THE PEOPLES OF ALGERIA AND MOROCCO 403 



was a member of the Dongolawi 

 clan. 



d. THE PEOPLES OF ALGERIA 

 AND MOROCCO. 



THE peoples of Morocco and Algeria 

 may be conveniently considered 

 together; for though the countries 

 are politically distinct, they are 

 physically similar and their popula- 

 tions are ethnographically identical. 

 The majority of the Moroccans and 

 Algerians are Berbers; the rest are 

 Arabs, Moors, Jews, and Negroes. 



THE BERBERS. 



The Berber is a Hamitic race 

 which has been partly "Arabised." 

 But as all are Mohammedans and 

 many speak Arabic, they have often 

 been regarded as Arabs, a mistake 

 which has led to political disasters. 

 Some of the Berbers are even re- 

 garded as Sliorfa, or descendants of 

 Mohammed, although they are 

 Hamites and not Semites. The 

 Berbers and Arabs are both Caucasian, 

 and physically offer many points of 

 resemblance; but the differences are 

 important. The Berbers have a 

 shorter, less oval face, a broader nose, 

 which is rarely aquiline, a larger 

 mouth and jaws, a stronger build 

 of body, and a fairer complexion, 

 with sometimes blue eyes and 

 light-coloured hair. They are more 

 industrious, more inquisitive, and 

 less restrained than the Arabs, and their turn of mind is more practical than contemplative. 



The Berber tribes are numerous; they are said to number over 1,000 different clans in 

 Algeria alone. These clans are divided into three groups. The first is that of the Kabyles, or 

 Akbails, of the north, including the piratical Riffs. The second group includes the Sus around 

 Mogador and the Shulluhs of the Atlas. The third group comprises the Haratin, or Black 

 Berbers, of the southern slopes of the Atlas Chain. 



As a rule the Berbers are peaceful and very industrious; but there are exceptions. The 

 Riffs of the north-western coast of Morocco are turbulent and aggressive, and were once 

 notorious as pirates. It is said that the greatest insult that can be given to a Riff is to say, 

 "Your father died in his bed." 



The costume of the Berbers is simpler than that of the Arabs. The men wear a cloth 

 tunic reaching down to the knees, while the women have a longer tunic fastened by a girdle 

 round the waist, and a coloured cloth over the shoulders. The Arab veil is not worn. The 

 women are not secluded, and freely' take part in open-air festivals and dances. The men 



I'holo by Ltruu.i:\ 



KABYLE CHILDREN. 



\_Algiers. 



