The inhabitants of the towns do not form a race by themselves, but are aggregated from the various races i who inhabit, or have inhabited, the country districts- the Arabs, the Brebers, probably in part also the an cient possessors, and the Vandal conquerors of north ern Africa. All these have been cast into that mould which Moslem despotism invariably forms. There is, however, a peculiar race, called Andalousie, de scendants of those Moors, expelled from Spain by the stupid despotism of that government. They inhabit chiefly the northern cities of the empire of Morocco. They pique themselves on their descent, and seem to retain somewhat of that pride of birth which was probably formed during their residence in Europe.
. The sciences, which anciently formed the glory of the Saracen name, are now, throughout the whole of this region, entirely extinct. Instruments are still shown, which display the most exquisite mechanical skill ; but they are preserved merely as antique cu riosities, without any knowledge of the principles by which they were constructed. Astronomy does not extend to the construction of a sun-dial, nor che inistry beyond the making of rose-water. With re gard to medicine, the estimation in which that sci ence, once so flourishing, is held, may be judged by the emolument reaped by its professors. The fee of a physician scarcely ever exceeds sixpence ; and the most serious operations are performed for a shilling. These humble practitioners succeed tolerably, when only external wounds are to be healed ; but in all in ternal maladies, it appears very doubtful whether most patients die of the disease, or of the remedies administered.
The Jews form a numerous class throughout all the cities, both of Eastern and Western They seem to exist there nearly on the same footing as in Europe during the middle ages, the objects of • universal hatred, contempt, and derision, and their plunder the invariable resource, whenever the sove reign finds himself in pecuniary embarrassment. Yet their knowledge of trade, and entire devotion to it, have almost secured to them the monopoly of mer cantile and money transactions ; and they are thus enabled to make such enormous profits as induces them to endure all this oppression. In Morocco, however, long suffering appears at length to have wearied their patience, and their numbers have been considerably thinned. In the capital, they are not now supposed to exceed 2000. No such di minution seems to have occurred in the other states. Tunis is calculated to contain above 15,000.
The country Moors, or those whe cultivate the plains of Barbary, appear to differ very widely freer the inhabitants of the cities. The property, or ra ther the occupation of land, is, as usual in despotic countries, much subdivided. The manners of the cultivators have been little observed, but they are said to be characterized by a peculiar degree of ig norance and simplicity.
The inhabitants of the pastoral districts intermedi ate between the sea coast and the Sahara, are known by the name of Arabs. They appear, in fast, to
comprise such of the descendants of the conquer ors of Barbary as have adhered to their original and native employments. They exhibit the same migra tory habits, the same simplicity of life, and the same union of hospitality and plunder, which distinguish their countrymen is Arabia. The touch of despotism has, however, taken from them much of that same of honour and dignity which elevate the latter above the common level of barbarous tribes. They live in tents, thirty or forty of which united form a camp or &war, under the command of a shiek : the suprema cy over a number of these camps constitutes a Great Shiek or Emir. The tents are made by themselves, of camels' hair and the fibres of the palm tree; they are arranged generally in three concentric circles, around the habitation of the shiek. The cattle go out to pasture during the day, and are tended by the men and boys ; at night they are withdrawn within the circle of the tents. They are farther guarded by a number of vigilant dogs, who bark incessantly. The complexion of the Arabs is of a deep copper. The females possess beauty when young, but quickly lose it. They adorn themselves by puncturing and tattawing, practices unknown to the other inhabitants of Barbary. When the spot occupied by a dower is exhausted, they remove to another ; the women are then conveyed in groups generally of three, upon the back of each camel ; while the children, lambs, and kids, are lodged in panniers on each side. The shieks embrace every opportunity of acting independently ; and whenever a weak government or civil war oc curs; immediately begin to plunder. Of all the in habitants of Barbary, the Arabs are animated with the most bigotedzeal for the Moslem tenets, and the deadliest enmity to the Christian name. This disposition, the effects of which have been felt by all European visitors, has probably darkened somewhat beyond reality the picture drawn by them of these From the inhabitants of the plains, we ascend to those of the mountain districts: The greater part of the declivity of the Atlas chain is cultivated by a very remarkable people, called the Brebers. They have been named also. Brebes, Berebbers, Barbara; and from them the name of Barbary is supposed to be derived. The Brebers appear to be descended from the original possessors of this region; they view themselves still as its rightful owners, and regard with boundless indignation all the other nations by whom it is now occupied. Their subjection has al ways been very imperfect, and the slightest injury has been sufficient to drive them into rebellion. Their aids are elective, and they alone, in this part of Africa, have a government moulded into some what of a republican form. Their character is ex tremely warlike, and they excel the inhabitants of the plains in the management of fire-arms. The army of Morocco has often been completely defeated by them, and pursoed to the gates of the capital.