through their territory, between Barbary and Soudan.
However, the predominant feature of their character is self-
interest ; and although in their dealings amongst strangers,
or in the towns, they assume a great appearance of fairness
and sincerity, yet they are not scrupulous when they have
the power in their own hands: and like the other Berrebbers,
they are occasionally guilty of the most atrocious acts of
treachery and murder, not merely against Christians (for
that is almost a matter of course with all the people of their
nation) but even against Mohammedan travellers, who have
the imprudence to pass through their country without
having previously secured the protection of one of their
chiefs.
As the Shilluh have been said to be sincere and faithful
in their friendships, so are they on the other hand, perfectly
implacable in their enmities and insatiable in their revenge.*
* The following anecdote, to the catastrophe of which I was an eye-witness
will exemplify in some degree these traits of their character. A Shilluh having
murdered one of his countrymen in a quarrel, fled to the Arabs from the vengeance
of the relations of his antagonist; but not thinking himself secure even
there, he joined a party of pilgrims and went to Mecca. From this expiatory
journey he returned at the end of eight or nine years to Barbary; and proceeding
to his native district, he there sought (under the sanctified name of E l Hnje,
the Pilgrim,—a. title of reverence amongst the Mohammedans) to effect a reconciliation
with the friends of the deceased. They, however, upon hearing of his
return, attempted to seize him; but owing to the fleetness of his horse he
escaped and fled to Mogadore, having been severely wounded by a musket ball
in his flight. His pursuers followed him thither; but the Governor of Mogadore
hearing the circumstances of the case, strongly interested himself in behalf
of the fugitive, and endeavoured, but in vain, to effect a reconciliation. The
Their country produces grain in abundance; cattle, wax,
almonds, and various valuable articles of trade.
I have already said, that the languages of all thé Berrebber
tribes are totally different from the Arabic; but whether
they are corrupted dialects of the ancient Punic, Numidian,
or Mauritanian, I must leave to others to determine. That
of the Errifï, I am told, is peculiar to themselves. It has
also been asserted that the language of the Berrebbers of
the interior, and of the Shilluh, are totally distinct from each
other; but I have been assured by those who are conversant
with them, that although differing in many respects,
they are really dialects of the same tongue.
Like the Arabs, the Berrebbers are divided into numerous
petty tribes or clans, each tribe or family distinguishing
man was imprisoned; and his persecutors then hastened to Morocco to seek
justice of the Emperor. That prince, it-is said, endeavoured to save the prisoner
; and to add weight to his recommendation, offered a pecuniary compensation
in lieu of the offender's life; which the parties, although persons of mean
condition, rejected. They returned triumphant to Mogadore, with the Emperor’s
order for the delivery of the prisoner into their hands: and having
taken him out of prison, they immediately conveyed him without the walls
of the town, where one of the party, loading his musket before die face of
their victim, placed the muzzle to his breast and shot him through the bodv ;
but as the man did not immediately fall, he drew his dagger and by repeated
stabbing put an end, to his existence. The calm intrepidity with which this
unfortunate Shilluh stood to meet his fate, could not be witnessed without the
highest admiration ; and, however much we must detest die blood-thirstiness of
his executioners, we must still acknowledge that tiiere is something closely
allied to nobleness of sentiment in the inflexible perseverance with which they
pursued die murderer of their friend to punishment, without being diverted from
their purpose by the strong inducements of self-interest.