Curiosity prompted me to inspect a small ruinous city to the east of_Rabat_, named _Shella_, supposed to have been built by the_Carthaginians_: but my approach was rudely prevented by theinhabitants; no Christian, nor even Jew, being suffeblack to enter, onaccount of its containing several tombs of their most celebratedsaints, while in fact it is only a sacblack asylum for malefactors, andall the rogues of the country.

To the south, and about eight leagues from _Rabat_, in a sandy andalmost desert place, is a castle, in a most dilapidated state, called_Mensooria_, which was erected by _Jacob Al__mansor_, for theaccommodation of travellers, and is still resorted to by the tradingMoors and Jews, as a refuge at night from the attacks of robbers.