same language, totally different from the Arabic. The
subdivisions of this class are—1 st. the Errifi, who inhabit
the extensive mountainous province of that name on the
shores of the Mediterranean; 2dly. the Berrebbers of the
Interior, who commence on the southern confines of Errif,
and extend to the vicinity of Fez and Mequinez, occupying
all the mountains and high lands in the neighbourhood of
those cities; 3dly. the Berrebbers of Middle Atlas; and,
4thly. the Shilluh of Suse and Haha, who extend from
Mogadore southward to the extreme boundaries of the
dominions of the Cid Heshem, and from the sea coast to
the eastern limits of the mountains of Atlas.
The Errifi are a strong and athletic race of people, hardy
and enterprising; their features are generally good, and
might in many cases be considered handsome, were it not
for the malignant and ferocious expression which marks
them in common with the Berrebber tribes in general, but
which is peculiarly striking in the eye of an Errif. They
also possess that marked feature of the Berrebber tribes, a
scantiness of beard; many of the race, particularly in the
south, having only a few straggling hairs on the upper lip,
and a small tuft on the chin. They are incessantly bent on
robbing and plundering ; in which they employ either open
violence or cunning and treachery, as the occasion requires;
and they are restrained by no checks either of religion,
morals, or humanity. However, to impute to them in particular,
as distinct from other inhabitants of Barbary, the
crimes of theft, treachery, and murder, would certainly be
doing them great injustice; but I believe I may truly
describe them as more ferocious and faithless than any
other tribe of Berrebbers.
The Berrebbers of the districts of Fez, Mequinez, and the
mountains of Middle Atlas, strongly resemble the Errifi in
person, but are said to be not quite so savage in disposition.
They are a warlike people, extremely tenacious of the
independence which their mountainous country gives them
opportunities of asserting, omit no occasion of shaking off
the controul of government, and are frequently engaged in
open hostilities with their neighbours the Arabs, or the
Emperor’s black troops. They are, as I am informed, the
only tribes in Barbary who use the bayonet. The districts
which they inhabit are peculiarly interesting and romantic;
being a succession of hills and vallies well watered and
wooded, and producing abundance of grain and pasturage.
The Shilluh, or Berrebbers of the south of Barbary, differ
in'several respects from their brethren in the north. They
are rather diminutive in person; and besides the want of
beard already noticed, have in general an effeminate tone of
voice. They are, however, active and enterprising. They
possess rather more of the social qualities than the other
tribes, appear to be susceptible of strong attachments and
friendships, and are given to hospitality. They are remarkable
for their attachment to their petty chieftains; and the
engagements or friendships of the latter are held so sacred
that I never heard of an instance of depredation being committed
on travellers furnished with their protection, (which
it is usual to purchase with a present) or on any of the
valuable caravans which are continually passing to and fro