are a people which inhabit that part of Biledulgerid (see Encyc.) that borders on the territories of the Emperor of Morocco. They are a mixed race, being descended from the ancient Arabs and fugitive Moors; and they occupy a space of land, of which the limits are indicated by lofty columns placed at intervals towards the desert. Their territory extends from about 30 leagues beyond Cape Nom, to the distance of 20 leagues from St Croix or Agadir. Though of different qualities, it is, for the most part, very fertile, and produces the necessaries of life with little cultivation. The plains are watered by an infinite number of streams, and abound with palm, date, fig, and almond trees. The gardens produce excellent grapes, which are dried by the Arabs, and converted into brandy by the Jews. Great quantities of oil, wax, and tobacco, appear in the public markets.

More industrious and more laborious than their neighbours, the Monselemine nation cultivates the earth. The chiefs of families choose the ground most fit for cultivation. Its surface is turned slightly over with a kind of hoe, and then the seed is thrown upon it; the field is surrounded with bushes, to mark the spot, and to preserve it from the cattle of the wandering Arabs. When the crop is ripe, which is generally at the end of August, three months after the sowing of the seed, it is cut about six inches from the ear, and formed into little bundles; during which time every one labours without intermission from morning to night. The corn is brought before the tent, threshed, winnowed, and placed in the magazines. When the harvest is over, they set fire to the long stubble, and abandon the field for two or three years. Their magazines are large holes in the earth, formed like the frustum of a cone, the inside of which are hardened by burning wood in them, before the half winnowed corn be deposited. When filled with corn, they are covered with planks placed close to each other; over which a layer of earth is laid level with the foil, to prevent it from being discovered by enemies. In these magazines every one shares in proportion to the number of men he employed in the common labour.

The inhabitants of the plains remain by the cultivated fields in feed time, and return at the time of harvest. During the intervals they wander in all directions with their cattle, taking only necessaries along with them, and having recourse to the magazines when they require

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(a) Such is the French and German account of his discovery of this planet; but our readers have been very attentive, if they have not perceived, in various articles of this Work, complete proofs of the plagiarism of our neighbours on the Continent, from the celebrated philosophers and divines of England. As it is extremely probable that, half a century hence, a claim may be put in for Le Monnier's discovery of the Georgian Sidus (Uranus), similar to that which in 1757 the editor of Abbé St Roial's works put in for that Abbé being the author of Leslie's Short Method with the Dial (see Leslie in this Suppl.), we think it our duty to declare, that in 1800 there was no evidence whatever on which to found that claim, and that the discovery was then universally allowed to have been made by Herschel. quire a supply. The more opulent people, and the artisans who are engaged in sedentary occupations, dwell in towns, which are all situated upon the declivity of hills. Their houses are built of stone and earth, according to the Moorish construction, low and covered with sloping terraces; yet they are so much injured by the heavy rains which prevail for three months of the year, as to be rendered uninhabitable in 15 or 20 years. Those who reside in towns are generally weavers, shoemakers, goldsmiths, potters, &c., and have no cattle; but the more opulent persons have flocks and herds of cows, horses, camels, sheep, goats, besides poultry, which are kept by their slaves at a distance from the towns. In the towns they take two meals a day; one at ten o'clock, and the other at the setting of the sun, though the inhabitants of the country only eat in the evening. In the towns they sleep in mats upon the floors of their apartments, and make use of linen; but the inhabitants of the country sleep upon terraces in the open air. The pastoral families of the country practice hospitality like those of the desert, and make the traveller pay nothing for his entertainment. In the towns this practice is impossible, as the concourse of strangers, especially on market-days, would soon impoverish the inhabitants. In this manner hospitality is always extinguished among a trading and commercial people. It is only where the superfluity of commodities runs necessarily to waste, that it is ever practised in a great extent; but where every commodity can find a market, every kind of property acquires a definite value, and will be preserved with the same care as money.

By M. Saugnier the government of the Monfelemines is said to be republican; but he writes inconsistently about it. In one place, he says that they choose their chiefs annually; in another, that in the time of war they choose from the natives or fugitive Moors indiscriminately, chiefs, whose authority lasts no longer than the campaign, during which it is absolute; and he afterwards represents their government as a kind of theocracy, during war as well as peace. But we must follow him in his detail, as it has been well arranged in a late anonymous publication, entitled, An Historical Sketch of Discoveries in Africa.

At the end of each campaign, he says the chief gives an account of his actions to the assembled aged men, and is rewarded or punished according to his conduct; after which his successor is appointed, and he serves in the army he commanded as an undistinguished individual. The country is populous, and would be still more so, were it not for the continual wars which its inhabitants are obliged to support against the Emperor of Morocco. The liberty they enjoy imparts energy and courage to their character, and renders their arms invincible to the Moors. They consider it as the most invaluable possession, and defend it to the last extremity. The nature of the country, surrounded on every side by steep and arid mountains, contributes to frustrate the efforts of their enemies. The Monfelemine, richer than the subject of Morocco, is always well clothed and armed. He pays no tribute, enjoys the fruit of his labour and commerce, and, as no contributions are requisite for the charges of the state, whatever he acquires is his own. The fugitive Moors are never armed, except when they go to battle; but the natives go continually armed, whether they reside in the country, resort to the markets, attend the assemblies of the nation, or pay visits.

As the Monfelemine territory is the retreat of the rich Moors, who wish to fly from the tyranny of the Emperor of Morocco, they are too well acquainted with the Moorish customs to be surprised by that prince. No sooner does a Moorish army take the field, than the inhabitants of the country canton mount their horses, and occupy the passes of the mountains; while the women and slaves, escorted by a sufficient number of warriors, retire to the interior parts of the country, or, if they be hard pressed, to the desert. Among the pastoral tribes there are many that addict themselves entirely to arms, and serve as cavalry in the time of war. During peace they escort caravans, or exercise themselves in military evolutions, and the management of their horses. Being almost always on horseback, and wearing no boots, they have a callous lump on that part of the leg that comes in contact with the iron of the stirrup. Their horses, which they break in an admirable manner, are the best in the world; as they are treated with great care by their masters, they know them, and are obedient to their voice, and will admit no stranger to mount them.

The Monfelemines derive their origin and name from Moeflama, a contemporary of Mahomet; and, in their love of liberty, as well as in many of their customs, resemble the Arabs of remoter times. They respect the prophet like other Mahometans; but neither believe that he was infallible, nor that his descendants are all inspired by God, nor that their will should be a law, nor that such faith is necessary in order to be a good Mahometan. Their priests are respected, and in old age generally become the civil judges of the nation; but the influence of the high priest is almost despotic. Though he has no troops, he may command the nation; and war and peace depend upon his will. Though he has no property, everything is at his disposal; he requires nothing from any one, and yet all are inclined to give. He administers justice according to the opinion of his council, without pretending to be inspired by the prophet.

On Friday the Monfelemines assemble in their mosques to pray: this is likewise the day of their principal market, when their merchandise is exposed to sale in the public squares, where the old men judge without appeal, when disputes arise. Different from their neighbours of Morocco and Sahara, the Monfelemines never attempt to make proselytes. Their Christian slaves are treated with humanity; but they owe this to the avarice of their masters. These detest Christians, but they love money, and are afraid lest sickness or death should deprive them of the ransom of the slave, or of the advantage of his labour. Among the inhabitants of the desert, a Christian, that adopts the religion of Mahomet, is admitted as a citizen and member of the family, and is presented with cattle to form an establishment. The Monfelemines pay more attention to the value of their property than the situation of the infidel. A Christian who enters a mosque at Morocco is put to death, or forced to assume the turban. The Monfelemines would turn him civilly out, and content themselves with imposing the highest possible fine. Among the Moors, a Christian discovered in an intrigue with a woman of that nation suffers death, or submits to conversion; but the Monselemines prefer money to religion. From them the Christian has nothing to fear: the woman alone is punished, being put into a sack, and thrown into the sea. If a Christian slave among the neighbouring nations defends himself against his master, he is punished with death; but money saves him among the Monselemines; he would at most receive a slight correction.

The Jews are allowed the free exercise of their religion among the Monselemines, but are treated with the same indignity as among other Mahometan tribes. A Jew is not permitted to carry arms; and if he should make use of them against an Arab, he would be punished with death, and probably involve his family in his fate. The Jews inhabit the towns only, where they follow trade and various arts, but are not allowed to cultivate the earth.

Polygamy is permitted, as in other Mahometan countries; but the situation of the women is more respectable, and they are not so much secluded as among the Moors. They mingle more in society, walk at large, and visit their friends; neither are their apartments inviolable. Among the Monselemines, that degrading picture of humanity is never seen which sometimes occurs in Morocco, a woman drawing the plough with an ass, a mule, or some other beast of burden. More happy than the women of the Sahara, and treated with greater attention by their husbands, they are more humane in their dispositions. Like other Arab women, they stain the edges of their eyelids black with henna, and paint their faces red and yellow. Their children are brought up with great care, and are not obliged to exhibit proofs of their courage before they can be considered as men, as is the custom in the desert. Avarice is the principal defect in the character of the Monselemines. They hoard their money with the utmost care, bury it in the earth, and in many cases die without discovering their secret even to their children. Miser, says M. Saugnier, should go to that country, where they would learn means of economy; which would shew them, that, in comparison with the Monselemines, they are themselves perfect prodigals.

The medicinal applications of the Monselemines, which differ not from those of the Mongearts and other inhabitants of the desert, are extremely simple, but appear sufficiently complex from the mummery of the priests, who are the depositaries of their medical science. Flesh wounds are cauterized with a hot iron, and then covered with herbs dipped in turtles oil and tar. In headaches, a compress is applied with such violence that the blood flows from the forehead. In internal diseases, the general remedies are regimen, rest, and a few maxims of the Koran mysteriously applied to the affected parts.