The Brebes, or Berebbers, inhabit the mountains of North Atlas ; and are supposed to be the offspring of the original inhabitants of Barbary, who retired thither upon the conquest of their country, and who have still in a great measure preserved their independ ence. They are of a fairer complexion than the Arabs, of an active and industrious disposition, of a robust and athletic frame of body. In the higher grounds, they dwell in caves ; but, in the valleys, they occupy tents, or huts of earth. They seldom change their place of residence; and employ them selves in cultivating the soil, tending cattle, -rearing bees, and pursuing wild beasts. They are very in trepid hunters, dexterous marksmen, and capable of enduring the greatest fatigue. They entertain a strong dislike of the Moors and Arabs, whom they regard as usurpers; and, as many of their tribes are extremely powerful, they pay or refuse tribute ac cording to their own inclination. They have, indeed, gradually adopted the religion and customs of the Moors ; but have still a distinct language of their own, which is supposed to be a dialect of the old Cartha ginian. They are probably, however, a more ancient people in Africa, than either the Romans or Carthagi nians; and, from the circumstance of their living in caves, it has been conjectured, that theymayhave form ed a remote branch of the great nation of the Troglo dytes. Mr Bruce describes a very savage and indepen dent tribe called Neardic (perhaps the same, whom Abbe Poiret terms Nadas, and of whom he gives a si milar description), residing near Jebbel Aurez, and dwelling in huts of mud-and straw. They occupy a very rugged and inaccessible tract of country; and the great hazard of attacking them was expressed by one of their Maraboots by the strong figure of " eating fire." They have a fair complexion, red hair, and blue eyes. They have the figure of a Greek cross marked with antimony on their foreheads ; and af firm, that their ancestors were Christians. They seemed to rejoice more in that relation, than in any connection with the Moors; and Mr Bruce conceived them to be a remnant of the Vandals.
The Shelluhs inhabit the mountains of South At las, and are often confounded with the Bercbbers; but they are ascertained to be a distinct race, and to speak a different language. They live generally in towns and villages, are chiefly employed in husban dry, and are very simple and peaceful in their man ners. They are a very meagre people, and remark ably abstemious in their diet; subsisting almost en tirely upon barley-bread and honey. Many families among them are supposed to be descended from the Portuguese, who formerly occupied many of the sea. ports of West Barbary.
Negroes are very numerous in Barbary, especially in the empire of Morocco, where about 30,000 of them were embodied as troops, in the year 1780, by the emperor Muley Ishmael. They are to be found also in every part of the country, and almost in every family, in the state of slaves. Their condition, how ever, in this respect, is very different from that of their countrymen who are transported to the West India islands; and they experience a treatment much more humane, than the general character of their Moorish masters would warrant us to expect. Some
times, indeed, they are kept, like a stock of cattle, to propagate for the supply of the market ; but in general they are regarded as members of the fa mily, into which they have been purchased; are care fully instructed in the principles of the Mahommedan faith ; and usually obtain their freedom, after a ser vitude of eight or ten years. The more intelligent among them are taught to read and write ; and, as soon as they are able to understand a chapter of the Koran, are immediately emancipated. These libe rated negroes soon adopt the sentiments and manners of the natives ; and many of the most able officers and industrious cultivators are of this class. They are in general better formed than the Moors, more lively and active, but if possible more capricious and blood-thirsty in their dispositions.
The Jews of Barbary, whose ancestors were ex gelled from Portugal and Spain, are diffused over the whole country ; and are found even in the mountains of Atlas, exert sing mechanical trades among the Berebbers. They are subjected to every conceivable species of oppression, and are frequently treated even more harshly than the beasts of burden. They are not permitted to possess lands, to wear a sword, to ride a horse, or to leave the country without special permission. They are obliged to wear such a habit, as may distinguish them at first sight ; to address every Mussulman by the title of seedy or signor; and to pull off their sandals, whenever they approach any religious structure or consecrated place. They are no where more severely and more undeservedly op pressed; for the whole country may be said to de pend upon their ingenuity and industry, and could scarcely subsist without their aid. They are the only good artificers, and have a share in all pecuniary and commercial transactions. They are employed even in coining the money of the different states, some times also in collecting the taxes; and seldom does a Moor attempt to carry on trade, without the assist ance of a Jewish agent. They are tolerated in the observance of their religious worship ; and, in towns, there is generally a particular quarter allotted for their residence, under the jurisdiction of an alcaide appointed by the government. They follow, in other respects, the customs of the Moors; and, under all their oppressions, they find abundant resources in their own superior sagacity and information.
The few Christians, who reside in Barbary, are temporary visitants for purposes of trade, the consuls of European states, the slaves of Moorish corsairs, the inhabitants of the Spanish settlements, and de serters from the Spanish garrisons. From a regard to their respective nations, they may sometimes ex perience the protection of the constituted authorities; but, by the Moors in general, they are held in as great contempt as the Jews; and are exposed to every species of insult, that bigotry and brutality can devise.