promptitude of the people was commensurate with the evil! for wherever a corse was found, two men unbound their sashes, rolled them round the head and feet of the body, and hurried with it to the grave. However, they seemed to have left their knowledge at home: for though their indifference was astonishing, and their intrepidity most praiseworthy entering into the vilest and most forbidding places-handling the sick, the dy ing, and the dead-the nature of this disease completely baffled their exertions, and defied their skill:--

Spread through the isle its overwhelming gloom, And daily dug the nightly glutted tomb!

The casals or villages of Birchicarra, Zebbuge, and Carmi, suffered lamentably; the last most severely, on account of its moist situation. The work of death was familiar to all; and black covered vehicles, to which the number of victims made it necessary to have recourse, rendered the evil still more ghastly. In these vehicles the dead were huddled together

Men-women-babes-promiscuous, crowd the

scene,

Till morning chase their bearers from the green.

Large pits had been previously scooped out, and thither the dead were conveyed at night, and tumbled in from these vehicles, in the same manner as in this counry rubbish is thrown from carts. They fled the approach of morning, lest the frequency of their visits should fill the inhabitants with more alarming apprehensions. The silence of day was not less dreary than the dark parade of night. That silence was now and then broken by the dismal cry for the "Dead!" as the unhallowed bier passed along the streets, preceded and followed by guards. The miseries of disease contributed to bring on the horrors of famine! The island is very populous, and cannot support itself. Trade was at a stand-the bays were forsaken-and strangers, appearing off the harbour, on perceiving the yellow flag of quarantine, paused awhile, and raised our expectations only to depress our feelings more bitterly by their departure.

Sicily is the parent granary of Malta, but, though the Sicilians had provisions on board their boats ready to come over, on hearing of the plague, they absolutely refused to put to sea. The British Commodore in Syracuse was not to be trifled with in this manner, and left it to their choice, either to go to Malta, or to

the bottom of the deep. They preferred the former; but, on their arrival at home, neither solicitation nor threat could induce their return. In this forlorn state the Moors generously offered their services, and supplied the isle with pro visions, which were publicly distributed; but the extreme insolence and brutality of the creatures employed in that office very often tended to make the hungry loathe that food which, a moment before, they craved to eat.

In autumn, the plague unexpectedly declined, and business began partly to revive. But every face betrayed a misgiving lest it should return as formerly. People felt as sailors do on the sudden cesto the opposite point of the compass, only sation of a storm, when the wind changes to blow with redoubled fury. Their con jecture was but too well founded. The plague returned a third time, from a more melancholy cause than formerly: two men, who must have known themselves to be infected, sold bread in the streetscaught the infection. One of these scounthe poor starving inhabitants bought it, and drels fell a victim to the disease, the other fled; but his career was short-the quaran tine guard shot him in his endeavour to escape. This guard was composed of natives, who paraded the streets, having power to take up any person found abroad without a passport. The street of Pozzi was entirely depopulated, with the exception of one solitary girl, who remained about the house of her misery like one of those spirits that are supposed to haunt mortality in the stillness of the grave!

A thousand anecdotes might be related from what fell under my own observation, but they are all so touchingly sad, that I must omit them to spare the soft breast of sympathy.

Fancy may conjecture up a thousand horrors, but there is one scene which, when imagination keeps within the verge of probability, it will not be easy to sur pass. About three hundred of the convalescent were conveyed to a temporary lazaretto, or ruinous building, in the vicinity of Fort Angelo: thither some more were taken afterwards-but it was like touching gunpowder with lightning-infection spread from the last, and such a scene ensued "as even imagination fears to trace." The catastrophe of the blackhole at Calcutta bears no comparison to this: there it was suffocation-here, it was the blasting breath of pestilence!the living-the dying--and the dead, in one putrescent grave! Curses, prayers, and delirinin, mingled in one groan of

flowers are dried up by autumnal heat. The hills are covered with thyme and rosemary, which at once purify the atmosphere, and supply in many places the deficiencies of fuel. The traveller's sight is also continually regaled with extensive tracts thickly planted with roses of every hue, for the distillation of the famous essence or otto of roses so well known in Europe. This fine climate has at all times been highly favourable to the culture of sugar cane; that of Soliman being considered the largest and most prolific of any in the world. Indeed this plant is thought by many to be indigenous to Barbary, from whence, together with Sicily, it was originally supplied to the West India islands. But the most cele brated tree in Africa is the lotus, equally renowned by poets and naturalists.

The natives frequently amuse themselves by a curious kind of warfare, which is created by shutting up a scorpion and a rat together in a close cage, when a terrible contest ensues. I have seen this continue sometimes for above an hour: it generally ends by the death of the scorpion; but in a little time after the rat begins to swell, and, in violent convulsions, soon shares the fate of his vanquished enemy. It is also a favourite diversion with the Moors, to surround one of these reptiles with a circle of straw, to which fire is applied; after making several attempts to pass the flames, it turns on itself, and thus becomes its own executioner.

The most destructive part of the insect tribe, and whicfi is justly considered as the greatest scourge in Africa, remains to be noticed: this is the locust: it is much larger than the horse-fly of Italy; some have the wings marked with brown spots, while the body is of a bright yellow. They are dry and vigorous, like other insects inhabiting the desert. What is called the red skipper of this tribe, does by far the most injury to vegetation. They generally begin to appear early in May, spreading themselves over the plains and vallies to deposit their eggs; which, in another month, send forth the young, when they imme diately associate in prodigious numbers, often forming a compact phalanx, which covers several acres of ground. In this order they continue a direct course, and with amazing rapidity consume every particle of fruit, vegetables, and corn, that may lie in their way; thus destroying all the hopes of the husbandman and farmer. On these occasions the whole population of the district through which the insect army passes, is occupied in devising the best means of getting rid of such unprofitable visitors: for this purpose ditches are dug and filled with water; at other times, recourse is had to large bonfires, but all is to no purpose with these devastators, whose chiefs seem to direct them with the precision of regular troops, constantly stimulating them to the pas de charge, and from their unremitting

progress, appear as if they were continually repeating en avant.

Without ever stopping, or turning aside, they rush with impetuosity into the flames, until they are fairly extinguished by their numbers. They also fill the ditches: and when these obstacles are removed, the rear advance over their bodies,renderingit impossible for any part of those before to retreat, if ever so well inclined: they are thus left no alternative between death and victory: the living passing with perfect indifference over the suffocated bodies of their compa nions, the journey is pursued without any intermission.

Two or three days after the first pas sage, other bodies, equally large, and prompted by the same destructive intrepi dity, follow in their steps, devouring the bark and branches of those very trees which their predecessors had already stript of leaves and fruit. "For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt."-Exod. x. 15.

Having continued this predatory warfare for nearly a month, and laid waste the whole country, they reach their natural growth: this is the signal for their undergoing a partial metamorphosis, by changing their coat; an operation which is effected by fixing themselves on bushes or rocks, and it does not require more than ten minutes before they are enabled to appear in their new dress; lying for a short interval after this in a state of languor, the heat of the sun soon gives fresh vigour to their wings, by removing the humidity, and they are once more restored to their original activity. Taking a higher flight their numbers darken the air, while the sound of their wings is heard for several miles. The unchangeable steadiness with which this singular tribe act in concert during their irruption, seems to imply a regular direction, rather than its being the mere effect of instinct.

Whenever a country is condemned to the above terrible visitation, nothing can exceed the alarm created amongst the inhabitants, and with good reason, for woe to the dis trict over which they pass! All is destroyed in little more than the space of an hour: they do not suffer even a leaf or blade of grass to remain, destroying every appear ance of vegetation. During their short stay, they have all the inquietude and instability of hunger: wild as the country they inhabit, it is impossible for any one to get near them. Often, while following their dilatory course, they push on too far, and are precipitated into the sca; at other times, a sudden north wind destroys them by millions, when the country is immediately covered for many miles by their putrid bodies, which is frequently the

source of pestilential diseases. They have also upon more than one occasion, when highly favoured by the weather, found their way to the coast of France, Spain, and Italy.

If the Moors were less indolent, or less blinded by superstition, much might be done towards the total destruction of these voracious insects, when their eggs are first laid; but, in addition to their favourite doctrine of predestination, which accelerates many a serious calamity, the Arabs and negroes firmly believe in the existence of a bird, called the samarmog, which destroys the locust, as storks do serpents and other reptiles with this fabulous notion, the boys who happen to take up one in their hand, cry out samarmog, and on its trembling, or making any effort to escape, they immediately fancy it must be produced from hearing the name of their implacable enemy pronounced.

:

It is also related that the Arabs go to Korazan, the country of the samarmog, and bring a pitcher of water back to their own dwellings; it attracts the bird, who is thus induced to come and make war on the locust.

Whenever any district is attacked, as already observed, the whole population unite in every possible effort to dislodge the enemy but seeing the inutility of these efforts, they not only cease any longer to torment themselves at the disappointment, but very wisely endeavour to turn their misfortune into a source of some advantage; this is effected by beating the bushes and trees on which the locusts settle, and on their falling off, putting them into sacks prepared for the purpose; they are then boiled, and after being dried on the terrace, are considered as very good eating. I have tasted some that were fried in a pan, and broiled; they are by no means unpalatable, and something like sprats, though not very wholesome: the natives seem to swallow them with a particular zest. This insect, is, I believe, the acribes of the ancients; and, according to some historians, minis tered to the wants of the Anchorites in the Thebaid.

PRESENT STATE OF BARBARY.

(From the same.)

Having endeavoured to give an idea of the productions, soil, and climate, we now advert to the population of Barbary, which consists of Negroes, Turks, Moors, Bedouin Arabs, Chiloulis, Jews, and Christians. Towards the sea-shore the Moors are white, and of an olive tinge near Mount Atlas. In the cities, such as Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, they are born with an excessively fair complexion; this, by constant exposure to an ardent sun, becomes brown, though it is said, that in one of the remote valleys near the Atlas, a race of men, lineally deVOL. HI.-No. v.

50

scended from the Vandals, still exist with the blue eyes, light hair, and fair skins of their northern ancestors. Nearly all the blacks are in a state of unequivocal slavery. The barbarians are not only pirates on the water, but robbers on land. While the corsairs scour the sea, parties of licensed banditti are despatched towards the desert in pursuit of human beings: arriving undiscovered in the peaceful villages at night, they surprise and carry off the inoffensive inhabitants, who are quietly occupied in looking after their flocks and harvest. These depredators are seconded by the descendants of many Moorish families, who fled from Barbary during the reign of the Caliphs, and afterwards established themselves in Soudan and other countries of the interior. There is also a great number of slaves bought from the Shafrees, or Moorish dealers, and the Slatees, native merchants, who bring them in large droves to Vergela, in the country of the Beni Mezzaab. Besides those who die on the road from fatigue and ill usage, it is supposed that there are at least 12,000 annually sold in the different regencies. The march often exceeds a hundred days; and the survivors are exposed to sale in the bazars.

Judging of the negroes I saw in Barbary, they appeared to possess a natural gayety and steadiness of character, which formed a striking contrast to the gloomy taciturnity of the Moors. When in their own countries, dancing and singing is said to form their chief delight and greatest source of amusement; they never salute a booli, or head of a tribe, nor return thanks for any favours which may have been conferred on them, without adding a song in praise of their generous benefactor. All the African villages, undisturbed by war, resound with song; and, after sun-set, this great continent may be compared to one universal ball-room, without its superfluous ceremo nies. As these demonstrations of happiness generally take place at the same hour, and the nights are beautifully serene, the nearest villagers alternately reply to each other in the national song, while the more susceptible listen with eager curiosity to catch the voice of their ebon dulcinea. The black slaves in Algiers also dance occa sionally; but it is the dance of slavery, in which chains echo a terrible response to the music. Theirs is no longer the song of tenderness and peace; it is slow, monotonous, and sorrowful, the expression of deep and settled melancholy.

Of Jews, there is an immense number scattered all over the coast of Barbary. The city of Algiers contains about 8,000, most of whom have swerved considerably from the belief of their ancestors, following the Talmud and Kabbala, with the excep tion of those called free, who generally come from Leghorn to this place, and are allowed entire liberty in their movements. The unhappy sons of Israel, so badly treated

in other countries, can expect little indulgence from the barbarians.

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It is the business of Jews to execute all criminals, and afterwards bury their bodies. They are also employed to carry the Moors on their shoulders, when disembarking in shoal water. They feed the animals of the seraglio, and are incessantly exposed to the scoffings and derisions of the young Moors, without the possibility of resenting it. Frequently beaten by their per secutors, if they lift a hand in their own defence, agreeably to the lex talionis of the Moors, it is taken off. But that which is still more irksome, is the never ending contributions levied on them: the weekly sum of 2000 dollars is exacted as a general tax upon the whole tribe, besides various other Individual assessments, particularly whenever any Moorish festival takes place. The Turks insist on borrowing money even by force; and, contrary to the European maxim, it is not he who forgets to pay that is incarcerated, but the man who refuses to lend!

A Jew cannot leave the regency without giving security to a large amount for his return. If any of the sect become bank rupts, and there happens to be a Turkish creditor, he is almost invariably accused of fraudulency, and hung.

The number of renegades at Algiers is by no means great, nor are they much favoured. The slaves who embrace Mahommedanism are not consequently emancipated, but their labours are less severe, and their liberty greater. The Jew desirous of embracing Islamism must first become a Christian, in order, as the Moors say, to follow the course of different religions, and finally pass through those gradations which lead to perfection. Of the Turks who domineer over this wretched country, it is stated,

This lawless force is kept up by sending ships and commissaries to the Levant annually to procure new recruits, in order to fill up those vacancies occasioned by war, death, or punishments. These are collected from the very lowest dregs of the people in Smyrna and Constantinople, nor are the vilest malefactors rejected. The Barbary recruits are looked upon with so much contempt, that even the women refuse to accompany them in their new calling.

No sooner, however, are they landed in Algiers, and formed into an insolent and domineering militia, than a high air of importance is put on, and, giving themselves the title of Effendis, they possess all the arrogance and pride which generally belong to the upstart favourites of fortune. Notwithstanding their vanity, they are by no means ashamed of their base origin; on the contrary, they seem to feel a peculiar pleasure in publishing from what low degrees they have been enabled to arrive at the highest offices. A Dey, while disput

ing with one of the European consuls, once said, "My father salted tongues at Pera, and my mother sold them in Constantinople; but I never knew a worse tongue than yours." Although the militia seldom exceed ten or twelve thousand, they are ena bled to keep five millions of people in fear and subjection, by all of whom they are naturally held in the greatest abhorrence, notwithstanding the hard necessity of obeying such monsters.

The distrustful policy of the Algerine government takes all possible care to prevent too close a union between the Turkish soldiery and Moorish population, so as to render them at once the instruments and accomplices of its tyranny; consequently intermarriage with the Moorish women is not encouraged. It was not long since that a rich Moor, Sy Di Cador, lost his head for having given his daughter in marriage to an Aga.

But the empire of love is the most powerful of all, so that many Turks, influenced by the ardour of passion, unite themselves to natives, and they are generally preferred by the parents, who are thus enabled to anticipate support in the hour of revolution. Weakness looks to power for protection, and beauty likes to become the reward of valour. The children who spring from these marriages may in some measure be compared to the Creoles of the West-Indies, and are called Chiloulis. At Tunis they become soldiers, and receive pay almost as soon as they are able to walk; but in Algiers they are not enrolled until a more advanced age. Viewed with great jealousy by the Turks, the Chiloulis seldom rise to situations of trust or dignity. Many are employed as accountants and agents in mercantile houses, in which situstion their intelligence and fidelity have become almost proverbial. Although partaking of Turk and Moor, they are decidedly most attached to the latter. Numerous, strong and united, many think that in the future revolutions of this place, a Chilouli will reign, as Petion, or Christophe, at St. Domingo.

The Berberi, or Berrebres, are the indigenous people of Barbary, to which they have given this name. They are the descendants of the Carthaginians, Getuli, and Libyans, mixed with the Saracen invaders who entered Africa under the inhuman Kaled el Valid, surnamed the Sword of God. They inhabit the whole chain of the Atlas, near the Isthmus of Suez, and are the same race as the Berebras, a people of Upper Egypt, as also the Guanches of the Canary Islands, speaking nearly the same language. They are of a very athletic form, and extremely brave; and are also remarkable for fine teeth and eyes, the pupils of which are generally of a bright brown, not unlike the gloss of antique bronze. Neither fat nor very fleshy, they are chiefly formed of nerve and muscle. Although wrinkled