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not make them slaves； but received them as people friendly to them；
and at their devotion； which matter was public and notorious。'
Of the Moors and the Gitanos we shall have occasion to say
something in the following chapter。
CHAPTER VI
THERE is no portion of the world so little known as Africa in
general； and perhaps of all Africa there is no corner with which
Europeans are so little acquainted as Barbary； which nevertheless
is only separated from the continent of Europe by a narrow strait
of four leagues across。
China itself has； for upwards of a century； ceased to be a land of
mystery to the civilised portion of the world； the enterprising
children of Loyola having wandered about it in every direction
making converts to their doctrine and discipline； whilst the
Russians possess better maps of its vast regions than of their own
country； and lately； owing to the persevering labour and searching
eye of my friend Hyacinth； Archimandrite of Saint John Nefsky； are
acquainted with the number of its military force to a man； and also
with the names and places of residence of its civil servants。 Yet
who possesses a map of Fez and Morocco； or would venture to form a
conjecture as to how many fiery horsemen Abderrahman； the mulatto
emperor； could lead to the field； were his sandy dominions
threatened by the Nazarene？ Yet Fez is scarcely two hundred
leagues distant from Madrid； whilst Maraks； the other great city of
the Moors； and which also has given its name to an empire； is
scarcely farther removed from Paris； the capital of civilisation：
in a word； we scarcely know anything of Barbary； the scanty
information which we possess being confined to a few towns on the
sea…coast； the zeal of the Jesuit himself being insufficient to
induce him to confront the perils of the interior； in the hopeless
endeavour of making one single proselyte from amongst the wildest
fanatics of the creed of the Prophet Camel…driver。
Are wanderers of the Gypsy race to be found in Barbary？ This is a
question which I have frequently asked myself。 Several respectable
authors have； I believe； asserted the fact； amongst whom Adelung；
who； speaking of the Gypsies； says： 'Four hundred years have
passed away since they departed from their native land。 During
this time； they have spread themselves through the whole of Western
Asia； Europe； and Northern Africa。' （22） But it is one thing to
make an assertion； and another to produce the grounds for making
it。 I believe it would require a far greater stock of information
than has hitherto been possessed by any one who has written on the
subject of the Gypsies； to justify him in asserting positively that
after traversing the west of Europe； they spread themselves over
Northern Africa； though true it is that to those who take a
superficial view of the matter； nothing appears easier and more
natural than to come to such a conclusion。
Tarifa； they will say； the most western part of Spain； is opposite
to Tangier； in Africa； a narrow sea only running between； less wide
than many rivers。 Bands； therefore； of these wanderers； of course；
on reaching Tarifa； passed over into Africa； even as thousands
crossed the channel from France to England。 They have at all times
shown themselves extravagantly fond of a roving life。 What land is
better adapted for such a life than Africa and its wilds？ What
land； therefore； more likely to entice them？
All this is very plausible。 It was easy enough for the Gitanos to
pass over to Tangier and Tetuan from the Spanish towns of Tarifa
and Algeziras。 In the last chapter I have stated my belief of the
fact； and that moreover they formed certain connections with the
Moors of the coast； to whom it is likely that they occasionally
sold children stolen in Spain； yet such connection would by no
means have opened them a passage into the interior of Barbary；
which is inhabited by wild and fierce people； in comparison with
whom the Moors of the coast； bad as they always have been； are
gentle and civilised。
To penetrate into Africa； the Gitanos would have been compelled to
pass through the tribes who speak the Shilha language； and who are
the descendants of the ancient Numidians。 These tribes are the
most untamable and warlike of mankind； and at the same time the
most suspicious； and those who entertain the greatest aversion to
foreigners。 They are dreaded by the Moors themselves； and have
always remained； to a certain degree； independent of the emperors
of Morocco。 They are the most terrible of robbers and murderers；
and entertain far more reluctance to spill water than the blood of
their fellow…creatures： the Bedouins； also； of the Arabian race；
are warlike； suspicious； and cruel； and would not have failed
instantly to attack bands of foreign wanderers； wherever they found
them； and in all probability would have exterminated them。 Now the
Gitanos； such as they arrived in Barbary； could not have defended
themselves against such enemies； had they even arrived in large
divisions； instead of bands of twenties and thirties； as is their
custom to travel。 They are not by nature nor by habit a warlike
race； and would have quailed before the Africans； who； unlike most
other people； engage in wars from what appears to be an innate love
of the cruel and bloody scenes attendant on war。
It may be said； that if the Gitanos were able to make their way
from the north of India； from Multan； for example； the province
which the learned consider to be the original dwelling…place of the
race； to such an immense distance as the western part of Spain；
passing necessarily through many wild lands and tribes； why might
they not have penetrated into the heart of Barbary； and wherefore
may not their descendants be still there； following the same kind
of life as the European Gypsies； that is； wandering about from
place to place； and maintaining themselves by deceit and robbery？
But those who are acquainted but slightly with the condition of
Barbary are aware that it would be less difficult and dangerous for
a company of foreigners to proceed from Spain to Multan； than from
the nearest seaport in Barbary to Fez； an insignificant distance。
True it is； that； from their intercourse with the Moors of Spain；
the Gypsies might have become acquainted with the Arabic language；
and might even have adopted the Moorish dress； ere entering
Barbary； and； moreover； might have professed belief in the religion
of Mahomet； still they would have been known as foreigners； and； on
that account； would have been assuredly attacked by the people of
the interi