INHABITANTS OF BARBARY. 153 - CHAPTER VIII. Different People of BARBARY.-Blacks.-Jews.-Christians.- Renegadoes.— Turks. Chiloulis. Berberi.-Bedouin Arabs.-Their Mode of Living.Male and Female Costume.- Various Superstitions.-Occupations of the ARABS.-Riches.-Marriages.-Characteristic Anecdotes. HAVING endeavoured to give some idea of the productions, soil, and climate of Barbary, it is now time to describe the diversity of people by which it is inhabited. These, widely differing in name, quality and figure, are principally composed of Negroes, Turks, Moors, Bedouin Arabs, Chiloulis, Jews, and Christians. Some are indigenous, while others are of foreign origin of these, many inhabit the towns and plains surrounding them, while others dwell on mountains, or wander irregularly about the desert. Towards the seacoast the Moors are white, and of an olive tinge near Mount Atlas. In the cities, such as Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoly, they are born with an excessively fair complexion; this by constant exposure to an ardent sun, becomes naturally of a brownish cast. It is said that there exists in one of the remote vallies near the Atlas, a race of men lineally descended from the Vandals. They are represented as very fair, with the blue eyes and light hair, which distinguished their northern ancestors. Bruce says he took the trouble of making a perilous excursion to the Mountains of Auress in search of these people, previously noticed by Dr. Shaw, and was even fortunate enough to discover them. Although I cannot corroborate the assertions on this subject, not having seen any of the tribe alluded to, I X 154 DESCRIPTION OF SLAVES. was seriously assured of their existence by several Moors during my stay at Algiers. Some pretend that the celebrated Abyssinian traveller has exaggerated his account of these people. But as a professor, who used to surprize his friends by the violence and obstinacy with which he endeavoured to support the most absurd hypothesis, once observed, "You cannot know the pleasure there is in making others believe, that, in which we have no faith ourselves!"* Nearly all the blacks in this country are in a state of unequivocal slavery. The barbarians are not only pirates on the water, but extend their system of robbing to the land also. While the corsairs scour the sea, parties of licenced banditti are dispatched towards the desert in pursuit of human beings: arriving undiscovered in the peaceful villages at night, they surprize and carry off the inoffensive inhabitants, who are quietly occupied in looking after their flocks and harvest. These depredators are seconded by the descendants of many Moorish families, who fled from Barbary during the reign of the caliphs, and afterwards established themselves in Soudan, and other countries of the interior. There is also a great number of slaves bought from the Shafrees, or Moorish dealers, and the Slatees, native merchants, who bring them in large droves to Vergela in the country of the Beni Mezzaab. Besides those who die on the road from fatigue and ill usage, it is supposed that there are, at least, twelve thousand annually sold in the different regencies. The march often exceeds a hundred days; and those who survive, are exposed for sale in the bazaars. It really fills The following is Dr. Shaw's notice of the above race: "It is remarkable, that the inhabitants of the Mountains of Auress, have a quite different mien and complexion from their neighbours; for they are so far from being swarthy, that they are fair and ruddy; and their hair, which, among the other Kabyles, is of a dark colour, is with them of a deep yellow. These circumstances, notwithstanding their being Mahometans, and their speaking only the common language of the Kabyles, render it probable that they may be a remnant of the Vandals." Vide Travels, Chap. III. Bruce's account is to be found in the first volume of his travels-Ed. one with horror to see these wretched creatures perfectly naked, oppressed with all the bitterness of grief, thus reduced to the state of mere beasts of the field. Both men and women are minutely examined with no less indelicacy than atrocity, by their inhuman purchasers. Those who come the greatest distance, are most highly valued, as it diminishes the chance of escape, an important consideration to those who buy them those destined to remain in Barbary, are employed in the houses of rich Moors, while the remainder are conducted to the markets of Cairo and Egypt. Several Spanish and Portuguese ships have been taken by the English, for persisting in this iniquitous traffic, contrary to the general voice of Europe, and all civilized nations. It has also been reported, that the transports employed to convey the troops under the ferocious Morillo, were afterwards destined to visit the coast of Guinea, for the execrable purpose of loading with slaves for the New World. Spain and Portugal is to the poor blacks, like the terrible land of Koom, south of Tombuctoo; where, after being bought, the unhappy slaves are slaughtered and eaten.* Those negroes whose natural mildness of disposition and good nature, led an English traveller to call them the Hindoos of Africa, merit a very different treatment from their fellow creatures. The travellers who have frequented the desolate banks of the Joliba, at a time when Cafirs and strangers experienced the worst reception where Moorish princes governed, were by the negroe tribes in the *Thanks be to God, the cause of religion and humanity has just experienced another signal triumph, in the abolition of this impious traffic by Spain, on consideration of receiving a large sum from England. Although there are people who may disapprove of our paying the deluded cabinet of Madrid, for yielding at last to remonstrances which it could no longer with decency resist; yet, if there ever was a principle upon which an overstrained application of public money could be justified, it is surely furnished on the present occasion: and I have no doubt that the majority of the nation will unite in giving full credit to His Majesty's ministers, for this beneficent act of magnanimity and expiation. Upon such sacrifices. The gods themselves throw incense! And when the little interests which now agitate the minds of men so violently, have passed 156 CHARACTER OF THE NEGROES. vicinity of that river received as friends and brothers. Every one recollects the horrible picture drawn by Park, of what he suffered at Deena and in the Moorish camp of Benowm; also the cruel manner in which he was retained in slavery by Ali, the sultan of Ludamar. The people of Nigratia refused him both food and lodging; calling white men the sons of the devil. The Mandengoes, Fuladoo, and other negroe nations, were, on the contrary, courteous and obliging. All must recollect the beautiful simplicity and pathetic tenderness of a song, which the poor woman of Bambara composed, to soothe the melancholy mind of this meritorious traveller, accompanying it with the most zealous offices of kindness. Judging of the negroes I saw in Barbary, they appeared to possess a natural gaiety and steadiness of character, which formed a striking contrast to the gloomy taciturnity of the Moors. When in their own countries, dancing and singing is said to form their chief delight and greatest source of amusement: they never salute a booti, or head of a tribe; nor return thanks for any favours which may have been conferred on them, without adding a song in praise of their generous benefactor. All the African villages, undisturbed by war, resound with song; and after sun-set, this great continent may be compared to one universal ball-room, without its superfluous ceremonies. As these demonstrations of happiness generally take place at the same hour, and the nights are beautifully serene, the nearest villagers alternately reply to each other in the national song, while away, and in a few transitory years our animosities descend with us into the silent grave; it is actions like the above that will more than redeem the errors of England, and make her an example fit to be held up at once to the applause and imitation of posterity. If, however, it should hereafter appear, that the four hundred thousand pounds given to Spain on this occasion, are appropriated to any other purpose than the one explicitly stipulated for in the treaty; viz. in compensating the loss sustained by His Catholic Majesty's subjects engaged in this nefarious traffic, while it was legally authorized, such a flagrant abuse of confidence will not escape the resentment of our government, while it cannot fail to afford the nation at large, another strong ground of complaint against the ministers and advisers of Ferdinand the VIIth.-Ed. the more susceptible listen with eager curiosity, to catch the voice of their ebon Dulcinea. The black slaves in Algiers also dance occasionally; but it is the dance of slavery, in which chains echo a terrible response to the music. Theirs is no longer the song of tenderness and peace: it is slow, monotonous, and sorrowful; the expression of deep and settled melancholy. Of Jews, there is an immense number scattered all over the coast of Barbary. The city of Algiers contains about eight thousand, most of whom have swerved considerably from the belief of their ancestors, following the Talmud and Kabbala, with the exception of those called free, who generally come from Leghorn to this place, and are allowed entire liberty in their movements. The unhappy sons of Israel, so badly treated in other countries, can expect little indulgence from the barbarians; consequently there is no species of outrage or vexation to which they are not exposed. They are prohibited from writing or speaking Arabic, to prevent their being able to read the divine Koran. They cannot ride on horseback, but are obliged to go on mules and asses; the first being too noble an animal for them. When passing a mosque, they are obliged to go bare-footed. They dare not approach a well or fountain, if there be a Moor drinking there; or sit down opposite to a Mahometan. Their clothing is obliged to be black; which colour is held in contempt by the Moors. The Jewish women are only permitted to veil a part of their features. The indolent Moor, with a pipe in his mouth and his legs crossed, calls any Jew who is passing, and makes him perform the offices of a servant. Others amuse themselves by smearing the hands, visage, hair, and clothes of the Jewish boys, with paint or mud; while the Turkish soldiers often enter their houses, insulting the females, without the heads of the family having the privilege of desiring them to retire. It is the business of Jews to execute all criminals, and afterwards bury their bodies. They are also employed to carry the Moors on their shoulders, when disembarking in shoal water. They feed |