MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 329 



rough, fleep, and ftoncy, that it is not Icfs d^n^ 

 gcrous to defcend to thp bottom than difficult 

 to afcend to the top. 



In Tangier are feveral niofque^, but of their 

 interior I can give no defcription, it being for- 

 bidden to Chriftians to enter them; and if any 

 one Ihould accidentally flray within their gates, 

 which are always open, he muft either inflantly 

 fubmit tocircumcilion, and become a Mahome- 

 tan, or his life muft pay the forfeit. Some 

 rmofques have fmall courts before them, paved 

 with tiles of different colours, and in the mid- 

 dle is a fountain for the ablutions pradifed ac- 

 cording to the Mahometan ritual. In the in- 

 terior parts of the country all Chriftians who 

 pafs muft take off their hats and llioes, but this 

 being the feat of the Confuls, they are excufed 

 the lilly ceremony; the Jews are, however, 

 obliged to fubmit to it in the fulled extent. 



The gates of Tangier, and indeed of every 

 other towri in Barbary, are llmt at fun-fet and 

 opened at fun-rife ; no intcreft, no perfualion, 

 can prevail upon them to keep thofe towards 

 the fea open after the time allotted, or to unbar 

 them a moment earlier. 



The Jews are very numerous here, as 

 well as in every other part of Barbary ; by 

 them, and through their means, all the trade 

 of the country is carried on ; neverthelefs they 



arc 



