MANNERS OF THE MOORS. 
advantage Nature has bestowed on the Moors. They are of 
middle stature, but their agility is unequalled. If they have 
to cross a river, they can defy the most skilful swimmers : 
their features are handsome and regular, but perfidy is painted 
in their looks. Their hair, which curls naturally, has all the 
gracefulness of that of Europeans : their spare frames enable 
them to sustain the fatigues of long journeys, but not those of 
agriculture. 
If gold is valuable in their estimation, it is not for them- 
selves that they seek it, but for the purpose of adorning their 
wives ; and barter, is the kind of traffic, which they, in com- 
mon with all the African tribes, prefer. 
When ten years old the Moors go out to war ; at this 
age they know^ how to manage a horse, and use a musquet ; 
the sons of princes are more particularly distinguished for 
audacity. One of them, named Alycoury, scarcely nine years 
of age, was not afraid to go alone and carry off a sheep from 
the midst of the Moorish shepherds, who were tending the 
flocks ; he sprung upon his horse, across the stolen beast, and 
threatened to kill the shepherds who pursued him: intimidated 
by the musquet which this boy levelled at them, they durst 
not make further efïbrts to stop him, Alycoury was generally 
naked. I observed him one day, not without much surprise, 
clothed in a beautiful white tunic. " Whither are you go- 
ing?" said a person to him. " To my camp," replied he; " my 
tributaries are disposed to be refractory, and my presence will 
