Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-31

FROM THE ANALEcTIC MAGAZINE.
account Of Rails Han,nida,
TIE LITE .lLGERLNs .QD5fIR.qL
COMMUNICATED principally by an american gentle
man, 7Vio resided seUsrdt gears az .aieiers. anu
7'ds 1'eH Gcquairtedssish Rails HaMMrpA
RAIs HAsaIDA, the Admiral of Alriers. ubc
ien gaiantly defending his ship, in the late ac
ZION win Commodore Decatur, was an Arab. nj
one OF the tribes, or kabyles, of Berebbers. who
ihhabIt the mountains OF Atlas, north of the civ
OF Morocco. They 1--we principally in tents. are
nsruy, nervous. robust, and capable of great alb.
s.mehce and fatigue. Their language is said Ia
ui.ier en'ireiy from the Arabic, which is the gen.
efai dialect of Africa, and IS supposed to be de.
rived from the ancient Carthaginisn. Mr.. James
grey Jackson, who travelled among the Berebber
tanyies OF III hrnre, and Zcnnae yholl,.h. saws
uial ne noticed among them great many p,vs;.
inSnomies that were truly Roman.
Inc usual occupationof these people IS bus.
Dancry, and they make vast quantities of boney
ana wax, which they dispose of in the CONNER.
ga. .I owls beng active, hardy, acute and en-
eelPrisihg, tne young men often come down to the
cuies 10 seek their fortunes, where the pride and
incidence OF the moors secure them employ.
ihent' In this pursuit Rails 'Hammda came 10
hlBl ers when quite boy, and either choice nv
acciuent threw hIm or board an Alrerine cr,,;ser
IN winch he made his first esaav on tb- eIer,.,,
whose dangers and hardshlps seem to give a bar.
uIiioou anu Iesricssness to tie human mind that
,,e hot generated "a any other sphere of life.
Inc particulars of his early career. and The orra
dual development OF his Character .rJ 49,
are nor known to US, for in AlEiers they have
neluier newspapers nor chronicles to aco,ant
'ue people with passing events, and preserve Tho
'he'hory OF gallant actions. The fash,
doctrine OF the east, Is that those who can rea,l
"ii ma lhe elements of all human knowledge
IN tne RorGi, and the khaiif Omar gave prae..
'eai illustration OF TINS great precept, when he
set ON FIRE the Alexandr,an ibrsrv 49, ~
L'shiohabie axiom IS, that the people OUGHT 70
Know nothing of tie ADMINISTRATION of he oo,
'erhment excep; through tire MEDIUM oftIa
single sense OF feeling, by winch thev are from
tIine 10 time reminded that they have a master
VI THIS master they are exceedingly fond. and Il
IL rheonceivable with what contempt tl,ev t,-eat
people VINO have no bashaw, or bey to tickle
'hsih now and then with the bowsirne, or fine
.hem Tor beng rich, wheI, they have no 5us,r,s.
to be SO. They resemble the ,orsss ",I,'
said 70 be proud of Their rIdrrs, and yalue {hem-
serves, not on theirown strength, beauty or s,vfi.
ness, Out solely on account OF lie dignity the,,
carry on their backs Men indeed must bove
some,hing to be proud of, and the sDurce, oftba
Srsuhcation are so various and ryi,,msieal tha,
we sometimes see nations valung themselves ON
me glory ora tyrant, whose reputation &c &C
fulrel ~ me price OF their own blood and point.
ilS Inc attention of the stranger .o The snIer
donrs ofa court, the luxufes ofwhicb are b,i,,s,,
win their dd.ly bread, and daily to,ls Two
poor slaves were once disputing about the do
my Oh uelr masters, and the preference was =;
Aase accorded TO the master, who wbpned fhc
most often and was Of course the ,rreaiest man
LIE ARABIAN boy, Ras Hammida, was me-.
maps about seventeen when he made his Grst
cruise ana soon became distinguished amonp
e'e ray n iSernes, Tor his talents and enterpr,s
ing spirit. by rapid steps he attained 10 ,he
Command of a frigate, aud IN the wear Isf,t 81
portuguese frIgate of equal or superior force
10 nus own which had been fitted out expressly
90 cruise aguInstt the Algerines. The Port,,0uese
was boarded and CARED without the loss of n |
siS,e man on the part Of the Infidels while Tho,
OF the Portuguese was upwards of seventy l-iIIaJl
s'u "ouiued' People easily find excuses for
DeilS De@,en, as we know by late Experience. |
ana lhe Portuguese alledged that they were
lSkeh py surprise, though the affair bappenedl
about MONDAY. II is Certain that The tscr,,'-
Suese mad been the day before in company with
an american frigate bound to Trlpoh, and sun.
posing NE Algeriue TO De the same made M ore. |
Tatip0 Tor defence until il was too late vfhe
ther taken by surprise or not, IS. however ofIt |
le consequence IN lessIing the glory Of Res |
.iHIhhiaa, or the disgrace Of his elenies 40 |
DC taken by surprise al such time and in sucfl
siueSton' IS almost az disgracelul as to be gull.
y OF c9"aFdiee, and The boldness Of the attempt |
IS not diminished on the part of Ras l,v these |
circumstances because he could not have an |
''cipated the negligence of las enemy Tbe
capture OF this vessel affords no ground of tr-
lmph " brave man, however we may consider |
! Tor both the Spanish and Portuguese naval
establishment nave, for long time, been on the
Norst possible footing. Their outfits are alto
5ether deficient Their officers generally w,tbn,,,
experience, as happened to be the case m the h..
stance we have Just mentioned, where the can.
Am OF the frigate, aswe have been assured bv /.
portuguese gentleman, was then Tor tie second
-ule IN bis life at sea, and the men for the most
part entirely destitute of knowledge of even
-he rudIments of the profession.
The impressments ofthese two nat;ons ore No,
ike those ofEnglsnd, confined TO searnen. but