BARBAE^. 
493 
Horneman. The Brebers are a brave and hardy- 
people. Their villages occupy the declivities and 
the deep valleys of the Atlas. They exhibit the 
only example to be found in Barbary of the re- 
publican form of government, as they have assem- 
blies of the people, and elect their own chiefs. 
They pay a nominal, but very imperfect and pre- 
carious obedience to the sovereign of Morocco, 
and the other Moorish princes in whose domi- 
nions their mountains are situated. They are 
skilful in the use of fire-arms, and employ them- 
selves much in firing at a mark. These exercises 
render them formidable to the armies of Morocco, 
who, in their frequent rebellions, have often found 
the contest unequal. The most powerful and the 
fiercest of these tribes is the Errifi. The eye of 
an Errif has become proverbial for its keen and 
piercing expression. The Shelluhs, on the other 
hand, are less robust in their form, milder in 
their manners, and more civilized. When offend- 
ed, however, they cherish a resentment equally- 
deadly ; nor is it safe to pass through their coun- 
try without having secured the protection of one 
of their chiefs. 
Most of the inhabitants of Egypt are foreigners, 
who have not become in any degree naturalized 
to its climate or soil. This celebrated country 
presents only one native race, which is that of the 
Copts, or descendants of the most ancient inha« 
