CHARACTE S. 



793 



the amazing number of that peo- 

 ple that must have been formerly 

 driven out of Spain, and scattered 

 all over the coasts of the Mediter- 



ranean. 



Moorish Encampment, or Village. 

 [^From the same."] 



The ground on the western side 

 of the heights, or towards Tangiers, 

 we found far less interesting than 

 that near Tetuan. No sooner did 

 we begin to descend than the dif- 

 ference became perceptible. The 

 country was stretched out into 

 plains or slopes of comparatively 

 small fertility, and the hills were 

 rounded and bare, not broken into 

 clefts, with sharp peaks. We were 

 informed that we should that night 

 pitch our tent near a small village, 

 and we felt not a little curious to 

 see one in this country. Towards 

 sun-set we arrived on the slope of a 

 hill, at ten or twelve low tents, 

 formed of a coarse dark stuff of 

 woollen and horse or camel hair, 

 stretched upon sticks, and in some 

 instances stopped roundat the sides 

 with bushes and clods of earth. 

 We were not a little surprised to 

 hear this called a village ; but as 

 one of our party, who had been be- 

 fore unwell, was totally unable to 

 proceed farther, we had no alterna- 

 tive but to pitch our tents, and 

 prepare for passing the night as 

 comfortably as we could. Our 

 guide inquired for the head man 

 of the place, when a stout and 

 well-made Moor presented him- 

 self, and graciously gave us permis- 

 sion to encamp near them. In a 

 short time our tent was pitched, 

 and a sufficient quantity of dry 

 sticks collected to make a fire at 



the door of it. Our kettle was soon 

 prepared, and the Moors, for a tri- 

 fling sum, supplied us with abund- 

 ance of milk, butter, and eggs, 

 which, with our bread and other 

 provision, enabled us to make a 

 cheerful repast. Mats were spread 

 upon the ground, our saddles form- 

 ed our pillows, and our clokes were 

 our covering. Our horses were 

 picketed near us. As the night ad- 

 vanced, the Moors assembled and 

 squatted round the fire, which they 

 were careful to keep up, at the 

 entrance of our tent. They were 

 in general very stout men, of a se- 

 rious but not a melancholy cast of 

 countenance, their complexion a 

 dark olive, and their sole dress 

 a wrapper of light woollen, folded 

 round them. If we attempted to 

 stir out of the tent they strictly 

 watched us, lest we should stray 

 near any of their huts ; whilst we, 

 in return, from beneath our clokes, 

 watched the bright gleaming of the 

 expiring embers thrown on their 

 dusky forms. Before midnight they 

 dispersed, our guard stretched him- 

 self across the entrance of the tent, 

 and we slept in safety. 



In the morning, while the bag- 

 gage was getting placed on the 

 mules, we had time to examine the 

 encampment. We ventured to look 

 into the huts, but were prohibited 

 from entering. The entrances 

 were all fronting to the east ; and 

 it was evident by a glance at the 

 interior, that the first advantages 

 of the division of labour were 

 not yet understood in this simple 

 state of society. In every hut or 

 tent the occupations were the 

 same, the women or female chil- 

 dren solely were employed ; one 

 spinning a coarse kind of thread, 

 another grinding corn between two 



flat 



