The Moors are equal by birth, and know no dif ference of rank, except what is derived from official employments ; and even this is not retained, after these offices are resigned. The exercise of the me chanical trades is never considered as, in the smallest degree, disreputable ; and the governor or judge of a town would never think himself degraded by giving his daughter in marriage to a common artificer: The meanest man in the 'nation may thus aspire to a ma trimonial connection with the most opulent. Per sons bearing the name of Mahommed, which is ge nerally given to the first male-child born in wedlock, are always addressed by the title of Seedy, synony mous to Signor.
- The usual mode of salutation in Barbary is to put the right hand on the breast, to make a gentle in clination of the head, and in this posture, to give the .salem aliok, or the wish of peace. If the parties are intimately acquainted, they shake hands with a very quick motion ; or merely make the extre mities of their fingers meet, and then each puts his own to his lips ; or mutually embrace, kissing the forehead, shoulders, or beard. They then in quire after the health of the relatives in due order ; and, among the Arabs, on these occasions, the mare, flock, and even the tent are not forgotten ; but while putting these questions, they seldom wait for a re ply, and are often far beyond each others hearing, before they have finished their civil interrogatories. When they accost a superior, they make the hayk, which is usually thrown loosely over the head, fall back upon the shoulders ; generally pull off their slippers as they approach, and respectfully kiss his hand, or merely that part of his hayk which covers his arm, or sometimes even his feet. The superior, in these cases, presents the hack of his hand for salu tation ; and it is accounted an indication of great fa vour, when he offers the palm. The compliment due to a sovereign, and to any of his family, is to uncover the head, and then to prostrate or rather bend the body to the ground. It is common in Bar bary to address a peculiar salutation to a person who is eating, drinking, smoking, sneezing, or belching ; namely, salsa, " may it do you good." When the inhabitants of Barbary pay visits to each other, they generally ride on mules, rather than horses ; and pride themselves greatly upon being at tended, on these occasions, by several running foot men. They are not always received into the house ;
but, if the weather be fine, .a mat or carpet is spread before the door; and upon this they place themselves in a circle, cross-legged, or resting upon their heels, while their attendants are seated in the outside in a similar manner. The streets are sometimes crowded with these parties, engaged in smoking, in drinking tea, in conversation, or in gaming. If the company he large, and an entertainment be given, the inner court is frequently the Ilace of meeting ; and, on these occasions, a kind of veil or curtain is generally extended from the parapet walls, to shelter them , from the heat or inclemency of the weather. The master of the house, when receiving his guests, re mains upon his seat, takes their hand as they ad vance, inquire after their health, and directs them to their place. 1Vhatever he the time of the day, tea is introduced, during the visit, in the houses of the opulent ; and is accounted the greatest civility that can be shewn to the company. When a stran ger arrives to lodge in the family, the first compli ment offered is water to wash his feet, (which the circumstance of walking barefoot, or at most in loose slippers, residers a very necessary and acceptable cere mony;) and, in such cases, the master of the house is always the most active in doing the most menial of fices to his guest.
The common topics of conversation among these people arc, the occurrences of the neighbourhood, with respect to which, they testify the most eager curiosity ; their religious tenets, which the talbs, or men of letters, embrace every opportunity of intro-, ducing, in order to display their own acquirements ;, their women, on which subject their discourse is ex ceedingly low, trilling, and indecent ; and, lastly, their horses, upon which it is accounted the greatest of all accomplishments to be able to harangue. In conversation, the gestures of the Moors arc lively, graceful, and expressive ; their accent peculiarly strong and sharp ; and their voice remarkably full and sonorous. When•they become hot and quarrel-. some, they indulge in the most opprobrious language, and perhaps collar each other in their rage, but very seldom come I% blows ; though it sometimes happens, that a dispute is finally terminated by assassination.