DOI Artikel:
Rix, E. Hilda: Sketching in Morocco: a letter from Miss Hilda Rix
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43457#0057
Sketching in Morocco
Oh ! such a buzz of strange tongues is coming
up on the breeze from the crowded Soko, and
people of the hotel are entering the big gates in
ones, twos, and threes, for the day is done. I must
follow the sun’s example and go below, for I am
keen to make an early start at my work to-morrow.
Enthusiasm is a fine thing, but I wonder if
the general public realise what miseries an artist
has often to undergo. To-day I congratulated
myself on occupying a fine strategic position—it
was on an elevation that raised me above the
throng and there was a row of little shops behind
that prevented me being ringed in by a curious
crowd. But no sooner had I become deeply en-
grossed in my subject than
a man came and dumped
down beside me a revolt¬
ing heap of animal offal.
It would have been un¬
heroic to give up my
position because my sub¬
ject was enthralling, but
oh, the horror of it! My
sister very kindly rushed
back to the hotel for eau-
de-Cologne and smelling-
salts to help me to endure
the situation.
One has to risk horrible
diseases quite often in the
East, for in the closely
pressing crowds there are
often visions of smallpox
and leprosy—people who
have lost noses and eyes
from some frightful
malady. Then there is
always the risk of sun¬
stroke, or getting a chill
through staying in the
shade. It takes a lot of
moral and physical courage
and a vivid enthusiasm to
carry one through, but,
thank Heaven, the beauty
overpowers the discomfort
or nothing would be pro¬
duced.
At last the blazing sun
beating on the offal made
the odour insufferable, so,
turning to the butcher who
had placed it there, I im¬
plored him with signs to
36
take away the offending mass, at the same time
making great play with my bottles of smelling-salts
and eau-de-Cologne. He shrugged his shoulders
to show that such a thing meant nothing to him ;
but a kind inspiration dawned on him and he not
only removed the offensive heap but sent post-haste
for an incense burner, who, swinging his censer,
filled the tormented air with a delicious perfume.
Having heard so much of the difficulties of
working amongst the Arabs because of their
religious principles, I am delighted to find that
they do not look upon me as an enemy, and I am
happily overcoming their prejudices and continu-
ally finding them doing little graceful acts.
AN AFRICAN SLAVE WOMAN.”
Oh ! such a buzz of strange tongues is coming
up on the breeze from the crowded Soko, and
people of the hotel are entering the big gates in
ones, twos, and threes, for the day is done. I must
follow the sun’s example and go below, for I am
keen to make an early start at my work to-morrow.
Enthusiasm is a fine thing, but I wonder if
the general public realise what miseries an artist
has often to undergo. To-day I congratulated
myself on occupying a fine strategic position—it
was on an elevation that raised me above the
throng and there was a row of little shops behind
that prevented me being ringed in by a curious
crowd. But no sooner had I become deeply en-
grossed in my subject than
a man came and dumped
down beside me a revolt¬
ing heap of animal offal.
It would have been un¬
heroic to give up my
position because my sub¬
ject was enthralling, but
oh, the horror of it! My
sister very kindly rushed
back to the hotel for eau-
de-Cologne and smelling-
salts to help me to endure
the situation.
One has to risk horrible
diseases quite often in the
East, for in the closely
pressing crowds there are
often visions of smallpox
and leprosy—people who
have lost noses and eyes
from some frightful
malady. Then there is
always the risk of sun¬
stroke, or getting a chill
through staying in the
shade. It takes a lot of
moral and physical courage
and a vivid enthusiasm to
carry one through, but,
thank Heaven, the beauty
overpowers the discomfort
or nothing would be pro¬
duced.
At last the blazing sun
beating on the offal made
the odour insufferable, so,
turning to the butcher who
had placed it there, I im¬
plored him with signs to
36
take away the offending mass, at the same time
making great play with my bottles of smelling-salts
and eau-de-Cologne. He shrugged his shoulders
to show that such a thing meant nothing to him ;
but a kind inspiration dawned on him and he not
only removed the offensive heap but sent post-haste
for an incense burner, who, swinging his censer,
filled the tormented air with a delicious perfume.
Having heard so much of the difficulties of
working amongst the Arabs because of their
religious principles, I am delighted to find that
they do not look upon me as an enemy, and I am
happily overcoming their prejudices and continu-
ally finding them doing little graceful acts.
AN AFRICAN SLAVE WOMAN.”