curred in Algiers are nothing else than the jealousies and intrigues of the principal men, in order to ruin and supplant one another; consisting of acts of cruelty, depositions, and other catastrophes of a similar nature. If we should attempt to delineate a picture of them, an uninterrupted series of the most horrid acts of tyranny and brutality would be exhibited to view. Nothing would be seen but massacres among the rich and powerful; wretchedness and oppression among the poor; with instances innumerable of the most inhuman vengeance and cruelty against the relatives and partisans of the princes assassinated. Confiscations, imprisonment, and persecution, are extremely frequent; so that at the end of a month, and even of a week, the reigning prince has suffered a fate similar to that of his predecessor, and a new revolution has often brought back the same scenes of madness and of cruelty. Such, added to the piratical expeditions at sea, would form the principal part of the history of each reign.

With respect to these expeditions, we may rest assured, that they will never cease as long as this nest of robbers is permitted to exist. To the injury and disgrace of all christian powers, they suffered them to establish themselves, and to become emboldened by success, and now find them formidable to all European nations, who are compelled to purchase an exemption from their ravages, and are, in effect, tributary to this piratical state. These acts of violence are now become natural to them. It was not without truth, that one of the deys humourously said: "The Algerines are robbers; and I am their

captain

captain-general." Those, therefore, who navigate the seas, must expect to be exposed to their attacks. If they be reproached for this shameful piracy, they only answer by the following proverb: 66 They who are afraid of the sparrows ought never to sow."

The French are the only nation in Europe, that have found means to humble this imperious republic. In 1683; Admiral Du Quesne attacked the city of Algiers, into which a great number of bombs were thrown that made dreadful execution, burning and destroying the dey's palace, the mosques, and other public edifices. On this the Algerines begged for peace, and promised to respect the French flag and coasts. They did not, however, keep their word: but it it is matter of astonishment and regret, that the European powers should have tolerated their excesses and depredations for so long a period.

TUNIS

CHAP. XV.

Tunis.

UNIS, which was once a sovereignty of great extent, is at present bounded on the north and east by the Mediterranean sea; on the west by Algiers; on the south, by Tripoli and part of Biledulgerid: and extends from thirty-three degrees thirty minutes, to thirtyseven degrees twelve minutes of north latitude, VOL. XIV.

E e

and

and is about two hundred and twenty miles in length, and one hundred and seventy in breadth. This country is divided into two parts, denominated the summer and winter circuits; which the bey annually traverses at those seasons, with a sort of flying camp. The principal rivers are the Zaine, which separates Tunis from Algiers; the Megerda, or ancient Bagrada; the Miliana, supposed to be the Catada of antiquity; and the Gabbs, thought to be the Tri

ton.

The air of Tunis is salubrious, and its soil fertile, except towards the south, where barren deserts, and moving hills of sand, occupy a large extent, and where the heat is extreme, During the dog-days, the winds which pass over this country are excessively hot and suffocating: and the natives are under the necessity of sprinkling their floor with water, and using other refreshing expedients.

Before enumerating the cities, that are now most distinguished in this country, we shall pay a short and melancholy tribute to those which were formerly the admiration of the world; and of which it would be difficult to fix the scite, did not the page of antiquity aid our researches ; and surely nothing can furnish the contemplative man with more rational improvement, than a view of the ruins and desolation that every where abound! When he beholds the solitary arch, or sublime portico, whither history informs him the great names of antiquity have resorted, and where a succession of various nations have given law, what must be his reflections, or the feelings of his mind? Does not every mouldering column, every venerable pile of ruins, read the

most

most instructive and important lessons on the weakness, the vanity, and the instability of every thing human? Does not the melancholy reflection on the many thousands that sleep below, who once enlivened the arts, or graced the triumphal car, imprint on the tablets of our hearts "what shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue."

Carthage, once the celebrated rival of Rome, has scarcely withstood the ravages of time. Its ancient harbour is nearly choaked up by the mud thrown up by the river Megerda; and the ruins of the city are nearly three miles from the sea, though it formerly extended to the very shore. The ancient Utica has suffered still more from the desolating hand of time, than even Carthage; and, owing to the recession of the sea, and the conflux of mud, its situation cannot be determined with accuracy and precision. To the east of Carthage lies the Aquilaria of the ancients, where Curio landed the troops who were cut to pieces by Sabura. The amphitheatre of Jemme, the Tristra of Cæsar, is another remain of antiquity.

Tunis, the ancient Tunes, and the present capital of this kingdom, is neither remarkable for the number of its inhabitants, nor for its public or private edifices; and in these respects is much inferior to Algiers. It is greatly in want of good water; but excepting this disadvantage, no place abounds more in all the necessary articles of life. The city has five gates, none of which are distinguished for their beauty. The houses, in general, are only one story in height, with flat roofs. The bey's palace, which is the most magnificent edifice in the city, contains E e 2 four

four superb gates, one in each front, with a lofty turret at every angle. The courts are spacious the galleries profusely ornamented, and the different apartments very splendid. In Tunis are several colleges and schools, in which the doctors of the laws, and other literati, are maintained. The principal fortification is the castle, which being situated upon an eminence, commands the whole place, and has a grand appearance.

The other cities of note are Bizerta, near which is supposed to be the Sinus Hipponensis of the ancients; Nabel, the Colonia Neapolis of Ptolemy; Cairwan, the Vicus Augusti of antiquity; Beja, the Vecca of Sallust; and Cafsa anciently denominated Capsa.

Tunis resembles Algiers, in that it exhibits the same religion, the same government, the same manners, and the same events, which transferred it from the hands of the Arabs into those of the Turks; weakened the authority of the latter, and at length brought it to such a state of debility, as to be able to nominate and appoint its own masters, under the title of beys, but without entirely rejecting the Turkish influence. Till the commencement of the present century, the grand seignior appointed deys to the government of Tunis; but they were very different from those of Algiers, being representatives without power or authority. By the assistance of a militia, composed of Moors, Arabs, and, above all, renegadoes, the beys rendered themselves completely absolute and independent. The grand seignior no longer sends a dey to Tunis. The divan being chiefly composed of friends and creatures of the bey, seems rather assembled for

the