CHAPTER V.

FOOTNOTES:[40]There is in the middle of the town a mattamora, or dungeon, where they used to confine their Christian captives taken by the corsairs.[41]In distinction from El Bahaira, which implies a kitchen garden.[42]It is well known that the vessels formerly fitted out by the town of Salée, for the purpose of capturing the defenceless merchant ships of Europe, were navigated by desperate banditti.[43]One of the entrances of the town.[44]The Count was nephew to the Duke de Crillon, and had been confined in France during the reign of Robespierre, but had effected his escape; the rigour of his confinement, however, brought on a disorder which carried him off.[45]Subterraneous vaults, or holes made in the form of a cone, where corn is deposited, and these being closed at the opening, it will keep thirty years or more.[46]Formerly called Anafa, probably from the quantity of anise-seed grown in the neighbourhood,anafabeing the Arabic word for anise-seed.[47]These mountains are said to abound in iron, as the name expresses; they are covered with bole armoniac or red bole.[48]Saweera being derived from Tasaweera, which, in the African Arabic, signifies a drawing or painting.[49]A cargo of corn free of duty, was given by the Emperor to the person who presented him with this gun.[50]When Commodore Crosby, in his Majesty’s ship Trusty, accompanied by three small frigates, came down to Mogodor, he anchored off the Long Battery, at about a mile and a half distant; at this time the town was so little prepared for defence, that the guns were not mounted, and when they began to do this, they were half an hour in mounting one! It was understood that the Commodore’s orders were indefinite; he was to act according to circumstances; but the Governor was apprised by the Emperor of the probability of a visit from the English, and had received orders at the same time to treat them in a friendly manner; cattle and other provisions were accordingly sent off to the ships, and all hostile operations were thus prevented; the Commodore departed on the third day after his arrival; and the two nations continued on friendly terms with each other.[51]In all Mohammedan countries in Africa, the gates of the town are shut on the Friday during prayers, on account of an ancient superstitious tradition among the people, that their country will be attacked by the Christians, and taken from them by surprise, at that time.[52]The Bashaw Billa.[53]I have seen the fishermen draw more fish at one haul of the net, than a boat could carry. After depositing the first boat-load, they have gone back to load the remainder left on the beach.[54]See theMap of West Barbary.[55]SeeChapter XII.[56]It appears from the testimony of the Moors as well as the Berebbers, that Marocco is a more ancient town than Fas: we have not, however, any written account of it previous to the 424th year of the Hejira.[57]This cement is called Tabia by the Moors. Livy tell us that the walls of Saguntum were built with mortar made of earth.[58]The Emperor, Seedy Mohammed, who died in 1790, after reigning thirty-three years, shewed a great predilection for the city of Marocco, and caused several regular pavilions to be built by Europeans in the midst of the palace gardens; these are of hewn stone, and finished in a plain substantial style. There are many private gardens in the city, containing the most delicious fruits, and having pavilions decorated much in the style of those above described, which form a curious contrast with the real, or apparent wretchedness of the surrounding buildings.[59]This is the man to whom Rhazes, the Arabian physician, dedicated his book de Variolis et Morbillis.[60]Seepage 38.[61]It appears, however, that they have been taken down, and afterwards replaced, or others substituted.[62]See underZoology.[63]See underZoology.Though not now worshipped, the serpent was probably one of the deities previous to the introduction of Mohammedanism.[64]An Arabic title implying commander of the faithful.[65]The year of the Mohammedans is lunar. The Hejira began in July 622 A.C.[66]He built a town for the same purpose in the plains of M’sharrah Rumellah, and in other places, all which are now in ruins.[67]This prince fled from Medina in Arabia, to avoid the persecution of the Khalif Abd Allah, and retiring into Africa, penetrated to the west of the Atlas, where, being struck with the beauty of the adjoining plains, he founded the city of Fas, having previously propagated the religion of the Arabian prophet at the place now called the Sanctuary of Muley Dris Zerone, in the Atlas mountains, west of the city of Mequinas.[68]There are many other kinds of marble in this country, similar to what is found in different parts of Italy, and the rest of Europe.[69]Most of the principal inhabitants have baths in their own houses.

FOOTNOTES:

[40]There is in the middle of the town a mattamora, or dungeon, where they used to confine their Christian captives taken by the corsairs.

[41]In distinction from El Bahaira, which implies a kitchen garden.

[42]It is well known that the vessels formerly fitted out by the town of Salée, for the purpose of capturing the defenceless merchant ships of Europe, were navigated by desperate banditti.

[43]One of the entrances of the town.

[44]The Count was nephew to the Duke de Crillon, and had been confined in France during the reign of Robespierre, but had effected his escape; the rigour of his confinement, however, brought on a disorder which carried him off.

[45]Subterraneous vaults, or holes made in the form of a cone, where corn is deposited, and these being closed at the opening, it will keep thirty years or more.

[46]Formerly called Anafa, probably from the quantity of anise-seed grown in the neighbourhood,anafabeing the Arabic word for anise-seed.

[47]These mountains are said to abound in iron, as the name expresses; they are covered with bole armoniac or red bole.

[48]Saweera being derived from Tasaweera, which, in the African Arabic, signifies a drawing or painting.

[49]A cargo of corn free of duty, was given by the Emperor to the person who presented him with this gun.

[50]When Commodore Crosby, in his Majesty’s ship Trusty, accompanied by three small frigates, came down to Mogodor, he anchored off the Long Battery, at about a mile and a half distant; at this time the town was so little prepared for defence, that the guns were not mounted, and when they began to do this, they were half an hour in mounting one! It was understood that the Commodore’s orders were indefinite; he was to act according to circumstances; but the Governor was apprised by the Emperor of the probability of a visit from the English, and had received orders at the same time to treat them in a friendly manner; cattle and other provisions were accordingly sent off to the ships, and all hostile operations were thus prevented; the Commodore departed on the third day after his arrival; and the two nations continued on friendly terms with each other.

[51]In all Mohammedan countries in Africa, the gates of the town are shut on the Friday during prayers, on account of an ancient superstitious tradition among the people, that their country will be attacked by the Christians, and taken from them by surprise, at that time.

[52]The Bashaw Billa.

[53]I have seen the fishermen draw more fish at one haul of the net, than a boat could carry. After depositing the first boat-load, they have gone back to load the remainder left on the beach.

[54]See theMap of West Barbary.

[55]SeeChapter XII.

[56]It appears from the testimony of the Moors as well as the Berebbers, that Marocco is a more ancient town than Fas: we have not, however, any written account of it previous to the 424th year of the Hejira.

[57]This cement is called Tabia by the Moors. Livy tell us that the walls of Saguntum were built with mortar made of earth.

[58]The Emperor, Seedy Mohammed, who died in 1790, after reigning thirty-three years, shewed a great predilection for the city of Marocco, and caused several regular pavilions to be built by Europeans in the midst of the palace gardens; these are of hewn stone, and finished in a plain substantial style. There are many private gardens in the city, containing the most delicious fruits, and having pavilions decorated much in the style of those above described, which form a curious contrast with the real, or apparent wretchedness of the surrounding buildings.

[59]This is the man to whom Rhazes, the Arabian physician, dedicated his book de Variolis et Morbillis.

[60]Seepage 38.

[61]It appears, however, that they have been taken down, and afterwards replaced, or others substituted.

[62]See underZoology.

[63]See underZoology.Though not now worshipped, the serpent was probably one of the deities previous to the introduction of Mohammedanism.

[64]An Arabic title implying commander of the faithful.

[65]The year of the Mohammedans is lunar. The Hejira began in July 622 A.C.

[66]He built a town for the same purpose in the plains of M’sharrah Rumellah, and in other places, all which are now in ruins.

[67]This prince fled from Medina in Arabia, to avoid the persecution of the Khalif Abd Allah, and retiring into Africa, penetrated to the west of the Atlas, where, being struck with the beauty of the adjoining plains, he founded the city of Fas, having previously propagated the religion of the Arabian prophet at the place now called the Sanctuary of Muley Dris Zerone, in the Atlas mountains, west of the city of Mequinas.

[68]There are many other kinds of marble in this country, similar to what is found in different parts of Italy, and the rest of Europe.

[69]Most of the principal inhabitants have baths in their own houses.

Zoology.

Thehorses of West Barbary, though small, are renowned for fleetness and activity; the breed, however, has been much neglected, except in Abda, and about Marocco, at a place called Ain Toga; these horses have stronger sinews than those of Europe, and after a little training are peculiarly docile. The stallions only are rode, the mares being kept for breeding, except among the Shelluhs, who use them for riding. Geldings are unknown in Mohammedan countries; a Mooselmin will neither castrate, nor sell the skin of the beast of the Prophet.

The Arab is particularly attached to the horse: he rises with the sun, visits him, and laying his right hand on the horse’s face, he ejaculates the words (Bissim illah) In the name of God; he then kisses his hand, which is supposed to have received a benediction from the touch of the favourite animal of their Prophet Mohammed; he then has the place where the horse stands swept clean, some dry sand spread, and an arm full of straw trodden small by oxen, placed before him at such a distance, that he can by stretching out his neck just reach it (for the horse being picqueted, and fastened by ropes round the fetlock, cannot move from his place): this is done to lengthen the neck, and to strengthen the fore-hand by exertion; the length of neck is considered as a great perfection, so that when the Arabian jockies purchase a horse, they measure from the top of the shoulder to the tip of hisnose; and then from the top of the shoulder, to the end of the fleshy part of the tail; if the length of the former exceed that of the latter, it is the criterion of a good horse; but if the latter half exceed the front half in length, the horse is considered of an inferior kind. Such a predilection have Mohammedans for ablution, that the best horses are sprinkled with water every morning on the chest, loins, and sexual parts; this, as they pretend, improves the strength of the animal, and promotes his health; at noon only he is watered; then he has a little more straw, and remains afterwards fasting till sun-set, when they feed him with a bag of barley, attached to his head like our hackney-coach horses: they reprobate Christians for feeding their horses in a manger, and observe, that when a horse is used to a manger, he will not eat out of a bag, and as mangers are not to be found in this country in travelling, the plausibility of preferring the bag is evident: they do not suffer him to eat any straw after the feed of barley, alleging, that it would destroy the good effect of the latter.

The Arabs are expert farriers; their horses are generally healthy, but are subject to jaundice, which they cure by drawing the skin from the flesh at certain places with a pair of pinchers, and then piercing it with a hot iron like an awl. They turn them out to grass every spring during forty days, after which they physic them thus: they give them a pound of old butter, called budra,[70]which they mix with two ounces ofpepper; they give this to the horse in a fluid state, that it may be the more easily swallowed; they then let him remain the whole day fasting, giving him in the evening only half of his accustomed quantity of barley; they next keep them without riding seven days: this process is said to secure the horse against disorders, and quickly takes off the prominent belly common after grass, disposing the flesh to the flanks.

To the various colours of horses they attach various properties; they assert, that a dark-coloured or black horse is in his fullest vigour towards dark, or night; that the powers of a chesnut horse come with the rising sun, and he is not so fleet in the evening; to a white horse they attribute vigilance; and of a gray they signify the soundness of their feet, by an Arabian adage,[71]which indicates that if a cavalcade be passing through a stony country, the gray horses will break the stones with their feet; this opinion appears founded on experience, for in the Atlas mountains, in some parts of Suse, and in all harsh stony districts, we find a much greater proportion of gray horses than of any other colour; their feet are so hardy, that I have known them to travel two days journey through the stony defiles of Atlas without shoes, over roads full of loose broken stones, and basaltic rocks.

Besides horses, mules and asses abound every where in Barbary, also camels, and horned cattle. In the Atlas, and in the forests near Mequinas, there are lions, panthers, wild hogs, hyænas, apes, jackals, foxes, hares, serpents, lizards, camelions, &c.

The birds are, ostriches, pelicans, eagles, flamingoes, storks, herons, bustards, wild geese, wood pigeons, pigeons, turtle-doves,ring-doves, partridges, red ducks, wild ducks, plovers, tibibs,[72]larks, nightingales, black birds, starlings, and various others.

The same varieties of fish that are found in the Mediterranean are taken on the shores of West Barbary; mullet, red and gray, brim, anchovies, sardines, herrings, mackarel, rock cod, skaite, soles, plaice, turbot, turtles, besides fish peculiar to the coast, called by the Shelluhs, Azalimzi, Tasargalt, and Irgal, which are very abundant, particularly in the bay of Agadeer, and on the coast of Wedinoon; they are prepared in the ovens of Aguram, a town at the foot of the mountain whereon Agadeer stands, for the purpose of being conveyed to the interior, to Bled el-jerrêde, and Sahara; these fish form a considerable article of commerce, and are much esteemed in Bled-el-jerrêde.

As there is no country in the world so little explored as Africa, nor any that produces such a variety of animals, a few observations on some of the most remarkable may not be uninteresting.

The Thaleb.—The animal called thaleb[73]is the red fox; it emits the same strong scent as the fox of Europe, and is found in all parts of the country; but is far from being so common as the deeb, which some have compared to the jackal, others to the brown fox. It is certain, that the deeb emits no offensivesmell; it is a very cunning animal, and its name is applied metaphorically to signify craft, which it possesses in a greater degree than any other animal; this circumstance alone seems to ally it to the fox species. It is very fond of poultry; and at night, a little after dark, the still air of the country is pierced with its cries, which alternately resemble those of children, and that of the fox. They assemble in numbers, and abound throughout the country, particularly in the environs of plantations of melons and other vinous plants. Some of these deebs have longer hair than others, and their skins are particularly soft and handsome. The provinces of Shedma, Haha, and Suse abound with this animal: the Arabs hunt it, and bring the skins for sale to the Mogodor market.

The (Dubbah) Hyæna.—The Dubbah, a term which designates the hyæna among the Arabs, is an animal of a ferocious countenance; but in its disposition, more stupid than fierce; it is found in all the mountains of Barbary, and wherever rocks and caverns are seen; this extraordinary animal has the opposite quality of the deeb,[74]having a vague and stupid stare, insomuch that a heavy dull person is designated by the term dubbah.[75]The flesh of this animal is not eaten, except in cases of extreme hunger: those, however, who have tasted it assert, that it causes stupefaction for a certain time; hence, when aperson displays extraordinary stupidity, the Arabs say (kulu ras Dubbah), he has eaten the head of a hyæna.

The mode of hunting this animal is singular; a party of ten or twelve persons, accompanied with as many dogs of various kinds, go to the cavern which they have previously ascertained to be the haunt of the hyæna; one of the party then strips himself, and taking the end of a rope with a noose to it in one hand, he advances gradually into the cave, speaking gently, and in an insinuating tone of voice, pretending to fascinate the hyæna by words; when he reaches the animal, he strokes him down the back, which appears to soothe him; he then dexterously slips the noose round his neck, and instantly pulling the rope to indicate to those on the outside of the cave, who hold the other end, that it is fixed, he retires behind, throwing a handkerchief or cloth over the eyes of the hyæna; the men then pull the rope from without, whilst he who fixes the noose urges the animal forward, when the dogs attack him. Some of the Shelluhs are very expert at securing the hyæna in this manner, and although there may be some danger in case the rope breaks, yet the man who enters the cave always carries a dagger, or large knife with him, with which he has considerably the advantage, for this animal is by no means so ferocious as he appears to be: in the southern Atlas I have seen them led about by the boys; a rope being fastened round the animal’s neck, and a communicating rope attached to it on either side, three or four yards long, the end of each being held by a boy, keep him perfectly secure. It is confinement that is inimical to a hyæna,[76]and which increases his ferocity. There are othermodes of hunting this stupid animal, either in the night with dogs, or by shooting him; but he never comes out of his cave in the day-time, but sits at the further end of it, staring with his eyes fixed. Their general character is not to be afraid of man, nor indeed to attack or avoid him; they will, however, attack and destroy sheep, goats, poultry, asses, and mules, and are very fond of the intoxicating herb called Hashisha.[77]The hyæna is said to live to a great age.

The dubbah and the deeb resemble each other in their propensity to devour dead bodies; so that whilst the plague ravaged West Barbary in 1799 and 1800, these animals were constant visitors of the cemeteries. The drawing of the hyæna in the fifth volume of the work just quoted is very correct.

The Gazel(antelope).—The gazel is that pretty light and elegant animal, swift as the wind, timid as a virgin, with a soft, beautiful, large, and prominent black eye, which seems to interest you in its favour. In its general appearance, the gazel resembles our deer; it is however much smaller, and has straight black horns, curving a little backwards. The eye and figure of the gazel, so well known to all Arabian poets, are emblematical of beauty, and the greatest compliment that can be paid to a beautiful women, is to compare her eyes to those of the gazel.[78]Much art is employed by the Arabian females tomake their eyes appear like those of this delicate animal. Eyes originally black and lively, are made to appear larger and more languishing by tinging the outer corner withEl kahol Filelly, a preparation of lead ore procured from Tafilelt, which gives an apparent elongation to the eye. The eye-lashes and eye-brows being also blackened with this composition, they appear peculiarly soft and languishing; it is said also to improve and strengthen the sight. Every one who has accurately observed the eye of the African gazel will acquiesce in the aptness of the simile before alluded to. The wordangel, so often employed by our poets to designate a beautiful female, is, with the Arabs, transformed to gazel: thus the Arabian sonnet;

ڧل الغزالِ راكَخليتني نرجاكَكيڢ اَلما مُل معاكاش حليتيِ و اش عماليِرڢڧي بالي يهواكيا تاَج اَلريام غزالِ

ڧل الغزالِ راكَ

خليتني نرجاكَ

كيڢ اَلما مُل معاك

اش حليتيِ و اش عماليِ

رڢڧي بالي يهواك

يا تاَج اَلريام غزالِ

Kul elgazellirâkKulitini nerjakKif el m’ amul makAsh heliti wa ash amelliRafki billi ihuakIa taj miriammegazelli,

Kul elgazellirâk

Kulitini nerjak

Kif el m’ amul mak

Ash heliti wa ash amelli

Rafki billi ihuak

Ia taj miriammegazelli,

Say, thouAntelopein beauty,Since permitted to return,Say, what is a lover’s duty,Who with ardent fire doth burn.Sympathize with him who loves you,Crown of all my hopes and joys,’Tis your constant swain approves you,HisGazelall his soul employs.

Say, thouAntelopein beauty,

Since permitted to return,

Say, what is a lover’s duty,

Who with ardent fire doth burn.

Sympathize with him who loves you,

Crown of all my hopes and joys,

’Tis your constant swain approves you,

HisGazelall his soul employs.

Great numbers of gazels are found in all those extensive plains situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains; in those of Fruga, south of Marocco, after descending the Atlas, I have seen a hundred together; they also abound in the plains of Sheshawa near Anek Jimmel. Wild as the hare, and more fleet than the Barbary courser, they are seen bounding over the plains in large numbers. The antelope, however, soon fatigues, so that the horses of the Arabs gain on it, and the dogs are enabled finally to come up with it; it is hunted rather for the meat, which is similar to venison, than for actual sport, the Arabs having little desire to hunt merely for amusement. They kill and cut the throats of as many animals as they can procure. They often hunt the gazel with the (slogie) African greyhound, a peculiarly fine breed of which is produced in the province of Suse. The Arabs and Moors whilst hunting the antelope, often throw (zerwâta) thick sticks about two feet long at their legs, to break them, and thereby incapacitate them from running: a cruel device, at which the natural predilection for this delicate and beautiful animal recoils.

El Horreh.—This, as its name implies,[79]is reckoned among the Arabs the prince of animals, and the emblem of cleanliness. It is an inhabitant of Sahara and its confines, and is not found north of the river Suse. It is somewhat similar to the gazel in its form and size; the colour of its back and head is of a light red, inclining to that of a fawn; the belly is of a beautiful and delicate white, insomuch that its brilliancy affects the eyes in a similar manner to the sensation produced in them by looking stedfastly at fine scarlet.

This animal, according to the tradition of the Arabs, never lies down, lest it should deface the colour of its belly, of the beauty of which it appears to be conscious. The stone called in Europe bizoar stone,[80]is produced by the horreh, but whether it be a concretion formed in its stomach, or an egg, or the testicle, is probably not accurately ascertained. The Bide el horreh, or egg of the horreh, signifies also the testicle of the animal, and I am inclined to think it is either the testicle, or a peculiar concretion formed in its stomach, all those which I have seen being nearly of the same size and form, similar to a pigeon’s egg. This stone is scraped and taken as an antidote against poison. Some whimsical people carry it about with them, taking it frequently in tea.

From this rare and beautiful animal’s being an emblem of purity, its skin (Jild el Horreh) is held in great estimation by the Bashaws, and men of rank, who prefer it to every other substance, to prostrate themselves upon at prayers. TheBashaws generally have an attendant with them, who carries this skin, which is cured or prepared with allum and tizra,[81]and assumes a white colour when it comes from the tanners.

The Aoudad.—This animal is to be found only in the very steep and inaccessible cliffs, and in the woods and forests of the mountains of Atlas, south of Marocco and in Lower Suse, except when it descends to the rivers to drink. It throws itself from lofty precipices into the plains below, alighting generally on its horns or shoulders.

None of them have ever been caught in a state to allow of their being kept alive, being so very wild that it is not possible to approach them without great danger. In size and colour the Aoudad is similar to a calf; it has a beautiful long mane or beard, growing from the lower part of the neck; its teeth are very strong, and indicative of its longevity; the horns are about twelve inches in length, curved, of a dark colour, and are used for various purposes.

The only two skins of this animal which ever came to Europe, I had the honour of sending to the Right Honourable President of the Royal Society;[82]the horns and teeth were with one of them, which I had much difficulty in procuring from a Shelluh merchant, who having inadvertently observed to some of his friends the interest I took in procuring it, the jealousy of the Moors was raised, and they conceiving it to be some rich treasure, the officers of the Custom-house obliged me to pay an enormous duty for it. No other skin of this hitherto undescribed animal has been brought to Europe since; nor do I apprehend we shall know more respecting the animal itself, whilst the present imperfect knowledge of Africa continues. Emissaries,whether commercial or philosophical, to that country, should furnish themselves with a general and practical knowledge of the Arabic language, without which little progress can be expected in its discovery.

The Wild Boar.—This animal, the hunting of which affords so much sport, is by the Arabs called El Kunjar, or El Helloof; they abound in the Shelluh province of Haha, and in Suse, where they are called Amuren; they are so plentiful about Agadeer, that it is not unusual to catch two or three before mid-day; one day we saw seven. They will sometimes run by a group of men without appearing at all alarmed; an instance of which happened once, as I remember, near Agadeer, where at a pic-nic party under some high trees, some Europeans who were present were not a little alarmed at seeing two wild hogs pass close by them; but they never attack a person unless wounded by him. In hunting this animal, whose strength is proverbial, the dogs should be good, and strong enough to keep him at bay; for if he be fired at and wounded by a man on foot, he will immediately make up to him, if he discovers from whence the wound was inflicted; but in the mean time he is either attacked by the dogs, diverted from his object by a stratagem, or brought down by some other shot. A boar will sometimes rip open the dogs as well as the horses with their tusks; but this rarely happens when the hunt is well appointed: a strong dog of the greyhound breed is the best and most effectual in securing this ferocious animal. The (slogies) greyhounds of Suse, of the third breed, always attack the boar on the nape of the neck, and never quit their hold.

The Nïmmer.—The word Nimmer may be translated Leopard; it is spotted rather than striped, and in size resembles the royaltiger of Asia. The strength and agility of this animal is wonderful; I have seen one receive nine balls, before he fell. When the Nimmer is known to be in any particular district, deep holes are made in the ground, and covered lightly over, on which if he happen to tread, the ground sinks, and he falls in. The sides of the hole being formed like an inverted cone, the animal cannot get out, though he will make many efforts to regain his liberty; in the mean time the hunters come up and shoot him. At other places where he is supposed likely to pass, they build up a wall, and cover it over, making a hole or two sufficiently large to admit a musket-barrel, and here the patient Shelluh will wait whole days for his enemy, living all the time on (Hassowa) barley-meal mixed with water. After building a few of these walls enclosed like rooms, several Shelluhs will go in quest of the Nimmer, each taking his station either in these buildings, or in some lofty tree, and waiting a favourable opportunity to get a shot at him. The Arabs say that this ferocious animal, after he has seized his prey, if he be not impelled by hunger, will leave it for a few days, and afterwards return to the spot and devour the carcase, even if it be putrid.

The Lionis too well known to need a particular description in this place: he is hunted by the Africans in the same manner as the Nimmer; but they do not consider the chase to be so dangerous: the lion is not so active, nor does he climb as the Nimmer does. The Arabs say that if a person unarmed meet the Nimmer, he is sure of being destroyed; but that if, on the sight of a lion, he let his garments drop off, and stand before him undaunted, seeming to defy him, the lion will turn round and quietly walk off. Few people would be inclined to try the experiment for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of thisassertion. In the forests near the city of Mequinas the lions are very fierce, and have frequently been known so to infest the roads, as to render it impracticable for the caravans to pass. They are seen also at the foot of the Atlas, where the country is well wooded. The flesh, when eaten, is said, by the Arabs, to inspire courage.

The Bear.—Various conjectures have been formed respecting this animal’s being a native of Africa: from the concurrent testimony of the inhabitants, I am of opinion that it does not exist in West Barbary; it may, however, have been seen (as I have heard it has) in the upper regions of Atlas, which are covered with snow during the whole year. The name given by the Arabs to this animal isDubb.[83]

The Sibsib.—This animal appears to be of an intermediate species between the rat and the squirrel; it is somewhat similar to the ichneumon in form, but not half its size; it inhabits the Atlas, and lives in holes among the stones and caverns of the mountains; it has brown hair, and a beautiful tail (resembling that of the squirrel) about the length of its body. The Shelluhs and Arabs eat this animal, and consider it a delicacy: and it is the only one the Mohammedans torment before death; this is done by taking hold of its fore and hind legs, and rubbing its back on a stone or flat surface for a few minutes, which causes the animal to scream out; they then cut its throat according to the Mohammedan custom. Seeing some Shelluhs in South Atlas performing this operation, and asking their motives for it, they informed me that the rubbing made the flesh eat tender; that intaste it resembled a rabbit, but that without the friction it was not palatable. Being a subterraneous animal, it is prohibited food; but the eating of any forbidden thing becomes lawful to the Mohammedan, by ascribing to it some medicinal property; it is then denominated (Dûah) medicine, and not food: by this evasion, wine is drank by many who are not rigorous Mooselmin.

I never saw the Sibsib north of the province of Suse, but it abounds in the mountains of that district. Its motions are so excessively quick, that it is extremely difficult to shoot it.

Wild Cat.—El Cat el berranie is the Arabic name for this animal; it is much larger than the domestic cat, but similar in form; the back, neck, and forepart of the legs are of a dirty gray, inclining to brown; the belly is of a dirty white, spotted with brown; and the tail is long and handsome. The wild cat is so fierce, that when pressed with hunger it will sometimes attack a man.

The Ape.—This animal, which appears to form the intermediate link between the human species and the brute, is found of a very large size in North Atlas, and also about Ceuta.[84]There are various species of the ape; some are called by the Arabs D’Zatute, others El Kurd; the Berebbers, or Africans, call them Tongemon, or Babuin, and affirm that the (Hel Shouel) tailed men of Sahara, are a production from these animals with the human species. They live upon fruits, grass, and corn, and are often seen in great numbers in the fields, having a centinel to keep watch on some eminence; and when any person appears he gives the alarm, and they all run off together to the woods, climbing the trees. The females will jump from onebranch to another with their young on their shoulders; they are very subtle and vindictive, though easily appeased.

The Rhinoceros.—Reem is the Arabic name of the Rhinoceros. Various and contradictory have been the accounts both of the ancients and moderns respecting the beast with one horn, called the Unicorn, which is probably no other than the young Rhinoceros, which is said, by the Arabs, to have but one horn, till of a certain age, when a second appears, and some affirm that a third appears when the animal grows old. The horn of the Reem is called Kirkadune by the Arabs, and figuratively, gurn min gurn, i.e. horn of horns, being extremely hard and fine-grained, and receiving a high polish; it is sold at a most enormous price, and is used for the hilts of swords. With regard to the animal called by our heralds the unicorn, and represented in armorial bearings, I doubt if ever such an animal existed; the Reem[85]is called also Huaddee, which signifies the beast of one horn, Aouda signifies a mare, hence, perhaps, by an easy corruption of names, the Aouda has been mistaken for Huaddee, and the figure of a horse with a horn has been adopted as the figure of theReemin our heraldic supporters; for I have frequently conversed with men who had been twenty years in the different countries of the interior of Africa, but never could learn that a beast with one horn existed in figure resembling a horse.[86]The Reem is also figurativelydenominatedboh gern el harsh, i.e. the father of the hard horn.

Jumars.—The reputed offspring of the ass and the bull, or cow, is an animal whose existence is still doubted; I have never, in any of my travels, seen such a one; but I was once informed by Sid Mohammed E——m, that such a beast was sometimes seen in Bled-el-jerrêde; he had not, however, seen it himself. Dr. Shaw has described one that he saw in Barbary; notwithstanding which, the Count de Buffon disputes its existence.

These observations on the more remarkablewildanimals may serve as a clue to future travellers; their names in the language of the country being accurately given, it will not be difficult to procure some of the natives to direct where to find them, by which means their respective species may be ascertained by those who may be desirous of elucidating natural history. I shall now mention the most particulardomesticquadrupeds, or such as are subservient to the use of man.

El Heirie, orErragual.—Nature, ever provident, and seeing the difficulty of communication, from the immense tracts of desert country in Sahara, has afforded the Saharawans a means, upon any emergency, of crossing the great African desert in a few days; mounted upon the (Heirie) desert camel (which is in figure similar to the camel of burden, but more elegantly formed), the Arab, with his loins, breast, and ears bound round, to prevent the percussion of air proceeding from a quick motion rapidly traverses, upon the back of this abstemious animal, the scorching desert, the fiery atmosphere of which parches, and impedes respiration so as almost to produce suffocation. The motion of the heirie is violent, and can be endured only bythose patient, abstemious, and hardy Arabs who are accustomed to it.[87]The most inferior kind of heirie are called Talatayee, a term expressive of their going the distance of three days journey in one: the next kind is called Sebayee, a term appropriated to that which goes seven days journey in one, and this is the general character; there is also one called Tasayee, or the heirie of nine days; these are extremely rare. The Arabs affirm that the Sebayee does not always produce another Sebayee, but sometimes a Talatayee, and sometimes a Tasayee; and that its class is ascertained by the period which elapses before the young one takes the teat of the mother; thus, if it be three days, it is considered to be a Talatayee, if seven days, a Sebayee, and if nine days, it proves to be a Heirie of nine days journey. If it prove a Tasayee, there are great rejoicings, it being an accession of wealth to the proprietor, as a Tasayee is bartered for two hundred camels; the Sebayee for one hundred, and the Talatayee for thirty, or thereabout.

This valuable and useful animal has a ring put through its upper lip, to which is fixed a leathern strap which answers the purposes of a bridle; the saddle is similar to that used by the Moors, or what the mountaineers of Andalusia use. With a goat skin or (a bakull) a porous earthen pitcher filled with water, a few dates, and some ground barley,[88]the Arabtravels from Timbuctoo to Tafilelt, feeding his heirie but once, at an oasis in the desert, for these camels, on an emergency, will abstain from drinking and from food seven days or more.

A journey of thirty-five days caravan travelling will be performed by a Sebayee in five days; they go from Timbuctoo to Tafilelt in seven days. One of these animals once came from Fort St. Joseph, on the Senegal river, to the house of Messrs. Cabane and Depras, French merchants at Mogodor, in seven days.

In the great desert of Africa, where cultivation is so rare that one may travel several days on an ordinary camel with baggage, without seeing any habitation, the use of the heirie must be evident, for it is more abstemious, and bears a longer continuation of fatigue, than the (Sh’rubah Er’reeh) desert horse, hereafter described.

The self-exiled Muley Abdrahaman, a prince of undaunted courage and great penetration, son of the old Emperor, Seedy Mohammed bn Abdallah bn Ismael, of the Tafilelt dynasty whilst residing among the Arab clan of Howara in Suse, kept, night and day, at the door of his (keyma) tent, two heiries, ready caparisoned, one having a load of gold dust and jewels, and the other for riding, in case of a sudden surprise, that he might pass into the desert out of the reach of his father’s power. The Emperor’s soldiers, by their master’s order, having treated his highness’s woman in a manner disgraceful to a Mooselmin, he had retired to the confines of Sahara for more security.

The swiftness of the heirie is thus described by the Arabs in their figurative style: “When thou shalt meet a heirie, and say to the rider, Salem Alick, ere he shall have answered thee,Alick Salem, he will be afar off, and nearly out of sight, for his swiftness is like the wind.[89]”

Talking with an Arab of Suse, on the subject of these fleet camels, and the desert horse, he assured me that he knew a young man who was passionately fond of a lovely young girl, whom nothing would satisfy but some oranges: these were not to be procured at Mogodor, and as the lady wanted the best fruit, nothing less than Marocco oranges would satisfy her; the Arab mounted his heirie at the dawn of day, went to Marocco,[90]purchased the oranges, and returned that night after the gates were shut, and sent the oranges to the lady by a guard of one of the batteries. I am aware, in relating this circumstance, that I shall incur the imputation of credulity; but Mr. Bruce, who related many things very common in Africa, was lampooned by Munchausen; much, however, of what was doubted, has been confirmed by other travellers after him, and I am persuaded that in a short time much more will be ascertained to be fact, which he has, by the ignorant and presuming, been censured for relating.[91]If transactions and facts well known by the African be incompatible with the European’s ideas of probability, and, on that account rejected as fables, it is not the fault of the former, but of the latter, who has neglected to investigate a neighbouring quarter of the globe.

The Sh’rubah Er’reeh,[92]or Desert horse, is to the commonhorse what the desert camel is to the camel of burden; this animal does not, however, answer the purpose so well for crossing the barren desert, as he requires a feed of camel’s milk once every day, which is his only sustenance, so that there must necessarily be two she camels wherever he goes to afford this supply: for he will touch neither barley, wheat (oats are never given to horses in Africa), hay, straw, nor indeed any other thing but camel’s milk: they are employed chiefly to hunt the ostrich, at which sport they are very expert.

When the desert horses are brought to Marocco, as they sometimes are, they fall away; and if obliged ultimately from hunger to eat barley and straw, the Moorish provender, they recover, gradually fill up, and become handsome to the sight, but lose entirely their usual speed.

Alkaid Omar ben Daudy, an Arab of Rahammenah, when Governor of Mogodor, had two Saharawan horses in his stables; finding it inconvenient to feed them constantly on camel’s milk, he resolved to try them on the usual food given to Barbary horses; he accordingly had their food gradually changed, and in a short time fed them altogether with barley,[93]and occasionally with wheat and straw: they grew fat, and looked better than before (for those of Sahara of this particular breed are by no means handsome; they have a small slender body, formed like that of the greyhound, a powerful broad chest, and small legs), but they lost their speed, and soon afterwards died, as if nature had designed them to be appropriated solely to thatdistrict, whose arid and extensive plains render their use essentially necessary.

A person unaccustomed to ride the Sh’rubah Er’reeh, finds its motion uneasy at first; but the saddle forms a safe seat, and a man who never rode before, acquires a facility in these saddles in a few days; the pommel rises perpendicularly in front, and the back part rises reclining a little from a perpendicular, and supports the back as high as the loins; the stirrups are placed far back, and give the rider a firm hold,[94]inducing him to grasp the horse’s sides with the knees, as, from the form and disposition of the stirrups and the seat, the legs and knees naturally incline inwards, and press the horse, so that the rider can, by this means, turn the animal whichever way he pleases, without using the reins; the stirrup is broad at the bottom, and receives the whole length of the foot; at the heel of the stirrup is hung loosely a spike, six inches long, which is the Moorish spur, a barbarous looking weapon, which a person, unacquainted with the dexterous manner of using it, would expect to rip open the horse’s sides; but a good horseman seldom uses it in a way to injure the horse; it is sufficient that he shake it against the stirrups, to animate him. The whole art of riding is confined to the dexterous management of the spurs, and a good rider is distinguished from a novice by their position, as the points should never be nearer to the flank than about four inches; sometimes they are not within eight. I have seen one of the Arabs of the warlike and powerful province of Shawiya, whilst mounted and the horse curvetting, mark his name in Arabic characters,with the spur, on the horse’s side: this is accounted the perfection of horsemanship among the Shawiyans, who are acknowledged to be the first horsemen in Marocco, and not inferior to the Bukarie cavalry of the Emperor’s life guard, both of whom consider the Mamulukes as very inferior to them, in every thing but their gaudy trappings: their exercise of cavalry consists in what they call El Harka, which is running full speed, about a quarter of a mile or less, till they come to a wall, when the rider fires his musquet, and stops his horse short, turning him at the same time; this amusement, of which they are ridiculously fond, they continue several hours, wasting much powder to little purpose, as they do not improve in the direction of their piece, having no ball with the charge, nor mark to fire at; their pieces have nothing in them but gunpowder rammed down, for if they had wadding, many accidents would happen from their discharging them close to one another’s faces. Ten or twenty horsemen suddenly dart off at full speed, one half turning to the right, and the other to the left, after firing, so as not to interfere with each other.

The men who ride these Sh’rubah Er’reeh, as well as the Arabs who ride the Heiries, have their bowels relaxed at the termination of their journey; for which, on leaving the Desert, they drink a draught of camel’s milk,[95]called Hallib Niag, which being rejected by the stomach, they drink again; this second draught, after remaining a longer time, is sometimes also rejected; the third draft, finding the tone of the stomach somewhat restored, remains, and turns to nourishment.

(Jimmel).—The Camel of burden. This most useful animalserves for various purposes of domestic life: its flesh is good, and when young, is preferred by the Arabs to beef; it is, however, rather insipid, but very easy of digestion; the milk of the(Naga)female camel, is extremely nutritious, and if taken in the morning for breakfast is an infallible remedy for(murd irkek)consumption; on this account it is in high estimation among all ranks of people: the Arabs of Sahara, for the most part, live on nothing else; it is of a bluish hue, and possesses a rather glutinous quality. In Soudan and Sahara the camel carries a load not exceeding four hundred weight; those of Duquella and the north of Marocco carry six, seven and eight hundred weight: the difference of the burden varies with the abundance or paucity of food; and the camel will never rise from the ground with a burden which he cannot proceed with.

Sheep.—This useful animal is found in all parts of west Barbary, even to the confines of Sahara, where their flesh is of a peculiarly fine flavour, which is occasioned by the aromatic herbs on which they feed. About the mountains of Lower Suse and Wedinoon the mutton is of such a superior flavour, that when the Emperor is at Marocco, it is often sent to him in presents. As the aromatic herbs of Africa are much stronger scented than those of Europe, the flesh of the Wedinoon sheep has accordingly a stronger aromatic flavour than those of the Sussex South Down; they are larger than the ordinary sheep; the ewes are very prolific, yeaning twice a year, and having often two or more lambs at a time. I sent a ram of this breed to England, where it did not (with the change of climate) lose altogether its prolific nature, for the ewes to which he was admitted produced two lambs each.

The wool of these sheep varies considerably, that of some being very coarse, whilst that of others is extremely fine; no care is taken of the quality, but nature is left, in this respect (as in all others in this country), to take its course.

Tedla, a rich province bordering on Atlas, north of Marocco, abounds in sheep, whose wool is so fine, that no silk is softer: it is used in the manufacture of caps, worn by the opulent, and is sold at Fas for a very high price: its exportation being prohibited, it is consumed by the inhabitants. A breed of these sheep would be an acquisition in Europe, and they might be procured. The average price of a fleece of wool in Barbary is (wahud drahim) one ounce, or five-pence English, that of a sheep is one Mexico dollar. Wool was, till lately, exported to Europe; particularly to Marseilles, and other ports in the Mediterranean, to Amsterdam, Hamburgh, and London, but a very inferior quality being sent to the latter place, it got a bad name; the demand, however, from other places was so great, that the Emperor had representations made to him, that wearing apparel of the Barbary manufacture was rising in value, in consequence of the unlimited exportation of wool, and an order was accordingly issued, prohibiting it, the Emperor, to gratify his people, assuring them that for the future he would not suffer it to be carried out of the country.

Goats.—Every lady in England has contributed to the Emperor of Marocco’s treasury, by consuming the leather which is made from the skin of the goat; that denominated Spanish leather being prepared from the Marocco goat skins.

The goats of Africa are very prolific, particularly those of Tafilelt, which is one cause of such an immense number being exported: the duty on this article of commerce forms a considerablepart of the custom-house revenue. They have young twice a year, and often one goat is followed by six or seven kids of her own, the production of nine months.

The goats of the Arab province of Shedma, and the Shelluh province of Haha, are the finest in West Barbary, but the Tafilelt goats, as before observed, surpass them in size and quality; their milk is richer and more abundant; their meat more delicate, particularly when young.

The (jild Filelly) Tafilelt leather, is the softest and the finest in the world, and much superior to that of Marocco, or even to that of Terodant: soft and pliable as silk, it is impervious to water. The tanners of Tafilelt use the leaves of a shrub called tizra, which grows in the Atlas mountains; this, it is pretended, gives their leather that peculiar softness for which it is so much esteemed; this however is doubtful, as the tanners, above all people, are cautious of discovering to strangers their art of tanning. Some quality in the air and water possibly may contribute to give the leather that extraordinary pliability.

The Camelion.—Tatta is the Arabic, and Tayuh the Shelluh name for this extraordinary and complicated animal; its head resembles that of a fish, the body that of a beast, the tail that of a serpent, and the legs and feet are somewhat similar to the arms and hands of a human being; the tongue is pointed like that of a serpent, and is so instantaneous in its motion, that the human sight can scarcely perceive it when it darts it out to the length of its body, to catch flies (its ordinary food); in doing this it never misses its mark, so that I imagine there must be some glutinous substance which attaches the fly to the tongue,or else it pierces the insect with its point, which is very sharp. I have often admired the velocity with which the camelion thus secures its food, but never could discover whether it were to be attributed to the former, or the latter cause. It is partly nourished by the sun and air; it delights to bask in the sun with its mouth open, to receive the heat of its rays.

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