328 FRAGMENTS athletic and robust as the Berebbers. Their language has been represented to be similar to that of the Berebbers, but that is evidently a mistake ; I have travelled through their country, and through the country of the Berebbers, and have conversed with hundreds, nay, I may say, with thousands of them : I have no hesitation in declaring them to be a different race. Their language, costume, and habits differ ; the Shelluhs, however, possess the same art and duplicity with the Berebbers.

The Arabs, who live in douars of tents, and inhabit the immense plains west of the Atlas, are the agriculturists of the country. They form the principal population of this terrestrial paradise ; they are for the most part emigrations from the Sahara, several centuries ago, and speak the true Arabic language. These are a fine race of men, possessing, in a superlative degree, some of the noblest qualities of the human race. To these may be added The Jews, who wear a distinguishing costume, and a black cap ; they are all engaged in trade, and form one-seventh of the population of the walled habitations. They are held in great contempt, and are treated very rudely by the Arabs, and therefore are seldom met with among the encampments of that people.

A douar is a village of tents ; these tents are made of goats' and camels' hair ; they are made by the females, are of a close texture, extremely warm, and impervious to the rain : thus they