264 



BARBARY 



Saints. 



sharp pointed pikes, dragged at the heels of a mule, 

 and sometimes actually sawn asunder. 



The religion of Barbary is the Mahommedan, of 

 which it is unnecessary here to give a detailed ac- 

 count ; but which, it may be observed, the Moors 

 have greatly relaxed with respect to many of its pre- 

 cepts, and which, on the other hand, they have bur- 

 dened with many additional superstitions They se- 

 cretly drink wine without scruple, and often to great 

 excess ; and easily satisfy their consciences by pro- 

 fessing to take it as a medicine. In like manner, thPy 

 render any prohibited food perfectly lawful, by mere- 

 ly ascribing to it some medicinal quality. They have 

 the same ecclesiastical orders, acts of worship, festi- 

 val seasons, &c. as other Mahommedans ; but in addi- 

 tion to the public mosques, they have a great variety 

 of private chapels consecrated to the devotion of in- 

 dividuals ; and they surpass all the followers of Ma- 

 homet in the reverence which they testify to the dif- 

 ferent orders of saints. These are very numerous in 

 Barbary, and of various descriptions ; but they are 

 known by the general name of Takeers or Mara- 

 boots, * and may be distributed into two principal 

 classes. 1st, Those, who, by frequent ablutions, 

 self-imposed austerities, strict observance of the Koran, 

 and other acts of rigid devotion, have acquired the 

 reputation of extraordinary piety. Of these, many 

 are very sincere devotees, who make it their employ- 

 ment to visit the sick and to relieve the necessitous ; 

 biit the greater part are artful hypocrites, who assume 

 the appearance of sanctity merely to promote their 

 influence with the multitude. Those are particular- 

 ly called Maraboots, who lead a retired life like her- 

 mits, pretending to possess magical skill, to foretel 

 future events, and to be endowed with miraculous 

 powers. These generally preside at religious cere- 

 monies, marriages, funerals, &c. ; and employ them- 

 selves in selling different kinds of amulets or talismans 

 to their deluded votaries. Under this class may be 

 ranked those itinerant mountaineers, who pretend to 

 be great favourites with Mahomet, and to have power 

 over all venomous reptiles ; and who go about the coun- 

 try entertaining the people by eating snakes, vomiting 

 (ire, and other juggling tricks. They are sometimes 

 known to run about in a frantic manner, leaping, dan- 

 cing, foaming at the mouth, and in these furious fits 

 they often fall upon the first animal in their way, tear 

 it to pieces with their teeth, and instantly devour it 

 like beasts of prey ; while the people are all the time 

 anxiously soothing them with caresses, and using all 

 possible means to quiet their frenzy. 



2d, The second class comprehends all idiots and 

 madmen, who are considered by the Moors as under 

 the special protection of heaven, and as moved by a 

 divine impulse in every *hing that they do. They arc, 

 therefore, treated with the highest veneration ; care- 

 fully fed and clothed ; and permitted, without restraint, 

 to indulge in the most extravagant and immoral ac- 

 tions. Many of them are poor, imbecile, and inoffen- 

 sive creatures, who lind, in the superstition of their 

 neighbours, all that humanity and protection which 

 their helpless and degraded condition requires ; but 

 others among them are furious maniacs, who often 



amuse themselves in their malevolent fitu, by torment- Barbary. 

 ing and sometimes murdering such unfortunate per- v "~ v 

 6ons as may happen to fall in their way ; and not a 

 few are the most depraved \vretche3 in existence, who 

 assume the character of insanity, that they may find 

 an easy subsistence, and have full liberty to indulge 

 in their brutal propensit 



This quality of saintsliip is considered as in a great 

 degree hereditary, descending regularly from father ' 

 to son, and sometimes even from master to servant. 

 Every tribe and village almost has its tutelary saint, 

 to whom the inhabitants regularly carry their fir3t 

 fruits, and pay similar acts of superstitious homage. 

 They are frequently employed as guides to travellers, 

 and their presence affords the best protection from 

 every insult or aggression. They are not only vene- 

 rated during their lives, but, after death, their tombs 

 are generally held sacred ; and chapels of an octa- 

 gonal form ate often erected on the spot, which art- 

 regarded as at once the most holy oratories, and the 

 most inviolable asylums. The habitations of the liv- 

 ing saints are generally near these tombs of their an- 

 cestors ; and are often surrounded with importunate 

 votaries, who, from touching the garments or receiv- 

 ing the benedictions of these consecrated personages, 

 expect the remission of their sins, and success in all 

 their undertakings. In these sanctuaries prayers are 

 offered up, as the last resort in desperate cases ; 

 treasures are deposited, as in the most secure of all 

 concealments ; and a refuge is found by the greatest 

 offenders, which the most powerful are afraid to vio- 

 late. Among the Moors, also, as among all other 

 Mahommedans, those persons who have made the pil- 

 grimage to Mecca, are held in the highest venera- 

 tion ; are considered as having received at once the 

 remission of sin and an increase of perfection ; are de- 

 nominated Hage, that is, " holy ;" and are always ad- 

 dressed by the title of Seedy, or " my lord." Even 

 the camels and horses which have made this 6acred 

 journey, are counted Hages ; are well fed, exempted 

 from labour, and permitted to graze at full liberty 

 wherever they may choose to stray. Hospitality and 

 alms- giving are the cardinal virtues, and the indispen- m 



sable obligation of Mussulmen ; but the Moors are more 

 deficient in those duties, than the Turks and most 

 other followers of Mahomet. Their standard of be- 

 nevolence, indeed, is not very high ; as no one is held 

 bound to bestow alms who does not possess 5 camels, 

 or 30 sheep, or 200 pieces of silver ; and when they 

 have given 6d. in the pound to the poor, they are con- 

 sidered as having yielded complete obedience to the 

 precept. 



The state of knowledge in Barbary is low in the Arts and 

 extreme ; and the modern Moors have not the smal- Sciences, 

 lest portion of the literary spirit of their ancestors. 

 They are not deficient in natural genius and abilities ; 

 but their minds are degraded by their oppressive go- 

 vernment, and cramped by their limited education. 

 In the state of childhood, they display an uncommon 

 share of acuteness and vivacity ; and are remarkable, 

 while at school, for their memory and application, 

 but after having been taught to repeat a few select 

 passages from the Koran, and perhaps also to read 



CalJed Marabam by Abb<5 Poiret, Marabonts by Lempriere, MuratnMs by Shaw, and Maraboots by Jackson. 



3 



