536 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
ACCOUNT of the INHABITANTS of AL- 
GIERS, ant COUNTRY fubje@ to the 
DEY, and of their difference with refpect 
70 ORIGIN, CHARACTER and CIVviL 
RELATIONS, , 
(Concluded from p.439.) 
MONG the Mahomecan inhabitants 
of the ~Algerine dominions may 
Jikewife be reckoned fome 4rabiax tribes, 
who, without mingling with the Moars, 
or moft ancient pofleffors of the country, 
have to the prefent times, preferved them- 
Jelves feparate from all others, partly in a 
{tate of independence, and partly as tribu- 
taries to the Dey. They are diftinguifhed 
from the reft by their language, by their 
rude manners, a peculiar mode of living, 
and by their pride, deeming themfelves 
better and nobler than others. Not lefs 
charatteriftic is their love of liberty. 
‘They live either in the defert, or in inac- 
ceffible ridges of mountains, divided into 
families and clans, under the patriarchical 
government of a Sheic, who may be con- 
tidered as at the fame time judge, inftruc- 
tor and leader of his tribe. Their wealth 
confifts in their flocks and herds. With 
thele they defcend from the mountains into 
the plain country, whenever they think 
they can do it with fafety. To prevent 
their being fuddenly . furprifed by their 
enemies, they place suards in every direc- 
tion around them, and onthe firft appear- 
ance of danger retire again to their moun- 
tains. ‘The number of thefe nomades de- 
creales however every year, efpecially in 
the province of Mafcara, where the pre- 
‘ent Dey has made many conquelts. The 
Arab tribes fubje€ted to the Algerines 
pay afmall tribute, and are treated with 
great lenity, for fear of irritating them to 
rebel and join the Cabyls and independent 
Arabs. 
_ The number of Yeas in the territory of 
Algiers isnot great: but it is difficult 
exactly to determine it, as itis Kept fecret 
by themfelves for the purpofe of preventing 
an augmentation of the tax, which is re. 
gulated according to the number of fa- 
milies fettled in the country. Jews cannot 
acquire landed property in Algiers. They 
are likewife opprefled and defpifed, being 
obliged to diftinguith themfelves from the 
other inhabitants by their drefs, efpecially 
by wezring clothes of dark colours. In 
this refpect the women enjoy greater in- 
dulgence: eventhey, however, are forbid 
to appesrin public with a yeil. Nor is 
any Jew permitted to ride through the 
city-gates, or inthe city. A Chriftian 
flaye may, in cafe he be attacked by 
Account of the Inhabitants of Algiers. 
| 
[July x. 
Moors, defend himfelf; a Jew, on the 
contrary, would not fo eafily efcape with 
found limbs, if he fhould dare to put him- 
felf in a pofture of defence againft the 
mif-ulage of the Turks and Meors. Rich 
Jews therefore purchafe the protection of 
powerful Turks, and of-the European 
contuls. The Algerine Jews are, gene- 
rally fpeaking, ignorant, {uperftitious and 
fanatical in the higheft degree: and, 
moreover, cowardly, bafe-minded, perfi- 
dious, avaricious, and addi&ed to cheat- 
ing: on their promife in pecuniary tranf- 
actions no onecan place confidence ; and 
the greateft cheats are found among the 
molt wealthy. Jn affairs which concern 
only themfelyes, they are judged by their 
owntribunals and an elder, who is known 
by the name of a king of the Fews. “One 
of the moft pernicious customs prevalent 
among them is, that parents form mar- 
riage-contracts for their yet infant chil- 
dren, who, in that cafe, are even married 
at the age of four or fix years;-and in 
their ninth or tenth year cohabit as man 
and wife. 
_ The number of Negroes annually im- 
ported as flaves into Algiers amounts to 
from r50to 180. Their price varies from 
50to 150 zechins. The female negro flayes 
are in greater requeft, as attendants on the 
Moorith ladies, and as domeftic fervants, 
and therefore fetch a higher price than the 
males. Many of the negreftes are likewile 
very frequently purchated and kept as 
concubines by the wealthy Turks and 
Moors, and not feldom preferred to the 
fair natives of the country. It however 
happens very rately thata Turk actually 
marries a negrefs: but fuch intermarriages 
are more frequent among the Moors and 
Coloris. Although all the negroes came 
into the country as flaves, yet the greater 
part of them are, either gratuitoufly, or 
in confideration of a large {um of money, 
manumitted by their mafters. Nor are 
they here, in general; fo badly treated as 
in the Weft-Indian colonies of the Euro- 
peans: they enjoy, on the contrary, a 
confiderable portion of liberty, are not 
confined, or ina cruel manner overwhelmed 
with exceffive labour. Any over-rigid ‘or 
unjuit treatment of them is even punifhed 
by the government. Negro and Chriftian 
flaves are, at Algiers, employed in the 
fame offices as our domeftic fervants, 
But Jews and Chriftians are not permitted 
to keep negro flaves who profefs the Ma- 
homedan religion. As foon as a Negro 
acquires. his freedom, which is often 
granted on occafions of rejoicing, or on 
the deceafe of his mafter 5 he is efteemed 
equal 
