MOORS (Lat, mauri, meaning dark; Spanish, morns) are a people who form the great majority of the population of Barbary. Their appearance indicates their origin, which is a mixture of the Maori (from whom they derive their name), Nuinidians, Phenicians, Romans, and Arabs, who have successively held possession of the country. In conse quence, they are found to vary considerably in appearance and character in different parts of Barbary, but all show more or less strongly the symptoms of a considerable infusion of Arabian blood. They are a well-formed race, with fine oriental features, and a mild and melancholy expression of countenance. They are more friendly and sociable than the Bedouins and Berbers, who inhabit the deserts and mountains;. but are inferior to them in mental ability, besides being voluptuous and cruel. They con stitute, generally speaking, the tradesmen, artizans, merchants, and agriculturalists of Barbary; but a considerable number lead a pastoral life. The dress of the Moors con sists of a piece of woolen cloth, five ells in length by one and a half in breadth, called a "haique," which is thrown over the shoulders, and fastened round the body; it also serves as a covering by night. This, when supplemented by a pair of slippers, a red cap, and a hood, constitutes the sole habiliment of the people generally. In the towns, the "caftan" is generally worn over the haique. The Moors employ the Arabic language, but with many corruptions and deviations from the original, and these appear to increase toward the west.
As the Arab conquerors of Spain invaded that country from Africa, where they had largely recruited their forces, they were naturally enough called Moors, and in Spanish history the terms Moors, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous. From this mixed
Moorish-Arab race sprung the 3foriscoes, who were permitted by Ferdinand the Catholic to remain in Spain after the expulsion of their countrymen, on condition of their embracing Christianity. A cite] persecution, which was originated by Philip II., drove them to rebellion (1567-70), and in 1571 many emigrated to Africa; those who remained being, to the number of 500,000, expelled in 1610 by Philip III.
The Moors first appear in modern history as the allies of the Vandals in their invasion of Africa, and were continually rebelling against the Byzantine emperor. They were next, after a severe struggle, conquered and converted by the Araks in 707. hi 1091 they were summoned by the latter into Spain, to aid in stemming the tide of Christian conquest; and after faithfully supporting the Arab calif of Cordova, etc., tl his dominions fell into the hands of the king of Leon and Castile. they retired in 1238 to Granada, where they founded their kingdom. The kings of Granada carried on a vigorous; sod, at the same time, chivalrous warfare with the kings of Castile; but at length. weakened by: internal discord, were compelled to succumb to Ferdinand the Catholic in 1492. The Moors, or at least that portion of them who refused to adopt Christianity, were then expelled from Spain, and, in revenge, founded in 1518 the piratical states of Igiels and Tunis. Their subsequent history cannot be separated from that of Algiers, i tads, and Morocco.