He offered to accompany me, if I would go; but said that it would be requisite to change my dress. There are several tribes: "Some," he stated, "are not good Mussulmans." They have frequent wars among themselves: but all animosity ceases, when they are threatened by the Algerines; by whom, he says, they have never yet been subjugated. He stated himself to be the only surviving one of several brothers, and that all the others had been killed in wars with the Algerines. They have no books in their language: when they have any thing to write, they go to some one who understands Arabic, and get him to write it for them. A good many, he said, speak a little Arabic; particularly those who have business with the low country. I shewed him the Book of Genesis: but he read it with difficulty, partly on account of the smallness of the print and partly because of its being in the Mesherki or Eastern character; probably also, in part, because Arabic was not his native tongue. He declined receiving it, because, he said, it would be of no use to him.

Friday, Dec. 17-I discontinued taking lessons in Arabic, and paid Mordecai Naggiar for one month.

Took account of the Scriptures on hand, and put up two cases for Susa and Sfax.

Saturday, Dec. 18-In consequence of a great many piastres, the circulating medium of Tunis, having been from time to time sent out of the country, the Bey has come to the determination of debasing the coin. It is greatly believed, that this measure, added to stricter regulations to prevent the exportation of any kind of specie, will operate as a further embarrassment to trade, which is stated to be already in a very languishing condition.

During my residence in this country, there have been, on an average, about nine vessels in the Roads and Canal, at one time. Allowing each of them a month, and supposing this to be the usual number and such to be the average length of their stay, which I have understood to be the case, the yearly total would be 108. The principal trade is with Marseilles, Genoa, and Leghorn.

I gave a Spanish Testament to a poor carpenter, who lives

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under my window. He lost all his property in a storm in the Bay of Tunis, about four years ago, when twenty merchantvessels and a considerable part of the Bey's fleet perished, together with nearly 2000 seamen. When I asked him if he was poor, he lifted up his hands; and, shewing them, said that he had nothing else to depend on. He regretted having lost, with his other property, a Spanish Testament, which had been given him at Mahon. He refused to take any thing for work which he had done for me at various times; but requested another Spanish Testament, for a man with whom he worked. He observed, that if these books were generally distributed in his country, it would not be in its present condition.

Monday, Dec. 20, 1824-Mordecai Naggiar brought me the last sheet of a Collection of Arabic Proverbs, extracted from a book in his possession, and in common use among the Natives of Barbary. The Selection consists of thirteen sheets full; but it will require a careful revision, as some of them, however expressive or adapted to the taste of this country, are inconsistent with common delicacy.

The Jews are hiding their cooking utensils, to prevent their being taken by the Bey's people; who, it is said, are going about to collect copper for the purpose of debasing the coin.

I dined with Mr. Tulin, and afterward accompanied him and his family to the house of his brother the Swedish Consul. A younger brother, who had a few days previously returned from Susa, informed me that the population of that town is estimated at about 20,000. In it there are three or four Christian Families. It is not considered perfectly safe, at present, to travel between Susa and Sfax: the danger arises from recent disturbances, which are not yet entirely suppressed. Oil and soap are the principal articles of export.

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Tuesday, Dec. 21-Had some conversation relative to the trade of Tunis. During the last few years, there has been no direct intercourse with England. My companion shewed me samples of oil, and stated that it was capable of being made equal to any which is produced in Italy. The prejudice against this country which exists in England, is adduced as a

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reason that the trade has not been more cultivated. sequence of the bad policy of the Government, there is a great deal of uncultivated land. Referring to the subject of Slavery, he stated that the price of Slaves is now much reduced. Smyrna and Constantinople were formerly considerable markets; but Masters of Vessels are now reluctant to become parties to this traffic, owing to the risk to which they would render themselves liable.

VISIT TO BIZERTA.

Wednesday, Dec. 22-At day-light this morning, I set out for Bizerta, a town on the sea-coast, about 45 miles to the north-north-west of Tunis. It is the Hippo Zaritensis of the ancients. There is a regular communication with this place from Tunis, two or three times a week. The caravans, however, are sometimes very small: that with which I travelled consisted of four animals, accompanied by two men.

After passing through the olive-grounds in the neighbourhood of Tunis, which extend in this direction to the distance of seven or eight miles, we entered on a very extensive and fertile plain; and crossed the Megerda, after travelling for about six hours. The banks of this river are about sixty feet apart. The stream, (if stream it may be called, for its motion was scarcely perceptible when I crossed it, is at present about thirty feet wide and two feet deep; but it becomes rapid after heavy rains, and sometimes rises very suddenly. Near the spot where we crossed, there are the remains of an ancient bridge: it has been partly rebuilt; and a sufficient number of hewn stones for its completion are now lying by

Bochart having given a very learned and satisfactory account of the derivation of the name Hippo Zaritensis, or Hippo Diarrhytus, (Vide Chanaan, Lib. I. Cap.24. Col. 474,475.) takes notice of the other Hippo, called Hippo Regius, which is more to the west, and was formerly the episcopal seat of St. Augustine. He adds, however-for which no sufficient authority is given-" Duorum Hipponum hodie, Regius solus superest." The passage, which he quotes immediately after from Victor Uticensis, only alludes to Hippo Regius, as still existing; but not to the exclusion of Hippo Zaritensis, which is Bizerta.

the side of the river. It was stated to me that they had been dug out of the ruins of Utica. The work has been disconti nued for some time, and will probably never be resumed by the present Government.

Continuing our route, after leaving the Megerda, through country more or less cultivated, we descended into the Plain of Utica. The ground is low; and, in a great measure, overgrown with rushes. What are supposed to be the ruins of the ancient city are seen at the distance of about a mileand-a-half from the road. There is a line of hills at the extremity of this plain, very rugged; and, when you have ascended it, the country, for a considerable distance, assumes a less fertile aspect. I observed a few inconsiderable piles of ruins here and there. Leaving El Alia (a town situated on high ground, as the name of it denotes) at some distance on our right, we passed a small inhabited village about five miles from Bizerta. Here we arrived a little before sunset. Seignior G. Manucci, the English Vice-Consul of Bizerta, had called upon me in Tunis, and I was kindly received into the house of that gentleman.

Bizerta is situated on the western side of a very narrow irregular channel, which communicates with the sea on the north, and on the south with an extensive Lake which reaches six or seven miles inland. We crossed the channel, from the eastern side, by a stone bridge, 15 to 20 feet wide; on the right of which is a portion of the channel, which anciently formed a commodious harbour: it is now, however, too shallow to admit of the entrance of vessels. quence of the danger to which vessels are exposed while. lying in the open roads on the north, it is but seldom that Masters of Ships can be induced to proceed to this Port during the winter seasen. The principal article of exportation is corn.

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Like other Turkish towns, Bizerta has a neat appearance at a distance, but is in reality very mean and filthy. It is surrounded by a wall; and is fortified toward the sea, by two or three castles. A chain, of considerable thickness, is thrown across the mouth of the channel. There are likewise

still existing the remains of an ancient pier, which seems to have been carried out to some distance into the roads: about fifteen yards of it are still in a tolerable state of repair.

Seignior Manucci informed me that the town contains about 14,000 inhabitants. I should have formed a much lower estimate, judging from its dimensions.

The Kiaya, it is said, pays 40,000 piastres a year for the situation.

I found in Bizerta four Christian Families, consisting of about thirty individuals. The whole were unfurnished with the Holy Scriptures. The French and Sardinian ViceConsuls purchased two copies of the Italian Bible and one Italian Testament: to Seignior Manucci, I gave an Italian Bible, and two Italian Testaments to his son and daughter. I gave also an Italian Testament to a labouring man, who could read a little, and had a numerous family. These Christians have no School, nor any stated religious instruction. To some of the children who could read, I distributed a few Italian Tracts.

The Jews are said to amount to 500; and were represented to me as being very poor. They have one Synagogue, and four Rabbies; of whom one is considered as their Superior, two superintend the education of children, and the other conducts the Service of the Synagogue. I sent out a young man, a Jew, to announce that I had copies of the Scriptures to sell, with specimens: he brought them back, saying that both Jews and Mahomedans refused to purchase.

I left with Seignior Manucci 25 copies in Arabic, French, Italian, and Hebrew, which he engaged to endeavour to dispose of. He also expressed an intention of reading the Italian Bible every evening with his own family. Agreeably to the persuasion of the Roman-Catholics, he expressed to me his conviction, with an air of much sincerity, that the souls of many Moorish Children are saved, by a practice which the Christian Women use when they hear of infants being sick they pay the family a visit, and endeavour secretly to baptize the Children.

It had been stated to me in Tunis, that Bizerta was