Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-03-23


on the E. of the city of Algiers The Turks
VINO have the governme,t In their hands
are not above 7O0O in number; and yet the
Moors and natives of Africa, have no share
in it. 1t is only kind of republic under
the protection of the Grand Seignor, and
1t is governed by sovereign, called the
Dey, who however, can do nothing Of con
sequence without the council ofthe Jansa-
ries. The Arabs, who live in tents, are
distinct people, governed by their own laws
and magistrates, though the Turks inter
pose as often as they please, The Dey of
Algiers is an absolute monarch, but elected
by the Turkish soldiers, and frequently de-
posed and put to death by them. Tie re
venues of the government arise from the
tribute paid by the Moors and Arabs, de-
tachment of the army being sent into each
province every year to collect it; and the
prizes they take at sea sometimes equal the
taxes they lay upon the natives. The Dey
has several thousand Moors in his service,
both horse and foot and the Qeys or vice
roys of the provinces, have each an army
under his command Their religion is
Mahometanism, 4 their language dialect
of the Aarabic. They have likewise jar
gon, composed of Italian, French, and
Spanish, called Lin qua Franco, that is IN
derstood by the common people and rner-
chants. The complexion of the natives is
tawny, and they are strong and well made.
Algiers, large and strong town of At
RIGA, In Barbary, the capitol Of the country
of Algiers 1t is built on the deelivity of a
mountain, and ia in the form of an Am
phtheatre next the harbor; inasnuch that
the houses appearing one above another,
make very fine appearance from the sea
The tops of the houses are all fiat, for
which reason they walk upon them in the
evenirg to take the air besides they are
covered with earth, and serve for sort of
gardens. The streets are narrow, and
Serve to keep off the extreme heat of the
sun,
The mole of the harbor is 500 PAGES Ia
length, extending from the continent to
small island, where there is castle and a
large battery of guns Tae number Of in
habilants is said to be 100 900 Mahometans,
Their chief substance is derived from their
piracies, for they make prizes of all Chris
tian ships that are not at peace with them.
The, country about A'glers is adorned with
gardens and foe villas, watered BY foun-
tains and rivulets and thither the inhabi
tants resort in the bot season. Agisrs has,
for ages, bfaved the resentment of tile
most powerful states in Christendom,
The Emperor Charles Y. lost fine feet
and arny, 10 an expedition against it, in
1911. The English burnt thes vessels in
the harbor in 1855 and 1870 II was BON.
barded by the Fsench in 1858. In l775,
the Spaniards made descent near the city
with formidable army, but were defeated
with great slaughter In 1854, they sent
fleet to attack the forts that defended the
harbor--but they were repealed BY the AL
gerines, although they made eight success
sive attacks with great spirit and bravery.
In 1867, the AIgerines took the lead of the
other states of Earbary, in refusing to pay
any longer their usua, tribute to the Porte.
Algiers is situate opposite Minorca. $50
miles W. OF Tunis Lon. Q, 10, E. lat