CH. 11. RIFF PIEATES. 57 



from the site of the Carthaginian city of Bedis — Belis of 

 the Arabs — whence some etymologists derive the Spanish 

 Velez. From the rank of an episcopal city in early 

 Christian times, Bedis fell into bad repute as a pirate port, 

 until it was taken and destroyed by the Spaniards The 

 third Spanish post is on the larger of the Zaffarine 

 Islands, that rise from the Mediterranean nearly opposite 

 the mouth of the Oued Moulouya, not far from the French 

 frontier. To judge from a small packet of plants collected 

 there by Mr. Webb, the only scientific traveller known to 

 have visited them, these are raere barren rocks, affording 

 no shelter to any but the common seaside species. 



Of late years the Eiff people have kept to their moun- 

 tain fastnesses, and piracy is no longer an habitual occupa- 

 tion ; but it would not be safe to suppose that it has been 

 completely extinguished. The coast has many inlets and 

 creeks that shelter fishing boats, which may easily be used 

 for cutting out unarmed merchantmen when becalmed 

 near the coast. As late as 1855 two or three cases of that 

 nature were reported to the home authorities by the 

 Grovernor of Gibraltar : and as pursuit was out of the 

 question, and the Moorish Grovernment owns no control 

 over the Eiff population, no redress was obtainable. The 

 increasing use of steam has probably made the occupation 

 tedious and unprofitable. 



