DURING the night the anchor was once more weighed, and before daylight Mazagan was reached. The sea was still so restless that cargo had to wait for the next day, and it was considered unsafe for passengers to land. However, a few of the bolder kind ventured, getting wet with spray before they reached the shore.
One of them had come out from London bound for Mazagan on business connected with the trade in eggs. These are brought to the coast in large baskets or panniers carried by mules. There they are repacked in wooden cases holding ten gross apiece, the wood for the cases being brought out ready cut from England. The eggs are said to be very good, but one of the passengers told that the guide warned him that some he saw offered for sale on shore were "second fresh.”
By Tuesday the sea was calmer, and several, including Nora and Elizabeth, went ashore. To their dismay they landed on low-lying rocks, interspersed with clear pools in which green and purple anemones stretched out their tendrils. Walking was difficult, but worse followed. They reached the beach in safety at last, but in how undignified a fashion, with arms around a Moorish neck, and feet dangling.
It is an amusing sight to see a company of people carried pick-a-back, and a voice was heard exclaiming, “Oh, for a camera!” Dr. Carson, who made one of the party, would have looked specially funny had a snap-shot been taken, as he was six feet or more in height.
Their first visit was to the Governor, who was an old man, but new to his work. He met the party at the door of his abode, which was something like a farm outhouse up stone steps. The guide, a fine specimen of the "merry Moor," acted as spokesman. He approached the great man with unshod feet, and retired after a lowly salaam, having obtained the desired permission to visit the old Portuguese forts.
But before entering the Colonel's permit, too, had to be obtained, and then armed with their double warrant they boldly passed the native sentry, standing with bayonet in hand.
The walls proved just wide enough to afford a good standpoint for looking around; as protection against modern cannon they would be quite out of date and useless.
In one direction they saw a native quarter with curious reed huts, and hard by a Jewish cemetery bore witness to the God of truth who has kept His ancient people separate from the nations, among whom they wander, in view of the day when they shall be restored to the land of Israel, and in deep sorrow and repentance shall at last own their sin in rejecting and crucifying the Christ of God.
But we must never forget that it was for our sins, too, that He died, and although the people of His own nation cried out "Crucify him, crucify him," it was a Gentile ruler who delivered Him up to their will, and Gentile hands that actually nailed Him to that cross, when "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.”