MOGKABIX SOLDIERS, 139 earth. Shoes must never be wanting, however old or bad. Thus they dress and ornament themselves for tliemselves alone, as thev have little intercourse with the other Arabs, and keep altogether to their own tribe. The greater part of them have come, some thirty years before, from Tripoli, with the family Ladjara, who had there long carried on quarrels and hostilities with the Pascha Juffuff, but had at last to yield. Many are also to be found here from all parts of Barbary, Avho had quitted their native lands in hopes of landing rich prizes and spoil here. They boast highly of their own virtues, and of the great riches and high dignities they held at home ; but all this is false ; one knows only too well the state of things among the Bedouins there, and to this race most of these belong. However, they show themselves good soldiers and horsemen ; although the horses they are supplied with by government are bad enough. Their weapon is a long musket, which they well know how to use. Many have a bi'ace of pistols in addition, but the sabre is only worn by their leaders. They themselves look on it as a useless weapon ; and, in their opinion, war is only to be carried on by firing. They rush on and fire, and as rapidly retire back again. They have to find their own horses and arms, and maintain them ; receive seventy-five piastres monthly, and thirty rupp of durra for their horse, and six for themselves. If the horse dies, or is killed in action, tlien must they from their own means furnish another, and if they have not the means, as is generally the case, then the divan or their leaders supply one, and always at a high price ; so it is too often the case that the soldier remains two or three years in debt, during which time he receives no pay. Besides, their leaders, in the most unlawful way, take the highest interest from their men's pay, which is the same in peace and war ; or they buy necessary articles in the mass, and issue them to the soldier who has no money at two prices. Thus, between the cheating of the divan and their ofl5cers, the poor soldier in the end gets no pay at all. Thus acts the commandant of artillery, thus almost all other commanders ; and the wretched soldiery, who often for many years receive no coin, are then compelled to apply to these Jews for the means of keeping life in themselves. These tricks can be no secret to the Pascha ; and it is well known that Abd-el-Kader, the commandant of artillery, whose monthly pay is