ments is a knowledge of embroidery and making conserves, of which they are amazingly fond. Having no intercourse with the world, restrained in their pursuits, and guarded with jealousy in their movements, they are ignorant of society and of manners. They marry very young, which, with them, is a civil, and not a religious tie, to be dissolved almost at the will of the husband. The parties never see each other, the match being concluded by the parents, and may be justly compared to a lottery and all its risks -the fortune of the lady, seldom consists of more than a few trunks of clothes, gaudily arranged. The bride is enclosed in a species of cage, covered with silk, and placed on the back of a camel, whose head and tail are ornamented with ribands. A few musicians, and slaves, carrying on their heads dishes of Cooscoso, or Pillaw, together with the rabble, form a procession to the house of the bridegroom, where the ceremony concludes with a feast, and the firing of muskets during the night. Thus allied, without a knowledge of each other's virtues and attractions, without love or sentiment, it will be readily imagined, that the marriage state in Turkey, is but a species of improved slavery. Polygamy being allowed, the husband repudiates his wife when he pleases, by conforming to some frivolous ceremonies. Thus situated, the women finding themselves neglected, without influence or society, without tenderness or affection, they are ever on the alert to intrigue, and particulary with Christians, although they are aware that detection is followed by inevitable destruction to both parties. They walk on the terraces, and frequently unveil themselves. I never passed a Moorish woman on the road, who was generally on a mule, led by a slave, or husband, but she seized upon an opportunity to remove the silk covering from her face, either to gratify her curiosity or my own. They have been known to go to baths, with the hope of meeting with a Christian, and have frequently asked of them, when unobserved, to repeat the manner in which Christians treat their wives, whether kind or affectionate, conciliatory and humane, and the reply always produced melancholy comparisons. When asked by a Christian what would be the consequence of the detection of an intrigue, the Moorish lady replied, "nothing to you; you will only lose your head, but I will be carried about town on a mule, with my face uncovered, and finally drowned in the lake." The sense of shame, creating greater alarm than the punishment of death. The detection of an intrigue, if brought home to the par

ties, is generally punished with death; it is the religion which is violated, and which cannot be appeased by any subordinate sacrifice; hence the Moors' are particularly vigilant, and the women guarded. Having occasion to visit a country-house near Carthage, belonging to a Moor, which was to let, I met the owner at the door, who inquired what my business was; being informed, he proceeded to show me the house, and just as I entered the hall, he asked the drogaman what Consul I was; being answered the American Consul, he cried out suddenly, run and tell the women quick to get out of the way, it is the American Consul who is coming. This is the first time I knew that Americans were objects of so much dread to Moorish husbands. The women waddled to their alcoves, as fast as their corpulent persons would permit, and I discovered some, peeping through the crevices of the curtains.

An Irish captain of dragoons, who was on a visit to Tunis, accompanied me one day to the palace at Bardo, after having received a very necessary caution, not to indulge his curiosity in looking in at the windows of the harem. Such admonitions, with gentlemen of his nation, lose their effect, and in crossing the patio, he suddenly cried out, there are two beautiful women peeping through the lattices, to whom, without ceremony, he kissed his hand. I expected that this act of well meant gallantry, would, if observed, have been paid by a ball from the musket of some Janizary on guard, fortunately, the action was unnoticed, and on drawing him away from the dangerous spot, accompanied with a necessary expostulation, he excused himself by pleading the utter impossibility of an Irishman's passing a petticoat in a strange country, without a complimentary salute.

The ladies of the harem dress very richly, having no employ. - ment, their day is principally devoted to the toilet; they wear velvets, silks and gauzes, beautifully embroidered at the bosoms, and cut up in caftans and robes, without taste; bare feet and embroidered slippers, their hair loose and filled with jewels, and heavy earrings and bracelets, and cinctures around their ankles. The costume of a Turkish lady of rank is a singular mixture of splendour, cut up and formed with a barbarous taste, and her appearance betrays a person half civilized and half savage. They use abundance of otto of roses, which is manufactured in Tunis of the first qua lity, and powder their hair with pulverized cloves,

The houses of the natives are very similar, those belonging to the wealthy being on the same scale, though more extensive; a row of ottomans, covered sometimes with silk, sometimes with calico, runs around the room, which is paved with tiles; the terrace of the houses are used for taking the air, and for various domestic purposes, they are very clean, and their cooking is simple and economical. The favourite dish is Cooscoso, which is a species of granulated paste, made of flour, and dried on the terrace. This is steamed down, with beef, fowls, vegetables of several kinds, eggs, marrow, saffron and cinnamon, and is really an excellent dish. A girl, when she is engaged to be married, is generally stuffed with Cooscoso, to fatten her according to the standard of taste, which generally succeeds; they also stew beef with raisins and chestnuts; their table is but a few inches from the floor, around which they sit on cushions, using no knives or forks, but pulling the victuals to pieces with their fingers, which is generally cooked to rags, and easy of dissection; their drink consists of water, lemonade, and sherbet; sometimes, when alone, the better order enjoy a bottle of claret; water and clean towels conclude the ceremony of eating. Coffee is an article of great consumption, all descriptions of Turks use it abundantly, even the poor labourer rests from his work to drink a small cup of thick coffee, which is sold to him in the street for an asper. Clear, strong coffee, in a handsome China cup, is presented to all visiters in respectable houses.— The poor live very abstemious, they purchase a large roll of excellent bread, scoop out the centre, which they fill with sweet oil, and thus they walk the streets, breaking off pieces of bread, which they dip in the oil, until the whole is consumed. Abdallah, my Persian drogaman, who received but a trifling compensation, came by day break to the Consulate, with a small basket, containing a few black olives, a roll, and a small jar of oil, which was his daily provision, excepting on Sunday, when he dined at the house, and had a bottle of wine.

The funeral rites of the Moors have been frequently detailed, and the honours which they pay to the dead, is strangely irreconcilable with their habits and opinions. The grief expressed for the loss of a friend, is deep and sincere. Scarcely has the breath left the body, when it is dressed, perfumed, and hurried to the grave, which expedition is accounted for, by the belief, that the happiness