Hey, history lovers. I'm Mike Rosenwald with Retropod, a show about the past, rediscovered.

In December of 1805, a handful of prominent politicians received formal invitations to join

President Thomas Jefferson for a White House dinner. Not that unusual. Jefferson often hosted lawmakers for working dinners at the

White House. Those dinners would start at about 3.30 just after the House or Senate had adjourned for the day.

But this gathering was a little different. The invitation noted, quote, dinner will be on the table

precisely at sunset. The favor of an answer is asked.

The occasion was the arrival of a Tunisian envoy to the United States, Sidi Soleiman,

Mali Meli, and the dinner's very specific start time was because the envoy was observing Ramadan,

a holy month for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims fast

between dawn and dusk and break their fast after sunset. The meal is called an Iftar,

and Thomas Jefferson was hosting the first one at the White House. Jefferson's guests were fascinated with MellyMelly.

Future President John Quincy Adams was there and wrote in his diary about the dinner.

He noted that dinner was meant to be served exactly at sunset, but Melly Melly arrived

a half an hour late, and after greeting the the guest immediately retired to smoke his pipe.

He said that Melly Melly smelled of rose-scented snuff and that he wore a long beard while his two

secretaries had short beards, which apparently was a point of interest. Melly Melly ate all the food

presented to him without asking about it, at least

according to Adams, and then left the

drawing room soon after eating to smoke his pipe again.

Adams wrote, quote,

his manners are courteous,

but we were all unable to converse with him

...