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‘ 
538 
fcrupulowly obfervant of the fafts enjoined 
by the church. 
were very few Englihh, Portuguefe, Swifs, 
Poles, and Pryffans: but no Dutch, 
Swedes, Ruffians, and Danes: and only 
one Norwegian. All thefe deferters know 
beforehand what doom awaits them on 
their arrival: they, however, prefer a 
ftate of flavery to that of a Spanifh foldier 
at Oran, as in Algiers they are better 
treated, and flatter themfelves with the 
hope of being ranfomed, in which expec- 
tation they very frequently find themfelves 
deceived. 
With refpe&t to the treatment of the 
Chriftian flaves, no particular diftinGion 
is rnade between the deferters from Oran 
and thofe captured by the cruifers. They 
are, in general, well kept, and not over- 
whelmed with labour, or cruel ufage ; 
as every proprieter finds it his intereft to 
preferve his flaves, for the fake of the 
ranfom. he expects to receive for them. 
‘Thofe who belong to the Dey, are kept as 
attendants in his palace. There area great 
number of them, they have little to do, 
and are well, and even richly, clothed. 
-Many of them live in abundance, as they 
receive valuable prefents from the grandees 
who are applying for fome favour from 
the Dey: but their fituation is fo far irk- 
fome, that they muft live guiet and _re- 
tired, and feldom receive permiffion te 
leave the palace.. The youngeft and moftt 
beautiful among them are.likewile expofed 
to the feduStion of the corrupt courtiers. 
The other Chriftian flaves who are the 
property of the ftate, are employed in the 
dock-yards and magazines: and are un- 
der the command of Turkifh tafkmatters. 
At fun-rife, they are conducted to their 
Jabour; and receive three {mall loaves tor 
breakfatt: thofe who have money may 
purchafe fruit in addition ‘to their bread. 
‘Their labour never furpafles their ftrength. 
At mid-day, they are called to dinner by 
the found of two French-horns ; their din- 
ner confifts of a kind of grits, boiled in 
water, and feafoned with fome old but- 
ter or oil. The portions are large; but 
the manner of cooking the mefs is nau- 
feous and difgufting. After dinner their 
labour recommences, and lafts till about 
fun-fet; when each flave again receives 
three coarfe loaves, and a few olives. 
Their clothes are furnifhed at the expence: 
of the Dey. After their daily labour is 
over, they are, for the moft part, fhut 
up in the bagnios. When the number of 
flaves is confiderable, thofe of a virtuous 
difpofition and who have formerly been 
accuftomed to better accommodations and 
Account of the Inhabitants of Algzers. 
Among the Oranites there’ 
— [July x, 
company, complain more of this nightly 
lodging, than of the fatigues of the day 5 
filth, corrupted air, and vermin in abun- 
dance, prevent the repofe fo neceffary to 
them. To which may be added jefts and 
difcourfe offenfive to chafte-ears, not to 
mention the abominable vices prevalent in- 
this country: the fociety of abandoned 
Oranites, in particular, proves extremely 
difagreeable to many unfortunate men of 
worth. ° 
The condition of the flaves of private 
perfons is, with very few exceptions, pre- 
ferable to that of thofe who belong to the 
tate, In the cities, they are employed as 
menial fervants; in the country, they cul- 
tivate the gardens and vineyards. Every 
thing depends upon their being able to 
gain the favour and confidence of their 
mafters. The amorous intrigues, of 
which fc many of the ranfomed flaves boaft, 
may in general be confidered as fictions. 
Many private perfons, efpecially Jews, 
and even the Dey and his minifters, hire 
out Chriftian flaves as fervants to the fiee 
Chriftians, on their giving good fecurity. 
Many of thefe flaves have then an oppor- 
tunity to accumulate fome money for 
themielves, in which cafe, they leave their 
matters, take taverns in the city, where 
they fell wine and fpirituous liquors, and 
often acquire confiderable property. 
Thofe who had been captured by the 
Algerine corfairs frequently regain their 
liberty by being ranfomed: but the Oran- 
ite deferters have little or no hopes of fuch 
good fortune, and generally remain id 
flavery to the end of their hives. Some- 
times however it happens, that a govern- 
ment, as, for inftance, the Frenchin 1784, 
ranfomed all their countrymen -without 
exception. The number of Chriftian flaves 
was formerly much more confiderable than 
in 1788. In 1785, though in the. pre- 
ceding year all the French had been ran- 
fomed, they were computed to amount to 
about. two thoufand. In 1786-7, five 
hundred Spaniards and Neapolitans were 
liberated ; and about feven hundred died 
of the plague: fo that not above 800 
Chriftian flaves were left at that time ; 
and the moft of thefe were deferters from 
Oran. ; 
We fhall conclude with a few obferva- 
tions relative to the rezegudoes. There 
are few of them@in this country ; and thefe 
may be divided into two clafles ; viz. Jews 
and Chriftians. With refpect to the Jews, 
many zealous Mahomedans are of opinion, 
that it would be better if they adopted the 
Chriftian religion previoufly to their be- 
coming profelytes to Mahometifm. OF 
the 
