m STATES OF BARBARY. 



that are so hot as to boil a large piece of mutton very tender in a 

 quarter of an hour. 



Population, inhabitants, manners, customs.... Morocco was cer- 

 tainly formerly far more populous than it is now, if, as travellers say, 

 Its capital contained 100,000 houses, whereas at present it is thought 

 not to contain above 25,000 inhabitants; nor can we think that the 

 other parts of the country are more populous, if it be true, that their 

 king or emperor has 80,000 horse and foot, of foreign negroes, in bis 

 armies. 



The city of Algiers is said to contain 100,000 Mahommedans,, 

 15,000 Jews, and 2000 Christian slaves; but no estimate can be 

 formed as to the populousness of its territory. Some travellers report 

 that it is inhabited by a friendly hospitable people, who are very dif- 

 ferent in their manners and character from those of the metropolis. 



Tunis is the most polished republic of all the Barbery states. The 

 capital contains 10,000 families, and above 3000 tradesmen's shops ; 

 and its suburbs consist of 1000 houses. The Tunisians ar^ indeed 

 exceptions to the other states of Barbary ; for even the most civi- 

 lized of the European governments might improve from their man- 

 ners. Their distinctions are well kept up, and proper respect is 

 paid to the military, mercantile, and learned professions. They cul- 

 tivate friendship with the European states ; arts and manufactures 

 have been lately introduced among them ; and the inhabitants are said 

 at present to be well acquainted with the various labours of the loom,, 

 The women are handsome in their persons ; and though the men are 

 sun-burnt, the complexion of the ladies is very delicate ; nor are they 

 less neat and elegant in their dress ; but they improve the beauty of 

 their eyes by art, particularly the powder of lead-ore, the same pig- 

 ment, according to the opinion of the learned Dr. Shaw, that Jezebel 

 made use of when she is said (2 Kings, chap, ix, verse 30,) to have 

 painted her face : the words of the original being, that she set off 

 her eyes with the powder of lead-ore. The gentlemen in genera! 

 are sober, orderly, and clean in their persons, their behaviour com- 

 plaisant, and a wonderful regularity reigns through all the city. 



Tripoli was once the richest, most populous, and opulent of all the 

 states on the coast ; but it is now much reduced, and the inhabitants,, 

 who are said to amount to between 400,000 and 500,000, have all the 

 vices of the Algerines. 



Their manners are much the same with those of the Egyptians al- 

 ready described. The subjects of the Barbary states, in general sub- 

 sisting by piracy, are allowed to be bold intrepid mariners, and will 

 fight desperately when they meet with a prize at sea ; they are not- 

 withstanding, far inferior to the English, and other European states, 

 both in the construction and management of their vessels. They are, 

 if we except the Tunisians, void of all arts and literature. The mi- 

 sery and poverty of the inhabitants of Morocco, who are not immedi- 

 ately in the emperor's service, are beyond all description ; but those 

 who inhabit the inland parts of the country are an hospitable inoffen- 

 sive people ; and indeed it is a general observation, that the more dis- 

 tant the inhabitants of those states are from the seats of their govern- 

 ment, their manners are the more pure. Notwithstanding their pover- 

 ty, they have a liveliness about them, especially those who are of Ara- 

 bic descent, that gives them an air of contentment ; and having nothing 

 to lose, they are peaceable among themselves. The Moors are suppo? 



