is desirous of undertaking a similar work to that above mentioned in this language, and another in that of BORNOU. Neither of these dialects has, as yet, been reduced to a written standard. Short Vocabularies exist of them, in the works of various Travellers; but no books have been written in them. I recommended him to begin immediately. He has some idea of doing so on his own account, if he should not be employed by the Royal Institution of Amsterdam; to which, he says, he has written, relative to these undertakings. Understanding from him that the Institution above referred to, had made inquiries relative to the Maltese, I gave him a copy of the Gospel of St. John in that language.

Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1824-Received a case of Scriptures which had been deposited at the Custom-House. It had been opened, and the contents examined. After being asked by the Collector of the Customs from what country I came, and whether the case contained any thing besides books, it was delivered to me free of all expense, except a trifling charge for warehouse-rent and porterage While the books were counting, a well-dressed man, who spoke very good Italian, and I presume was either a Renegado or Christian in the habit of a Turk, informed me that the Collector wished to have an Italian and an Arabic Bible. On presenting him with a copy of each, he simply stated that he was much obliged to me. Some of the bye-standers, of

consequence of their many conquests and colonies, have, in some measure, introduced their own language, of which we have a specimen in the Pænulus of Plautus. And a still greater change must it probably have suffered, from the successive admission of Romans and Vandals into these countries. Thus much, however, is certain, that there is no affinity at all betwixt what may be supposed to be the primitive words in the Showîah (as they call this language at present) and the words which convey the same meaning in the Hebrew and Arabic Tongues. For Thamurt, Arghaz, Thamtuth, Agarum, Aksum, &c. (their names for Earth, a Man, a Woman, Bread, Flesh, &c.) cannot, I presume, be any way related to the Oriental Languages. But the Reader is referred to a Vocabulary of this Language, which is inserted after the Excerpta." (Shaw's Travels, pp. 288, 289.) The specimen which he afterward gives of the Showîah Language consists of about a hundred and twenty words.

whom there were many, said, that if the books were to be given, they were all ready to receive: I told them that if any should wish to purchase, they would find me at the Imperial Inn. The individual who first spoke to me having again alluded to the Arabic Bibles, I said that they were much sought after in Syria; "and," he added, " in Egypt, by the Copts:" from which I infer, that the report of the sale of the Scriptures in Egypt has reached also this country. I said that it was the duty of all to read the Word of God; to which he assented. To two Moors who said they could read, I gave copies of the Arabic Book of Genesis: one began immediately to read aloud.

The Collector of the Customs, Seignior Gelluli, is reputed to be very rich, and has consequently a good deal of influence. His sons, I am told, farm some of the principal situations.

One of the exiled Neapolitan Canons, who resides in the same inn with me, coming into my room, I presented him with some Tracts. He expressed his entire approbation of the object of the Bible Society, which I had explained to him. Having shewed him the Italian Bible, and alluded to the opposition of the Roman-Catholic Clergy, in many parts, to the reading of the Scriptures, he said that perhaps there would not have been so much if they had been printed in › Rome instead of London; adding, jocosely, "But, as England does not acknowledge the Pope, who knows but there may be some poison in these books ?"—meaning, probably, in the English Editions. He stated the number of Franks in Tunis to be about 1200; besides a good many Italians, who are not permanent residents. With reference to Roman Catholics, of which Communion this number is chiefly composed, he said, that it must be confessed, that the greater part here could scarcely be called Christians, or of any religion whatever.

A few further observations, on my part, were relative to the state of Italy, divided between the Superstitious and the Infidels; and the advantages of female education. Mentioning to him what was doing in Malta, in this respect, he

regretted the suppression of the Normal Schools in Italy. He observed, on another occasion, that, without toleration, he could see no hope of doing good to the Mahomedans.

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1824-Called on the English ViceConsul, chiefly to make inquiries relative to reports of the plague. An old Italian Renegado, one of the medical attendants of the Bey, whom I met at the British Consulate, assured Mr. Tulin that there was no cause whatever for alarm; the rumours which were abroad being entirely without foundation. These assurances, however, are not considered so perfectly satisfactory, as to remove all apprehension from the minds of the Europeans; for most of the medical men would probably be afraid to speak of any suspicious cases which might come under their knowledge. It is an undoubted fact, that, at the commencement of the Plague of 1820, its existence was denied by the Government, till the inhabitants were dying so numerously that it could no longer be concealed.

Thursday, Nov. 25-Mordecai Naggiar informed me, that it is difficult to procure any Arabic Manuscripts : they chiefly consist of Books of Mahomedan Devotion. The public venders of them will not allow them to be touched by Jews or Christians, because they contain the name of their Prophet: in consequence, they can only be purchased privately, through a Mahomedan. I was shewn a volume containing about 6000 Proverbs in the Western character, and a Book of Fables: of the Fables I was informed that there is a copy in Paris: the price asked for the Proverbs was 500 piastres. Mordecai told me that the Royal Institution of Amsterdam had also made inquiries of him relative to Manuscripts, and that he was expecting an order for the volume of Proverbs above mentioned.

Gave ten copies of the Arabic Genesis, and two Arabic Testaments, to G. di Pasquale, for distribution, among about 300 Pilgrims, proceeding to Mecca by way of Alexandria, and now on board a brig lying at the Goletta. If they do not meet with a vessel for Alexandria, they sometimes perform the whole distance by land. For a passage to Alexan

dria, they usually pay about six dollars each. They prefer the Spring to any other season of the year, for setting out on their pilgrimage.

VISIT TO THE RUINS OF CARTHAGE.

1

Tuesday, Nov. 30-Visited the Ruins of Carthage, in company with the Danish and American Consuls. They are about ten miles distant from Tunis. The heavy rains, which are generally expected at an earlier period than this, not having as yet set in, the road, which from the lowness of the ground and lightness of the soil would have otherwise been almost impassable, was perfectly dry. On one side, are the remains of the celebrated Aqueduct, by which Carthage was supplied with water from a mountain called Zowan, about thirty miles distant from Tunis: they consist of mere masses of stone and cement, thrown down, and lying at the distance of a few yards from one another.

We proceeded to the inconsiderable village of Malga; containing, as I was informed, about fifty inhabitants: and, from thence, to what are denominated the Smaller Cisterns: they are in an excellent state of preservation, and might be completely repaired at a trifling expense. The Larger Cisterns, or those which received the water from the Aqueduct, are on lower ground, at a short distance from the others: they are at present used by the Bedoween Arabs for habitations, and appeared to be in a much less perfect condition.

Besides what I have mentioned, the observer is struck with the view of fragments of mosaic pavements, chips of marble, and shreds of earthen vessels, which lie scattered in every direction. Doubtless many valuable remains of Antiquity are buried under the soil; but researches of this kind are not only very expensive, but are also of too absorbing a nature for those whose business is with the living.

Wednesday, Dec. 1-Slept last night at El Marsa, at the house of the Danish Consul; and walked with him, this morning, to Sidi Buseid, a village on the most-elevated part of Cape Carthage, and at about an hour's distance from the ruins. From the remains of an old castle, called the Tower of St. Louis, we had a fine view of the surrounding country,

the Roads and Lake of Tunis, Porto Farina, the Island of Zimbra, and Cape Bon. I had taken with me a few copies of the Arabic Genesis; but, the inhabitants being represented as extremely superstitious, I was recommended not to attempt the distribution of them: a well-dressed Moor, however, having saluted us and answered a few questions, I presented him with a copy. He received it thankfully, and began to read in the presence of others. I was informed, that, some years ago, Christians were not permitted to enter this village, on account of its reputed sanctity. An old man, who passed for a distinguished saint, was sitting by the side of the road: he was, at least, clean; and there was something respectable in his appearance: the Dragoman, or Janissary, who accompanied us, sat down by him, either at his request or command, for they have some of them a good deal of authority; and was, afterward, conducted by him, seemingly against his will, to visit the tomb of the Saint after whom the village is called. A few coins, as is generally the case on the appearance of strangers, were brought out by the inhabitants; none, however, but such as may be purchased in Tunis without difficulty. In returning home, we met two individuals on their way to the village, each of them having a wax-candle, which I was told was for an offering to the Saint.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AT TUNIS.

A shocking instance of cruelty occurred yesterday, which will give an idea of Judicial Proceedings in Barbary. The two victims of it were a young Jew and a Moorish Woman. It was stated that they had been taken in adultery; but all the circumstances were so improbable, as to leave no doubt on the minds of most persons of the innocence of the parties. The crime was affirmed to have been committed about four days ago, and the individuals were immediately taken to prison. The Young Man was carried before the Bey yesterday morning; and some witnesses came forward, and gave evidence of the fact: the poor Jew, seeing that his death was determined on, as a last resource repeated the Mahomedan Profession of Faith, by which he became a Turk: he was told, however, that it was too late, as he had been in