THE JEWS. 
189 
The Jews of Tafilet are excessively dirty^ and always go 
barefoot, perhaps to avoid the inconvenience of frequently 
taking off their sandals, which they are compelled to do in 
passing before a mosque or the door of a sherif. They are 
clothed in a shabby coussabe, and a very dirty white cloak, 
of little more value, which passes under the left arm, and is 
fastened over the right shoulder. They shave their heads 
after the example of the Moors, but leave a tuft of hair 
which falls over the forehead. Some are pedlars, others 
artizans ; they manufacture shoes and mats from palm- 
leaves ; some of them also are blacksmiths. They lend 
their money upon usury to the merchants trading in the 
Soudan, whither they never go themselves. Their only 
visible fortune consists in their houses, but they often take 
lands as a guarantee for the money which they lend. Money 
is always plentiful with the Jews : yet they affect the utmost 
poverty ; because the Moors, who ascribe to them greater 
riches than they really possess, often persecute them for the 
purpose of extorting their gold : besides which, they not 
only pay tribute to the emperor and his agents, but are 
moreover harassed by the Berbers. 
The Jews live better than the Mahometans, couscous 
and gruel forming but a small portion of their food ; their 
bread is of wheat, kneaded and baked by themselves and their 
principal beverage, beer of their own brewing, though in the 
season of the vintage they make a little wine. 
The Jewish, as well as Moorish women, wear a piece of 
stuff, twelve or fourteen feet long, about the body and thrown 
over the head, and go barefoot ; their costume indeed 
differs only in the head-dress. They have on each side of the 
head a thick large tuft of hair hanging over the shoulder, 
about five inches in length and three in circumference, and they 
habitually cover their heads with a piece of coloured stuff, 
always dirty, like the rest of their garments. 
The Jewesses whom I have seen in Tafilet are in general 
