STATE OF AFRICA. 
477 
ed together by the influence of despotic sway, and 
by the minute severity of Mahometan institutions. 
All Mussulman towns exhibit, in fact, an extreme 
similarity. They all present the same exterior of 
gravity, stillness, and decorum ; the same absence 
of all assemblages for purposes of gaiety or social 
intercourse ; and the gloom which necessarily arises 
from the entire exclusion of female society. Ha- 
bitual indolence is here interrupted by the mechanic 
cal round of religious ceremonies. A total want 
of all knowledge and curiosity respecting the arts 
and sciences, characterizes the whole of this once 
enlightened region. The outward aspect of the 
streets is as gloomy as that of the persons by whom 
they are tenanted. They are narrow and dusty ; 
the walls of earth, and without windows ; gloom 
and nakedness without ; a barbarous splendour 
within. In general, the Moors, when compared 
with the Turks, appear an inferior race. They 
have the same rudeness and austerity ; while pira- 
tical habits, and an unsettled government, render 
them more mean, turbulent, and treacherous. 
Another class of inhabitants, which has never 
entered into any species of combination with the 
general mass, consists of the Jews. These exist 
in great numbers through all the cities of Barbary, 
where they preserve entire their national peculiari- 
ties. They are viewed, consequently, as an outcast 
class ; are the objects of universal hatred, contempt, 
