A6S.1,75.2/'? x 0- ■* n ^ '7 • c H li Alf * I 3 BARBARA STATES OLIVER <t BOYD, EDINBURGH BARBARY STATES OLIVER & BOYD, EDINBURGH. i ^! '^Uoo^ HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION THE BARBARY STATES: COMPREHENDING A VIEW OF THEIR CIVIL INSTITUTIONS, ANTIQUITIES, ARTS, RELIGION, LITERATURE, COMMERCE, AGRICULTURE, AND NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. BY THE REV. MICHAEL RUSSELL, LL.D., WITH A MAP, AND ELEVEN ENORAVINOS BY JACKSON. SECOND EDITION. EDINBURGH: OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT ; AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., LONDON. MDCCCXXXV. o, 19 74 ' ENTERED IN STATIONERS’ HALL. TweeddalePrinted Court, by High Oliver Street, & Boyd, Edinburgh. PREFACE. This Volume completes the plan, originally formed by the Publishers of the Edinburgh Cabinet Li- brary, for illustrating the History, the Antiquities, and the Present Condition of Africa. In the first instance, they drew the attention of their readers to the progress of Discovery in that vast continent; describing the natural features of its seve- ral kingdoms, the social state of its people, and there- by bringing into one view all that appeared valuable in the observations of those travellers, whether in ancient or modern times, who have sought to ex- plore the remote recesses of its interior. They next made it their endeavour to collect, within a narrow compass, all that is known respecting Egypt, Nu- bia, and Abyssinia,—those countries so full of inte- rest to the scholar and the antiquary, and which are universally acknowledged to have been the cradle of the arts, so far as the elements of these were com- municated to the inhabitants of Europe. The Work now presented to the Public has for its obiect an historical outline of those remarkable provinces which stretch along the southern shores of the Mediterranean, during the successive periods when they were occupied by the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Vandals, the Arabs, and the Moors ; as well as a delineation of their condition since they acknowledged the dominion of the Porte. 6 PREFACE. No one who has read the annals of Carthage can be ignorant of the importance once attached to this singular country; in which was first exhibited to the eye of European nations the immense political power that may be derived from an improved agri- culture, an active commerce, and the command of the sea. In the plains of Tunis, too, were fought those battles which confirmed the ascendency of Rome, and laid the foundations of that colossal em- pire, whose territory extended from the Danube to the Atlas Mountains, and firom the German Ocean to the banks of the Euphrates. The gigantic con- flict between the two greatest republics of the an- cient world was at length determined among the burning sands of Numidia, or on those shores, which, for many centuries, have been strangers to the civi- lisation and arts diffused around their camps by these mighty rivals for universal sovereignty. Nor are the kingdoms of Northern Africa less in- teresting in an ecclesiastical point of view. The names of Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustin, re- flect honour on the churches of that land; and their works are still esteemed as part of those authentic records whence the divine derives his knowledge of the doctrines, the usages, and institutions of primi- tive Christianity. With relation to the same object, the inroad of the schismatical Vandals, and the con- quest effected by the Arabs, present subjects worthy of the deepest reflection, inasmuch as they led to the gradual deterioration of the orthodox faith, till it was entirely superseded by the imposture of Mo- hammed. On these heads the reader will find some important details in the Chapter on the Religion and Literature of the Barbary States. 6 PREFACE. 7 The writings of recent travellers have thrown a fascinating light over some parts of the ancient Cy- renaica,—a section of the Tripoline territory, which, having enjoyed the benefit of Grecian learning at an early period, still displays the remains of architec- tural skill and elegance, borrowed from the inha- bitants of Athens and Sparta. The position of the several towns composing the celebrated Pen- tapolis, the beauty of the landscape, the fertility of the soil, and the magnificence of the principal edifices, have been, in the course of a few years, not only illustrated with much talent, but ascertained with a degree of accuracy that removes all reason- able doubt. The conjectures of Bruce are confirmed, or refuted, by the actual delineations of Beechey and Della Celia. The modem history of Barbary is chiefly interest- ing from the relations which so long subsisted be- tween its rulers and the maritime states of Europe, who, in order to protect their commerce from vio- lence, and their subjects from captivity, found it occasionally expedient to enter into treaty with the lieutenants of the Ottoman government. The wars which, from time to time, were waged against the rovers of Tunis, Sallee, and Algiers, from the days of the Emperor Charles the Fifth down to the late invasion by the French, are full of incident and ad- venture ; presenting, in the most vivid colours, the triumph of educated man over the rude strength of the barbarian, coupled with the inefficacy of all ne- gotiation which rested on national faith or honour. The records of piracy, which, not many years ago, filled the whole of Christendom with terror and in- dignation, may now be perused with feelings of com- PREFACE. placency, arising from the conviction that the power of the marauders has been broken, and their ravages finally checked. Algiers, after striking its flag to the fleets of Britain, was compelled to obey the soldiers of France,—an event that may be said to constitute a new era in the policy of the Moors, and seems to hold forth a prospect, however indistinct, of civili- sation, industry, and the dominion of law over brutal force and passion, being again established through- out the fine provinces which extend from Cape Spar- tel to the Gulf of Bomba. The Chapter on the Commerce of the Barbary States indicates, at least, the sources of wealth which, under an enlightened rule, might be rendered avail- able, not only for the advantage of the natives, but also of the trading communities on the opposite shores of the Mediterranean. Every where, in the soil, in the climate, and in the situation of the coun- try, are seen scattered, with a liberal hand, the ele- ments of prosperity; and it is manifest that the plains, which were once esteemed the granary of Rome, might again, with the aid of modern science, be rendered extremely productive in the luxuries, as well as the necessaries, of human life. The assiduity of French writers, since the con- quest of Algiers, has afforded the means of becoming better acquainted than formerly with the geology of Northern Africa, as well as with several other branches of Natural History. From the same source have been derived materials for the embellishments introduced into this volume, and also for improving the Map, which the reader will find prefixed. Edinburgh, March 16, 1835. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. ANCIENT HISTOEY. Contrast between the present and ancient Condition of the Barbary States—Viewcence—Revolutions of ancient in that Manners—Remains Country at once sudden of former and Magnifi-entire— rodotus—OriginCountries comprehended of the Term in Barbary—Division, Barbary—Opinion according of Leo Africanus to He- an—Emigrants Eastern People—Colonies from Asia and Arabia—Monumentsfrom Tyre—Foundation which of Carthage denote thaginians—Supposed encouraged Extent of her Agriculture—Various Territory—Remark ofTribes Polybius—Car- subject to Carthage,for a long Timeor in includesAlliance thatwith of her—The all the Barbary History States—First of Carthage ginians—ProvokeAttempt on Sicily andthe ResentmentSardinia—Ambitious of Alexander Views the of Great—First the Cartha- Punic War—Carthage besieged—Second Punic War—Character ofbal Hannibal—Scipio recalled—Is defeated invades at theZama—Third Carthaginian Punic Territory—Hanni- War—Fall of riusCarthage—History and Sylla—Pompey of Jugurtha—Subdued and Caesar—Conclusion, by the Romans—Ma-Page 17 CHAPTER II. CONSTITUTION,PHOENICIAN COLONIES COMMERCE, ON THEAND COASTNAVIGATION OF BARBARY. OF THE Independence of the federated Towns, Utica, Leptis, &c Predo- minancegress described—Originally of Carthage—Constancy a Monarchy, of her Government—Itsbut gradually became Pro- inauistocratical—House public Assemblies—And of Mago—Rights in the Election of ofthe Magistrates—De- People exercised cidedagree—Constitution in all Questions and in Powerwhich ofthe the Kings Senate—The and Senate select could Coun- not cil—Thea General—Some Kings or Resemblance Suffetes—Distinction to Roman between Consuls the and King Hebrew and bliesJudges—Wise of the People—Basis Administration of Powerof Justice—No occupied byjudicial the Senate Assem- ]0 CONTENTS. Trade and Commerce of Carthage—Inherited from the Phoeni- andcians—Her Southern Position Europe—Opposed favourable—Engrossed by the Greeks the atTrade Marseilles— of Africa Isles—TheHer Intercourse Mines with of Sicily, Spain Sardinia,attract her Malta, Notice—Carthaginian and the Balearic westernDealers Coastspenetrate of Spain—Voyages into Ganl—Colonies to Britain in theand theAtlantic—The Tin Islands ther—Poem the ofCarthaginians Festus Avienus—Trade ever entered in theAmber—Question Baltic—Voyage whe- of CoastHanno of towards Africa—The the South—ColoniesTowns built in thatplanted Quarter—The on the western Car- ditionsthaginians of Hanno discovered and HamilcoMadeira—The took Place—Proofs