eating. It is to be noted, that they never use
but their Right Hand in eating, and one holds whilst the other pulls
it asunder, distributing the pieces to the rest, as he pulls it off.
They seldom use a Knife, and a Fork is a strange thing among them. They
are dextrous at this way of carving, and never flinch at the Heat or
warmth, for that would look mean, and might occasion one more bold to
take his Office upon him to perform. When they have done, they lick
their Fingers, and as often as they have a hot Dish, they wash their
Hands afresh. Then they have _Alfdoush_, or _Virmizzelli_, with some
Meat on it, stew'd Meat, well spiced, with savoury Broth; which after
they have eat the Meat, they dip their Bread in the Sauce, or Broth,
and eat it. They are cleanly in their Cookery, and if a Hair be found
it is a capital Crime, but a Fly not, because it has Wings, and may get
in after it passes from the Cook's Charge or Management; to be well and
strongly season'd is no great Fault; and if one should say it is too
high of Pepper, they'll reply, it is better to be _Ah_ than _Faugh_;
alluding to the Differences between a strong, high, or hot, and savoury
Taste, and an insipid, watry, or unpleasant. _Cubbob_ is small pieces
of Mutton, with the Caul of a Sheep wrapped on them. Some make good
_Cubbob_ of the Liver, Lights, and Heart. They Pepper and Salt them,
and put Sweet Herbs and Saffron into them, and then roast them, and
when they dish them up, squeeze an Orange or two on them. Thus they use
commonly in their stew'd Meats, Lemon and Orange for Roast or Fish.
_Elmorosia_ is another: This is pieces of Beef, of Cow or Camel, stew'd
with Butter, Honey, and Water; some will put _Rob_ of Wine among it;
they add Saffron, Garlick, or Onions, a little Salt, and when 'tis
enough, serve it up. They esteem this a delicious Dish, used mostly in
the Winter, and say it is good against Colds, notwithstanding they say
Beef is cooler than Mutton. They have a piece of good Housewifery for
a ready Dish, which is likewise appropriated to the Winter Season; and
this I will give an Account of before I have done. Then they will treat
you with Hare stew'd, stew'd and roasted Hens and Partridges: These
they disjoint, and let stew in Water, and Oil, or Butter, if they are
not fat enough of themselves. When they are almost enough, they beat
a couple of Eggs, mix them with the Liquor, with Juice of Lemon or
Vinegar, which they usually have very good, and serve it up.
Then you may have more baked and roast, and another Dish of stew'd
Meat, which for its Goodness would be esteem'd among us: They take a
Leg of Mutton, cut off the fleshy part, leave out the Skin and Sinews.
This Flesh they mince very fine (with two Knives, one in each Hand)
by holding them across, which they manage with great Dexterity; they
also mince some Suet, Parsly, Thime, Mint, _&c._ Then they take Pepper,
Salt, and Saffron beaten together, and some Nutmeg; all these they add
to the rest, with about half a handful of Rice; they cut an Onion, of
the best sort, half through, and take off the first Lay, as not so fit
for use, unless it be thick. (They that are curious take out the inner
Skin, saying it is not wholsome, and bad for the Eyes, it being the
worst thing in an Onion, which otherwise would be the best of Roots.)
This Lay they fill with forc'd Meat, then the next, and so on, which
makes them look like so many Onions; some they put up in Vine-leaves
of the best they can find for their purpose. Whilst this is doing, the
Bones and Residue of the Leg of Mutton, being in moderate pieces, are
stewing, with as much Water as will just cover them; then they put on
their forc'd Meat-Balls a top of the Meat, and a green Bunch of Grapes
upon them, cover it, and let it boil till thoroughly enough. This I
think, is one of their best Dishes, which they often use in _Fess_ and
other Cities. _Pillowe_, or _Piloe_, is a Dish very well known, made
with Rice boil'd, with a good Hen, Mutton, and Spice, the Flesh and
Fowl being put on the Rice in a Dish as _Cusksoo_, and so served up.
A Bustard, which they roast and stew, and make an excellent Dish of its
Guts, I eat of it once; to me it seemed very pleasant and savoury, and
very grateful to the Stomach. This Bird is fit for their King's Table,
as likewise the Hedgehog, of which I will give an Account anon. Then
they have _Ragous_, made with Sparrows, Pidgeons, _&c._
Their Drink is plain Water, or Milk, and sometimes _Rob_ of Wine mixed
with Water. I was once treated with this by the Bashaw of _Suse_,
_Abdolmeleck ben Alchotib_, and there was brought to me a great Bowl
which held above three Quarts; he told me there was not above half a
Pint of this _Rob_ in it, and the rest was filled up with Water. It was
very generous and pleasant, and tho' I did not drink a quarter of it,
yet I found the Strength in half an Hour. This they say is a Remedy
against Cold likewise, and pretend to take it medicinally; tho' _Rob_
of Grapes is lawful according to their[20]Law. Under this Pretext, many
_Fessee_ Merchants, to make _Rob_, or Vinegar, press all the Grapes
in their Vineyards, put it up in great Jars, under Ground, and keep
it long, so that it proves excellent Wine. When four or five merry
Companions, with every one his Mistress, appoint to be merry, they go
out to their Vineyard or Garden, have Musick, and all or most of these
Dishes, and there sit and carouse over a great earthen Bowl full of
Wine, of about four or five Gallons, and so drink round in a Cup that
will hold almost a Pint, like a large Tea Dish, till there is none
left; it often happens that they do not part till they have made an end
of the whole Jar, which seldom is less than a Weeks time. I have known
some that have been nine Days successively drunk; those that are known
to drink Wine or Piss standing, their Testimony will not be valid in
Law.
In a Morning, during this time of Merriment, they are for some savoury
Bit, _Pickled Fish_, or _Escaveche_, or _Elcholle_. They are great
Lovers of Fish, and have as great Variety and very good, which they
fry in _Organ Oil_, stew, roast, and bake, with good store of Spice,
Onions, Garlick, Cummin, Parsly, and Coriander. The _Escaveche_, or
fry'd Fish, is cut in thin slices, and put into Vinegar, with the
aforesaid Spices, adding Saffron, and Pepper, _&c._ It will keep above
a Month, and this they have commonly, as also pickled Limes, Olives,
Capers, _&c._ They eat parched _Garavancas_, parched Almonds, and
Beans, which they parch in a Pan with Water and Salt. These, and other
things, they have to relish their Glass of Wine, or give them a fresh
Appetite to drink. They say, to cure the ill Effects of a drunken Bout,
is, to take a swinging Cup of the same Liquor, which invites them to
more, and so on.
But I have left some Dishes, by this Digression, to give an Account of
their extravagant Mirth.
The Hedgehog is a princely Dish among them, and before they kill him
rub his Back against the Ground, by holding its Feet betwixt two, as
Men do a Saw that saws Stones, till it has done Squeaking; then they
cut its Throat, and with a Knife cut off all its Spines and singe it.
They take out its Guts, stuff the Body with some Rice, sweet Herbs,
Garavancas, Spice, and Onions; they put some Butter and Garavancas
into the Water they stew it in, and let it stew in a little Pot, close
stopped, till it is enough, and it proves an excellent Dish. The
_Moors_ do not care to kill Lamb, Veal, nor Kid, saying it is a Pity
to part the Suckling from its Dam. They eat with their boil'd Meat,
many times Carrots, Turnips of two or three sorts, Cabbage, Beans,
and Pease, _&c._ which they have plenty, and very good. I have eat of
Porcupine stewed, which much resembled Camels Flesh in Tast, and that
is the nearest to Beef of any thing I know.
I come now to give an Account of the _Alcholea_: It is made of Beef,
Mutton, or Camel's Flesh, but chiefly Beef, which they cut all in long
slices, salt it well, and let it lie twenty four Hours in the Pickle.
Then they remove out of those Tubs, or Jars, into others with Water,
and when it has lain a Night, they take it out, and put it on Ropes in
the Sun and Air to dry; when it is thoroughly dri'd, and hard, they cut
it into pieces of two or three Inches long, and throw it into a Pan,
or Chauldron, which is ready, with boiling Oil and Suet sufficient to
hold it, where it boils till it be very clear and red, if one cuts it,
which, taken out, they set to drain: When all is thus done, it stands
till cool, and Jars are prepared to pot it up in, pouring the Liquor
they fried it in upon it, and as soon as it is thoroughly cold they
stop it up close. It will keep two Years, it will be hard, and the
hardest they look on to be best done. This they dish up cold, sometimes
fry'd with Eggs and Garlick, sometimes stew'd, and Lemon squeezed on
it. It is very good any way, either hot or cold.