TR A NSLATIONS, &c. 269
and they increase the perplexity by the absence of the sign “ teschdid.’’
In the word “ ma,” water, they insert the hamza,” but do not seem
aware of its import: th e« “ gesma” occurs frequently. All these
difficulties, however, are easily combatted by a thorough knowledge of
the language in its most.perfect state, and I should recommend Lokman’s
fables as, an excellent preparatory book. The simplicity, the style of
narration, the personification, and dialogues, all struck me as strongly
resembling Dongo Kary’s histories,, which were not composed by
himself, but have been delivered from father to son, through a long
succession of Marrabouts. There are doubtless several idioms which
have crept in from the Mediterranean, but which are chiefly confined to
words rather than construction, and are therefore easily detected. We
were in some measure prepared for them, by having collected a number
of manuscript phrases used in the Levant; and on the.Northern Coast of
Africa, but w e found them to be much more rare than we expected.
The astonishment expressed by the Marrabout at seeing me write, not
only my own language, but his also, was very entertaining; as the knowledge
of the Moorish females is confined to the repetition of the hymn and
common prayer; and when I explained the “ hamza” to him, he exclaimed,
as on every other wonderful occasion, “ white man and woman do every
thing; your country pass ours.”
It: will be seen by the translations, that the religious traditions of
African Moors are confused and imperfect. Glimpses of the truth are
mingled with, their own romantic notions, and so long as they ascribe
the highest honours to .Mohammed, they care little for. consistence of
circumstance, or connexion of events. The expressions used by our
Marrabout were frequently so ludicrous, that we could not avoid smiling,
or even laughing, and the seriousness with which he uttered them, added
to the effect caused by his having lost an eye, and by his enormous bush
of woolly hair, which stuck out from his head in every direction. He
would frequently argue with us on the respective merits of our religions,
and I was surprised by his correct acquaintance with the Christian tenets,
and his high opinion of their charitable tendency.! He invariably con fessed
the divinity of our Saviour, as a prophet, and placed him in rank
next to Mahomet.