Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-09-24
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
TO TIE EDIroR OF 9aE V1Rc1N1A .zRcUs
LETTER XXvI.

Eastern COASTS, ard the INTERIOR.
WITH the exception of Egypt and the
coast of Barbary, Africa was, perhaps, less
known to the ancients than to the mGderns.
The stupid barbarity of its inhabitants, the
terocity or its beasts, and the venom of it's
reptiles, seem to mark 1t in some measure,
IS the refuse of creation
ECvPT, which, in effect, was the cradle
of human knowledge, and is not included in
the preceding remarks has pecn already
spoken of. The Egyptians filled the earth
with the fame of their wisdom, of their laws,
their government, and their works, whilst
the Carthaginians, situated more to the
west, were celebrated for their riches, their
conflicts, and their fall. BARBARY, ON the
coast of which Carthage was situated, was
considered, both under the Carthaginian ard
Rom an dominion, as the garden of the world.
The fortune of Carthage sunk beneath that
OF Rome, which, in turn, yielded to the va
Tor of barbarians In the fifth century the
Vandals,' under Gcnseric, drove out the RO-
mans, and founded his throne upon the ru-
ms of ancient Carthage. From the presence
of these destructive hordes this fine portion
OF the earth was relieved by the martial &c
MUS and active Courage of the renowned and
unhappy Belisarius, at the head Of the ar
mics of the eastern division Of the Roman
ever, was but temporary. The Saraccns
entered the Country and educed it, to state
of rudeness. The Masters OF Barbary, di-
vided, and formed distinct establishments.
Kez, Morocco, Tunis, Algiers, and TripoIi,
were founded under different sovcreigns.
After reign of some centuries, distinguish
ed tor nothing bu: RIGHTEOUSNESS and depre-
datlon, the Saracens were subjugated bv
the Turks, who have preserved and pro-
NOTED The ignorance and barbarism which
they found IN the Country. The con
quests OF the Turks in Africa were divided
among the lieutenants of the Grand Seignor,
upon whom the states of Barbary are AT pre-
sent only nomnaily dependent. Thus arose
the present political consultation f the Bar
baIy powers, where the Dey is the tyrant,
| the Turkish soldiers the senate, and the in
habitants arc slaves. Agriculture is neglect
ed, piracy is encouraged; ana the ruling
caiettains acknowledge the Grand Seigaiur
IS their superior, without pa ing ANY REGARD
:, 10 trTi.al4i.5.
EGlrT> which at present strongly attracts
| the attention of European potentAtes, is di-
vided iuto Upper, Middle, and Lower F.
gypt, Upper Egypt contains Girge, Slut,
Cosseir, and Assam. Middle Egypt CON
| ta,ns Cairo, Boulac, Foum, and Suez And
| Lower Egypt comprehend Alexandria, Da-
mictta, Rosetta, and Aboukir. The Grand
| Seignor deputies Vice Roy to govern E.
| gypu; but the real sovereigus were, for Z
long time, twenty four Beys, ce1ted by a
standing military force of 10000 Name
lukea The power of the Beys. however,
has been diminished, il not e:ltinguished, by
TIE cruel policy OF the Ottomans
| BARBARY Includes the empire of Moroc-
co, the regercies of Algiers, 'Funis, Tripoli,
| the country of Barca and Tablet, Sugelmes-
| So, Billedulgerid, &c. MorocCois an impe-
rial despotism, founded by the Arabs. The
regencies are aristocracies, whose chiefs are
called Deys, or Bcys, and are elected by the
Turkish soldiers. The French and Spani-
| ards, in modern times. have occupied few
posts OH the coasts of Barbary.
| The western coast of Africa, or GUINEA,
embraces an immense extent of country,
from Cape Blanc to Cape Negro. 1t is that
part of Africa which is most frecuented by
Euro cans, and is the principal theatre OF
their commerce. From thence are exported
gums, ivory, wax, gold dust, and especially
| slaves. Of the latter it is computed that
before the commencement of the French re-
volution, there was exported from Guinea
more than one hundred thousand annually
The inhabitants receive, in exchange fol
slaves, powder, firearms, brandy, glass
ware, and silk and cotton stuffs. Guinea i.
Peopled by various hordes, who are in a
state 81 perpetual warfare with each other
aud thereby furnish supply for the slave
market. The United States of America, il
framing their constitution, N 1887, led the
way IN tive abolition nf this scandalo'aS traf
; iic. ~ that instrument, Congress we're EN-
powered, in the year 1905, To prohibit tn
importation OF slaves and acc ,rdingy, o
the second day of March, 1907, that BOD
passed law, which was approved by tn
then President Thomas Jefferson, deciarinl
it illegal from and after the first day of ia
nuary, 1905, to import o. bring into the y
nted states or the territories thereof iron
any foreign Kingdom, place or country, an
negro, mulattO, or person of color, with in
tent to hold, sell, or dispose Of such negro
muiatto, or person of color, as a slave, or {
be held to servroe or labor Great Britain
finding that the United States were deter
3, mined 20 carry into rigid execution thei
Constitutional provision relative TO the slave
trade yielded to the spirit of humanity, an
lnterdiCtcd to her subjects a Commerce
when, however lucrative, OILY served to dis
grace them. Guinea is subdividcd into seve
rai districts dcnominated Senegal, Gainbii
Il sierra LeOna, the Grain Coast, Ivory { oas
tho Slave Coast, the Gold Coast, the kInp
dums Of Benin, Of Loango, Of Congo, Of Al
COLA, Bengucia Bamba. &c. The Portl
guesc formerly possessed ali the Souther
ports, and we're The first who dealt in slaves
and the Dutch y Danes, had establishment.
but the English, from the superiority OF the
navy, hold preponjerating control over a
the settlements in that part OF Africa.
The Southern point Of the African cont
ncnt, or the CAPE OF COOP HoPp, C0Inpr,
hendmg an ex -cn.i1e district Vi country, ~,