58 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



origin. The physiognomy of the Moors, and other 

 Africans who are met with here, is expressive of 

 firmness and prudence, yet without that look of 

 cunning of which the people of the Semitic race 

 are accused, but rather united with an agreeable 

 frankness, content, and tranquilhty of mind. A 

 lofty forehead, oval countenance, large, expressive 

 black eyes, shaded by arched, bushy eyebrows, a 

 well-formed, long, but not too pointed nose, rather 

 broad Hps meeting in an acute angle, thick, smooth 

 black hair on the head and beard, brownish yellow 

 complexions, muscular neck, firmly knit, and ro- 

 bust make, with a stature above the middle size, 

 characterise the inhabitants of North Africa as 

 they are frequently seen in the streets of Gibraltar. 

 Among the most dangerous diseases that occur in 

 this bay of the Mediterranean, which, from its 

 situation, is very hot, and especially exposed to 

 the south wind, is the yellow fever. Only a short 

 time previously to our arrival, many persons fell a 

 sacrifice to this disorder. As in Cuba in the Gulf 

 of Mexico, this destructive disease appears here 

 also, in Cadiz, Barcelona, and other maritime 

 towns which do not enjoy a free circulation of air, 

 where it is still more favoured by the heat and the 

 corrupt and enervating exhalations of the salt 

 water. 



The rock of Gibraltar consists of compact lime- 

 stone, generally of a light yellow, ash grey, and 

 smoke colour, and is often traversed with veins of 



