It is one of great thraldom,yet is nevertheless far superior to what it was previous to the accession of the present monarch Muley Abd al Rahman to the throne;before that period they enjoyed scarcely any of the rights of human beings,and were plundered,beaten,and maimed by the Moslems at pleasure.As the Moors of Barbary are the most fanatic amongst the Mahometans,so are the Barbary Jews the most superstitious of their race,observing in the strictest manner the precepts of the Talmud and the sages.A great many singular ceremonies and usages are to be found amongst them which are not observed by the Hebrews in any other part of the world,more especially at their wedding festivals which are carried on during a period of eleven days,during which the house which is open to all comers exhibits a continual scene of dancing,feasting,and revelry of every description.There is much at these marriages which has served to remind me of those of the Gitanos of Spain at which I have been frequently present,especially the riot and waste practised;for like the Gitano,the Barbary Jew frequently spends during the days of his wedding not only all that he is possessed of,but becomes an embarrassed man for the rest of his life by the sums which he is compelled to borrow in order not to incur the opprobrium of appearing mean on so solemn an occasion.The books current among them are the Bible with the commentaries of the rabbins,parts of the Mischna,and the prayers for all the year;likewise,but more rare,the Zohar,which all speak of with unbounded veneration,though few pretend to understand it.I have not unfrequently seen at their synagogues the Bible Society's edition of the Psalms,and they appeared to prize it highly.
A market is held on every Thursday and Sunday morning beyond the walls of Tangiers in a place called the SOC DE BARRA or outward market-place.Thither repair the Moors from the country,bringing with them corn,fruit and other articles,the productions of their fields and gardens for the consumption of the town.It is my delight to visit this spot which is on the side of a hill,and sitting down on a stone to gaze.What a singular scene presents itself to the view:a wild confusion of men and horses,of donkeys and camels,of countenances of all hues,swarthy and black,livid and pale,of turbans of all dyes,white,green and red,of Jewish skull-caps with here and there an Andalusian hat,of haiks and gaberdines,of arrogant Moors,indifferent Europeans and cringing Hebrews,the latter walking barefooted in the place where the corn is sold,which the Moor says is sacred and unfit to be pressed by the sandals of the dog-Jew.What a hubbub of sounds:the unearthly cry of the enormous camels and the neighing,braying,and bleating of other quadrupeds,mingled with the discordant jabber of various and strange tongues.I have been in many singular places in the course of my existence,but certainly in none more so than the SOC DE BARRA of Tangiers.
