The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-06-23
From the Boston Courier.
ALGIERS.

From the Boston Courier.
ALGIERS.
This piratical state, which occupies tn,
: site OF the ancient Numidiaand Mauritania
once so celebrated for their fertility an,
populousness, has sea coast of nearly Coz
! miles, and an average breadth from north
10 south OF $50 miles, not including the arid
territory south of Mount Atlas. A double
chain OF mountains, called the great and
little Atlas, crosses the state from east to
west, and gives rise to great many rivers
and streams, which fertilize and refresh the
land. Protected from the south winds by
these mountains, Algiers enjoys mild tenn
peratnre and the greatest salubrity. Dis
eases are rare, and Europeans there are
never exposed to those fatal epidemics which
raVage the Antilles. Even the ophthalmia,
SO prevalent in Egypt, is unknown in AL
\ glars.
For the most part, uncultiyated and aban-
doned to wandering and pastoral tribes, who
adopt this mode of life to avoid the exac-
tons and violence of a ty!annical govern
ment, this country might become delight
Iui asylum to the numerous emigrants who
are constantly pouring into the u. States
Its proximity to Europe would give it pref
erence If the climate were not sufficient
inducement. Besides the fine wool, oils,
silk, and wax, which it would furnish in
great abundance to the state which might
conquer 1T, great part of the territory is
suited to the cultivation of the sugar cane,
cotton, and indigo, whilst the pastures of
Mount Atlas would feed innumerable hor-
ses.
The population of Algiers must be nearly
as follows:-
Moors, Arabs, cultiyators, and mechanics, POO 600
Independent Arabs, 4OOOOO
Berbers, settled in villages, 100000
Jews, $4,000
Turks and renegadoes forming the ars-
tOcracy,) 2OO0O
Descendants of the latter, but in an in
ferior class, 10000
100000
The town of Algiers, on the land side, is
IN circuit less than mile and half, and
on this side it is not susceptible of any con-
siderable defence, but it is extremely strong
towards the sea, where its mole, and ram
parts with bastions, are bristling with nn-
merons artillery. The curtain or wall that |
connects the bastions, and the bastions
themselves, are weak and without covered |
ways, and the bitches are not very wide or !
deep. At the western angle, in the most !
elevated part, is the citadel, called Cassau-
bah. The southern and eastern angles are |
defended by small forts and batteries. Two |
weak castles on small eminences and fur I
nished with artillery, always defend the ac-
cess to the city, which is surrounded by a |
the town, and from afS %iihh f tbaf
cannonaded.
The garrison is composed of from 600O
to $500 Turks or renegadoes. The Moors |
and others that could bear arms amount to |
from $500 to 6500-of these Ia or 1900, |
about one-seventh, are cavalry.
The Dey, who is chief of the military
aristocracy which sways the country, has
under him three lieutenaIts or vassals, who
are almost independent, and are called
Beys. That at the east resides at Constan-
tine, town more than 200 miles from Al |
giers, about so miles from the sea coast,
and containing about 10000 inhabitants. |
THIS Bey has under his command about
1000 Turkish soldiers and could muster
about 5 or 5000 Arab and Moorish cavalry
upon occasion, but they are without any
sort of discipline.
The Bey at the west resides at Tremecen
and Mascara, defenceless towns not far from
the sea, but about $50 miles from Algiers.
His military force is about 1900 Turks and
perhaps or 5000 Moorish and Arab cav
airy, no better than those of the other Bey.
A vast desert of sand separates this western
part of Algiers from Fee in the empire of
Morocco.
The southern Bey has no fixed residence.
In fact, for long time no one has been APP
pointed by the Dey, VINO sends one of his
principal officers at the head of 1000 Turks
to extort tribute from the Arabs and Ber-
bers who inhabt Mount Atlas and the plains
at their base. These soldiers, without skill
or courage, are armed with bad musket,
poinard, and two pistols.
The towns in. the interior are of little i'm
portance or strength with the exception of
Tiffeh or Tiifas, a tolerably strong town on
the confines Of Tunis. Near the coast are
to be seen the remains of many towns, once
| flourishing, but now poor and depopulated.
The tyranny of the government, which
Expresses Algiers, and the plague which
RACES there every twelve or fifteen years,
nsensibly diminish the population. Two
or three centuries ago, ii was probably
double what it is now. Civilization and in
dustry have made no progress there; even
! the art of war, the only art to which the
barbarians attach any value, remains sta
tionary, and as it was in the 10th century.
4 The first expedition undertaken against
this country by Ferdinand of Spain in 1903,
consisted Of Il, 900 men. Oran was captur-
ed but so feeble an army could not pene-
trate into the country, Oran was abandoned.
In 1910, new expedition of 900 foot
and 1000 horse, retook Oran and captured
Bugie.
4 In 1916, aaother army of 5000 men laid
siege to Algiers, and after losing two-thirds
of its number the army returned to Spain.
In 164l, Charles V. left Malaga in the
worst season with 25,000 men. He landed
about four leagues from Algiers, but a VIC
lent tempest caused the enterprise to fail
and Charles returned with less than half his
men.