Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-10

pacous from starvation, be buried alive III
watcry-grave. Their homes, when not covered by
the Winds urc formed into pavcnicnts Tor caravans.
around the watering places, and along the way or
strewed unseen OH the bed OF the ocean
The name of Moors, which is used in Europe, bn,
not i'll Africa, is applied chiefly to the inhabitants o
the States of Borbary. These not single race
but derive their origin from various sources They
mixture of the ancient Mauritanians, and NJ
midians tic Vaudals from the Nosth the SaracebS
and Turks from the East, and the Brcbers, the oldest
inhabitants, who driveR back, like the ancicn,
BrtoIis, and now occupy the interior and tnounta-
parts Of the country. These races however, arc
50 ussimiated by the ,noudings of despotc power,
and religious intolerance, that they caH now be hard
! ly distinguished.
! In Barbary, Jews also found in great numbers,
distinct race and indeed the ia rthes possible from
an amalgamation with the other inhabita,rts. They
outcast class, hated dcspised and dcrdet ssd
subject Co insult and persecution, with impunity
But the immense profits of trade, induce them TO
submit with patience to these indignies.
The inlIabtabIe or rather the almost uninhabita-
bio portions of the vast space between the States Of
Brbary, ard the productive regions of Central Atr
ca are occupied BY the trabs. This NAME is doubt
less applied, only the descendants of tose.whe
originally from Arabia, but to all who lead the
same rude and migratory life. They dwell i'll
bic villages consisting of tents arranged in circles
like the huts Of the Ho:tentots and in the INFERNO
date space, supplying their cattle with plate OF
security. When the means of support are exhaus-
ted, they depart for spot where their wants can be
supplied. They governed by Shciks aud Emirs,
pay homage and tribute to the Moorish soveregns
when they must but seize upon every opportunity
to act for Themselves and 10 indulge to the full their
predatory proponsitics They consist of several
ces, OF different names, the Errii, the Shes,
the Shouaas, the Tbbos, the Eanrcs; but they doubt
less lave coipmoa origin, and they use different dia
! iccts Of the same language. They are all h;goted
Hwssnlmans They much addicted TIA piifering,
aud in the use of fire excel all the other nhab
! Itanis ot Africa
The Inhabitants OF Egypt chiefly foreigners.
The Copts nre the only pccnlc that derive. their orr
IN of ouf,u NJ
they, are the descendants of confused mi xturc with
the Persian, Grcciau Roman, and Arabian races
they dwell! chiefly in upper Egypt; their numbers
small and they are very far inferior to their an
cestors. Ahyssinia appears to have been pcopled
from Arabia, having many characteristics correspon
ding to those of The jews and Arabans. Lts remote
parts, howtvar, inhabited BY tho primitive Afri-
can race s0sneo. w1io still OF the lowest order
I OF savages.
In the middle countries of Africa, rs might be cx-
pccted, there is mixture Of the Southern Aborigi-
mes, with the various races from the North. They
arc ruled chicifyb by Moorish Mahomctan chiefs; but
in some cases the negro appear occasionally to
resume the ascendancy. Of this, Tombuctoo is
said to present an instance.
Further South, Africa Is filed With population al
most entirely native. Among the tribes of that part
Of the continent. few profess che Maho.aetan Eatll
rendered worse, if possible, by mixture of their
own snperstitions The austere habits of a Mussel-
e,an IS, however, mostly avoided. The native "a
ces are generally much devoted to pleasure, and
their character is marked by careessncss and levty
"From sunset, all Africa Dances" polygamy is prac-
tiscd in the extreme, the number of women apnronri-
atcd to an individual, being sometimes three or four
thousand Bit 1t is not attended with the same jea-
ious seciuson which exists in most Mahometan conn
tries. The idleness of the Turkish harems is I'M
known; and on the women are devoved in general
the most laborlous cmploymeuts-On tho Sovthovp
extremity of the cou'incnt, the complexion OF the
population is brown, unprecedented; but they
nSs, that account, state Of extreme bar
barty.
The religion fthe Northern half of Africa as has
been alreadyd velopcd, Is almost entirely Mahomatan
The general character of this religion is too well
known TO require description. In Africa it assumes
Its worst aspect, and y exhibits the extreme of its
cruelties. One that is Mussunlan, usually
finds himself an outlaw without remedy; and death
or bondage is continually before him. Paradise be-
ing the reward offered for deeds of cruelty there are
nnltudes, who eager in this way, to procure IT,
kind ofcorrup Christianity prevails in Abyssinla
d. relics, of Catholic faith and practice exist in Con
90, & few other places visited by the Portuguese.
The Southern natives generally are distinguished
for their superstitons above all other people in the
world Respecting the creat"n of man. they hold
to different opinions. Sorne believe that he was form
I'd by an enormous spider, others that he cnerrcd
from caves and holes in the earth. Some believe in
the TRANSPORTATION Of soI!s others in future rewards
and punisfImenis graduated according 70 their own
absurd notions Of religious duty, received either in
he'll or oblivion, a heaven Of sensuaitY. Death is
regarded with horror. The existence Of ghosts is
generally credited, and the spirits Of those whose
crimes unexpiatcd are Supposed after death, TO
wander on earth.
species of SUPERSTITION called fetishsm, is almost
universal! Any thing that strikes the imagination Of
the negro possessed Of some occult, supernatural
influence, becomes his worship. Thus the anchor of
wrecked ship cast on shore. An African
broke piece from it. and happened to die the same
evening, it was supposed that he the victim of
It's vengeance, for committing violence upon it; and
the anchor was Of course, afterwards worshpped as
a god The ignorant and supersttous African, u
dores, and consults i'll his difficulties, tree, rock
stick OF wood, fish bone, bit of paper, or blade
otgrass Just his fancy happens to ascrbe, to either
OF these or other objects, secret power over his
dcstinies. Serpents, and lizards, and Ieopards and
crockodes are objects of solemn public worship; and
Inc various rites connected with this stupid devotion
are usually mixture of folly, iewdness and cruelty
Africans usually carry their fctshcs about them and
expect assistance aud protection from them on MI
occasions Tho virtue OF fetish Is always dcterrnn-
cd by the success of its pOssessor. If one fetish
proves nsnicicnt 10 effect The object nrnnnsed an.