proceeding was to avoid the risk of recapture world, yet they appear light when calmly exin the Straits of Gibraltar, and also to allow amined and contrasted with other systems of the pirates to remain out longer on their slavery. Most travellers in Mohammedan cruise, unencumbered with prisoners. Nu- countries have remarked the general kindness morous instances of the complicity of Euro- with which slaves are treated. General Eapean powers with this nefarious system might ton, consul of the United States at Tunis in be adduced. Sir Cloudesley Shovel, in 1703, 1799, writes thus:-"Truth and justice deprotected a Barbary pirate from receiving a mand from me the confession, that the Christwell-merited chastisement from a Dutch squa- ian slaves among the barbarians of Africa are dron; but that need not surprise the reader, treated with more humanity than the African for at the same time the gallant admiral had slaves among the Christians of civilized Amerpower under the Great Seal to visit Algiers, ica." John Wesley, when addressing those Tunis, and Tripoli, make the usual presents, connected with the negro slave-trade, said: and "if he could prevail with them to make" You have carried them into the vilest slavewar against France, and that some act of ry, never to end but with life-such slavery hostility was thereupon committed, he was to as is not found with the Turks at Algiers." give such further presents as he should think proper."

In fact, the creed of Islam, not recognizing perpetual and unconditional bondage, gave The political system of the Algerines re- the slave a right of redemption by purchase, quires a few words. The authority of the according to a precept of the Koran. This Porte was soon shaken off, and then the jani- right of redemption was daily claimed and zaries, or soldiers, forming a kind of aristocra- acknowledged in Barbary; and though it was tic democracy, chose a governor from their only the richer class that could immediately own number, under the familiar title of Dey benefit by it, yet it was a great alleviation to (Uncle); and ruled the native Moors as an the general hardship of the system; and numinferior and conquered race. Neither Moor bers of the poorer captives, by exercise of nor Morisco was permitted to have any voice their various trades and professions, realized in the government, or to hold any office under money, and were in a short time able to reit; the wealthiest native, if he met a janizary deem themselves. Again, no prejudice of race in the street, had to give way to let the proud existed in the mind of the master against his soldier pass. The janizaries were all either unhappy bondsman. The meanest Christian Turks or renegades (slaves who had turned slave, on becoming a Mohammedan, was free, Mohammedans): so strictly was this rule car- and enrolled as a janizary, having superior ried out, that the son of a janizary by a Moor- privileges even to the native Moor or Morisish woman was not allowed the privileges of co, and he and his descendants were eligible his father, though the offspring of a janizary to the highest offices in the state. Ladies, and a Christian slave was recognized as one when captured, were invariably treated with of the dominant race. The janizaries were respect, and, till ransomed, lodged in a buildin number about 12,000; their ranks were ing set apart for the purpose, under the charge annually recruited by renegades and adven- of a high officer, similar to our mayor. The turons Turks from the Levant; they served most perfect toleration was extended to the by sea as well as by land, and were employed exercise of the Christian religion; the four in controlling the tributary native chiefs of great festivals of the Roman Church-Christthe interior, and sailing in the piratical cruis- mas, Easter, and the nativities of St. John ers. Piracy being long the basis of this system, and the Virgin-were recognized as holidays the whole foreign policy of the Algerines con- for the slaves. We read of a large slaveholdsisted in claiming the right of maintaining er purchasing a priest expressly for the spiritconstant war with all Christian nations that ual comfort of his bondsmen; and of other did not conciliate them by tribute and trea- masters who regularly, once a week, marched ties. When a European consul arrived at their slaves off to confession. The Algerines Algiers, he always carried a large present to were shrewd enough to prefer a religious slave the dey, and as the latter would, in a short to his less conscientious fellows. "Christiantime, quarrel with and send away the consul, ity," they used to say, "was better for a man in expectation of receiving the usual present than no religion at all." Nor were they zealwith his successor, it was found more conve- ous to make adult converts. "A bad Chrisvient to make an occasional present, than in- tian," they said, "can never make a good cur the trouble and risk of a continual change Mussulman." It was only slaves of known of consuls. In course of time, these occasional presents became a tribute of 17,000 dollars, regularly paid every two years.

good character and conduct who were received into the Moslem community. Children, however, were brought up Mohammedans, adoptThe miseries of Algerine bondage have ed in families, and became the heirs of their long been proverbial over all the Christian adopters. Captured ecclesiastics were treated

with respect, never set to work, but allowed tor paid one dollar to the Father Administrato join the religious houses established in Al- tor, which, if the patient recovered, was regiers. turned to the master, but if he died, was kept One of the greatest alleviations to the mise- to defray his funeral expenses. For a long ries of the captives was the hospital founded period, there was no place of interment allotfor their benefit, by that noble order of monks, ted to the captives; their dead bodies were the Trinitarian Brothers of Redemption. This thrown outside the city walls, to be devoured order was instituted in 1188, during the pon- by the hordes of street-dogs which infest the tificate of Innocent III. Its founder, Jean towns of Mohammedan countries. At length, Matha, was a native of Provence, and, accord-by the noble self-denial of a private indiviing to the old chronicles, a saint from his birth; dual, whose name, we regret to say, we are for when a baby at the breast, he voluntarily unable to trace, a slave's burial-ground was abstained every fast-day! Having entered obtained. A Capuchin-friar, the friend and the priesthood, on performing his first mass, confessor of Don John of Austria, natural son an extraordinary vision was witnessed by the of the Emperor Charles V., was taken capcongregation. An angelic being, clothed in tive. Knowing the esteem in which he was white raiment, appeared above the altar, with held by the prince, an immense sum was dean imploring expression of countenance, and manded for his ransom. The money was imarms crossed; his hands were placed on the mediately forwarded; but instead of purchas heads of two fettered slaves, as if he wished to ing his freedom, the disinterested philanthroredeem them. The fame of this miracle soon pist bought a piece of ground for a burialspread to Rome. Journeying thither, Matha place for Christian slaves, and, devoting himsaid mass before the pope; and the wonderful self to solace the spiritual and temporal wants apparition being repeated, Innocent granted of his unhappy co-religionists, uncomplainingthe requisite concessions for instituting the ly passed the rest of his life in exile and caporder of Redemptionists, whose sole object tivity.

was to collect alms, and apply them to the re- A few years after the founding of this lief and redemption of Christian slaves. With House of the Spanish Hospital, as it was termwhatever degree of suspicion such conventual ed, another Christian religious establishment, legends may be regarded, it is gratifying to the House of the French Mission, was planted find that the order was truly a blessed chari- in Algiers. A certain Duchess d'Eguillon, at ty, and that our own countrymen were among the suggestion of the celebrated philanthropist the earliest and most zealous of its members. Vincent de Paul, who had himself been an Within a year from its institution, Brother Algerine captive, commenced this good work John of Scotland, a professor at Oxford, and by an endowment of 4000 livres per annum. Brother William of England, a priest in Lon- These two religious houses were exempted don, departed on the first voyage of redemp-from all duties or taxes, and mass was pertion, and after many dangers and hardships, formed in them daily with all the pomp and returned from the East with 1286 ransomed splendor of the Romish Church. There was slaves. It was not, however, till 1551 that also a chapel in each of the six bagnes-the the order was enabled to form a regular esta-prisons where the slaves were confined at night blishment at Algiers. In that year, Brother-in which service was performed on Sundays Sebastian purchased a large building, and and holidays. The Greek Church had also a converted it into an hospital for sick and dis- chapel and small establishment in one of the abled slaves. As neither work nor ransom bagnes. Brother Comelin, of the order of Recould be got out of a dead slave, the masters demption, tells us, in his Voyage, that they soon perceived the benefit of the hospital, celebrated Christmas in the Spanish Hospiand they levied a tax on all Christian vessels tal " with the same liberty and as solemnly as frequenting the port to aid in sustaining it. in Christendom. Midnight mass was chanted Among so many captives, there were always to the sound of trumpets, drums, flutes, and plenty of experienced medical men to per- hautboys; so that in the stillness of night the form the requisite duties; and no inconsider- infidels heard the worship of the true God over able revenue to the funds of the institution all their accursed city, from ten at night till was derived by dispensing medicines and ad- two in the morning." Such was Mohammedan vice to the Moslems. A Father Administra- toleration in Algiers, at the period, too, we tor and two brothers of the order constantly should recollect, of the high and palmy days resided in Algiers to manage the affairs of the of the Inquisition. We may easily conceive hospital, which from time to time was extend- what would have been the fate of the infidels ed and improved, till it became one of the if they, by any chance, had invaded the midlargest and finest buildings in the city. The night silence of Rome or Madrid with the owners of slaves who received the benefit of sounds of their worship. The only exceptions this charity, contributed nothing towards it, to the general good treatment and respect bebut on each slave being admitted, his proprie-stowed upon Christian ecclesiastics in Algiers

was, when inspired by a furious zeal for mar-nued them at intervals until she came to antyrdom, they openly insulted the Mohamme- chor. Summoned by these signals of success, dan religion; or when the populace were ex- the inhabitants would flock in numbers to the cited by forced conversions and other intoler- port, there to learn the value of the prize, the ant cruelties practised upon Mussulman slaves circumstances of its capture, and to congratuin Europe. We shall briefly mention two in- late the pirates. Morgan, a quaint old writer, stances of such occurrences. many years attached to the British consulate, One Pedro, a brother of Redemption, had says:-"These are the times when Algiers travelled to Mexico and Peru, and collected very visibly puts on a quite new countenance, in those rich countries a vast amount of trea- and it may well be compared to a great beesure for the order. He then went to Algiers, hive. All is hurry, every one busy, and a where he employed half the money in ran- cheerful aspect succeeds a strange gloom and soming captives, and the other half in repair- discontent, like what is to be seen everywhere ing and increasing the usefulness of the hospi- else, when the complaint of dullness of trade, tal, where he resided, constantly attending scarcity of business, and stagnation of cash and consoling the sick slaves. At last, thirst- reigns universal; and which is constantly to ing for martyrdom, he one day rushed into a be seen in Algiers during every interval bemosque, and, with crucifix in hand, cursed tween the taking of good prizes." The dey and reviled the false Prophet Mohammed. In received the eighth part of the value of all all Mohammedan countries, the penalty of this prizes, for the service of the government, and offence is death. But so much were the piety had the privilege of selecting his share of the and good works of Pedro respected by the captives, who were brought from the vessel to Algerine government, that they anxiously en- the courtyard of his palace, where the Eurodeavored to avoid inflicting the punishment pean consuls attended to claim any of their of their law. Earnestly they solicited him, countrymen who might be considered free in with promise of free pardon, to acknowledge accordance with the terms of previous treaties. that he was intoxicated or deranged when he committed the rash act, but in vain. Pedro was burned; and one of his leg-bones was long carefully preserved as a holy relic in the Spanish Hospital.

In many instances, however, little respect was paid by the strong-handed captors to such documents. The following reply of one of the deys to a remonstrance of the English consul, contains the general answer given on such ocIn 1612, a young Mohammedan lady, fif- casions:-" The Algerines being born pirates, teen years of age, named Fatima, daughter of and not able to subsist by any other means, it Mehemet Aga, a man of high rank in Algiers, is the Christians' business to be always on when on her way to Constantinople to be their guard, even in time of peace; for if we married, was captured by a Christian cruiser, were to observe punctilios with all those nacarried into Corsica, and a very large sum of tions who purchase peace and liberty from us, money demanded for her ransom. The dis- we might set fire to our shipping, and become tressed father speedily sent the money by two degraded to be camel-drivers." When the relatives, who were furnished with safe-con- newly-made captives were mustered in the duct passes by the brothers of Redemption. dey's court-yard, their names, ages, countries, On their arrival in Corsica, they were in- and professions, were minutely taken down formed that the young lady had become a by a hojia, or government secretary, appointChristian, was christened Maria Eugenia, and ed for the purpose; and then the dey promarried to a Corsican gentleman; and that the ceeded to make his selection of every eighth money brought for her ransom must be ap- person, and of course took care to choose such propriated as her dowry. The relatives were as, from their appearance and description, permitted to see Maria; she declared her name were likely to pay a smart ransom, or those was still Fatima; and that her baptism and acquainted with the more useful professions marriage were forced upon her. The return and the mechanical arts. After the dey had of the relatives without either the lady or the taken his share, the remainder of the prisonmoney caused great excitement in Algiers. ers, being the property of their captors, were By way of retaliation, the brothers of Re- taken to the bestian, or slave-market, and apdemption were loaded with chains, and thrown praised, a certain value being set upon each into prison, and compelled to pay Mehemet individual. From the slave-market the unAga a sum equal to that which he had sent for his daughter's ransom. In a short time, however, they were released, and permitted to resume their customary duties.

When returning from a successful cruise, as soon as an Algerine corsair arrived within sight of the harbor, her crew commenced firing guns of rejoicing and triumph, and conti

fortunates were then led back to the courtyard, and there sold by public auction; and whatever price was obtained higher than the valuation of the slave-market, became the perquisite of the dey.

The government, or, in other words, the dey, was the largest slaveholder in Algiers All the slaves belonging to the government

were termed deylic slaves, and distinguished permitted to leave Algiers in debt, money was by a small ring of iron fastened round the freely lent at moderate interest to those whose wrist or ancle; and excepting those who were circumstances entitled them to hope for ransom. employed in the palace, or hired out as domes- Money, also, was readily obtained through the tic servants, were locked up every night in Jews, by drawing bills of exchange on the varisix large buildings called bagnes. Rude beds ous mercantile cities of Europe. Many slaves, were provided in the bagnes, and each deylic however, by working at trades and other means, slave received three small loaves of bread per were enabled to pay the tax for immunity from day, and occasionally some coarse cloth for public labor, and support themselves comforta clothing. All the carpenters, blacksmiths, bly in the bagnes. Of this latter class were tailors, masons, ropemakers, and others among the shoemakers, toy-makers for the Moorish childeylic slaves who worked at trades connected dren, letter-writers, and others; and, strange with house and ship building, received a third to say, a good many managed to live well by part of what they earned, when hired out to theft alone. In each bagne were five or six private persons, and even the same sum was licensed wine-shops, kept by slaves. This was paid to them when employed on government the most profitable business open to a captive works. Besides, both at the laying down of a wine-shop keeper frequently making the the keel and launch of a new ship, a handsome price of his ransom in one year; but, prefergratuity was given to all the slave-mechanics ring wealth to liberty, these persons generally employed upon her. Indeed, all the work remained slaves until they were able to retire connected with ship-building was performed with considerable fortunes. As there was conby Christian slaves.

stantly free ingress and egress to and from The janizaries never condescended to do all the bagnes during the day, the wine-shops any kind of work; the native Moors were too were always crowded with people of all nalazy and too ignorant; and the Moriscos be- tions; and though nominally for the use of the ing forbidden, by the jealous policy of the slaves, yet the renegades, who had not forgotdominant Turkish race, to practise the arts ten their relish for wine, drank freely therein; they brought with them from Spain, sank, and even many of the "turbaned Turks," after the first generation, to a level with forgetting the law of their prophet, copiously the native Moor. Shipwrights were conse- indulged in the forbidden beverage. The Mos quently well treated, many of them earning lem however was, like Cassio, choleric in his better wages than they could in their own drink, and frequently, brandishing his weapon countries. Numbers were thus enabled to and threatening the lives of all about him, purchase their freedom; but many more, se- would refuse to pay his shot. As no Christian duced by the sensual debaucheries so preva- dare strike a Mussulman, an ingenious device lent wherever slavery is recognized, preferred was resorted to on such occasions: a stout remaining in Algiers as slaves or renegades, slave, regularly employed for the purpose, to returning as freemen to their native lands. would, at a signal from the landlord, adroitly Deylic slaves, when hired out as sailors, re- drop a short ladder over the reeling brawler's ceived one-third of their hire, and one-third head; by this means, without striking a blow, of a freeman's share in the prize-money. In- he was speedily brought to the ground where variably at the hour of prayer, termed Al he secured till his senses were restored by Aasar, all work was stopped for the day, and sleep; and then, if found to have no money, the remaining three hours between that time the landlord was entitled to retain his arms and sunset were allowed to the slaves for their own use; on Friday, the Mohammedan Sabbath, they were never set to work; and besides the Christian holidays already mentioned, they had a week's rest during the season of Ramadam. Such of the deylic slaves as were employed at the more laborious work of drawing and carrying timber, stone, and other heavy articles, were divided into gangs, and taken out to work only on alternate days.

until the reckoning was paid.

The largest private slaveholder in Algiers was one Alli Pichellin, Captain Pacha or High Admiral of the fleet, who flourished about the middle of the seventeenth century, and holds a conspicuous position in the Algerine history of the period. He generally possessed from 800 to 900 slaves, whom he kept in a bagne of his own. Emanuel d'Aranda, a Flemish gentleman, who was for some time Pichellin's Many slaves never did an hour's work dur- slave, gives a curious account of bagne-life as ing their captivity; for, by the payment of a he witnessed it. The bagne resembled a long monthly sum, equivalent to about three shil- narrow street, with high gates at each end, lings of our money, any one might be exempt- which were shut every evening after the slaves ed from labor; and even those who could were mustered at sunset, and opened at sunafford to fee their overseers only with a smaller rise every morning. Though the deylic slaves sum, were put to the lightest description of each received three loaves of bread per day toil. Slaves, when in treaty for ransom, were for their sustenance, Pichellin never gave any never required to work; and as no person was food whatever to his slaves unless they were

employed at severe labor; for he said that "a ran his vessel close in towards the land, and man was unworthy the name of slave, if he having ordered the small boat to be lowered, could not earn or steal, between Al Aasar and called the slave, and pointing to the beach Al Magrib (the three hours before sunset a- said: "There is your native country; you lowed to the slaves) sufficient to support him have served me faithfully for seventeen years; for the rest of the day." We may observe here, I now give you your freedom." The Portuthat a Moor, Morisco, or Jew, if detected in guese, falling on his knees, kissed the hem of theft, was punished by the loss of his right hand, his late master's robe, and was profuse in his and by being opprobriously paraded through thanks; but Pichellin stopped him, coolly saythe streets, mounted upon an ass. At the same ing: "Do not thank me, but God, who put it time, neither Moor nor Jew dare even accuse into my heart to restore you to liberty." a janizary of so disgraceful a crime. Slaves, While the boat was being prepared to land him, however, might steal from Moor or Jew, with the Portuguese, apparently overpowered with open impunity; for even if caught in the act, feelings of joy, descended into the cabin, as if neither dare strike a slave; and if complaint to conceal his emotions, but in reality to steal was made to the dey, he would merely order Pichellin's most valuable jewels and other the restitution of the stolen goods, refusing to portable property, which he quickly concealed inflict punishment on the following grounds: round his person. As soon as the boat was "That as the Koran did not condemn a man ready, Pichellin ordered him to be set ashore, who stole to satisfy his hunger, and as a slave and not long after discovered his loss when the was not a free agent, but compelled to depend wily Portuguese was far out of his reach. upon his master for food, he could not legally Pichellin had some rough virtues: he prided be punished for theft." Under such circum- himself on being a man of his word. A Genostances, we may readily believe that the bagnes, ese, who had made a fortune by trade at Cadiz, and especially that of Pichellin, were complete was returning to his native country with his dens of thieves. Every evening, as soon as only child, a girl nine years of age, when his the gates were closed, the plunder of the day vessel was taken on the coast of Spain by Piwas brought forth and sold by auction; the chellin's cruiser. Not being far from land, the sale being conducted, to the great amusement crew of the Christian vessel escaped to the shore, of the slaves, with all the Turkish gravity and the terrified Genoese going with them, leaving formalities of the slave-market. Articles not his daughter in the hands of the pirates. Immethus disposed of, were left in the hands of one diately when he saw that his child was a capof the captives, who made it his business, for a tive, he waded into the water, and waved his small commission, to negotiate between the hat as a signal to the Algerines, who, thinking loser and the thief, and accept ransom for the he might be a Moslem captive about to escape, stolen property. An Italian in Pichellin's sent a boat for him. On reaching the cruiser, bagne, named Fontimana, was so expert and Pichellin, seeing a Christian, exclaimed: confident a thief, that without possessing the "What madman are you that voluntarily sursmallest fraction of money in the morning, he renders himself a slave ?" "That girl is my would invite a party of friends to sup with him daughter," said the Genoese; "I could not in the evening, trusting to his success in thiev- leave her. If you will set us to ransom, I will ing throughout the day to provide the materi- pay it; if not, the satisfaction of having done als for the feast. Of course no satisfaction was my duty will enable me to support the hardobtained when the sufferers complained to ships of slavery." Pichellin appeared struck, Pichellin. "The Christians," he would say, and after musing a moment said: "I will take "are all pilfering rascals. I cannot help it. fifteen hundred dollars for the ransom of you You must be more careful for the future. and your daughter." "I will pay it," replied Have you yet to learn that all my slaves wear the Genoese. "Hold, master!" exclaimed hooks at the ends of their fingers?" Indeed, one of Pichellin's slaves; "I know that man he seems to have recognized the slaves' right well: he was one of the richest merchants in of theft so fully, that he was not angry when Cadiz, and can afford to pay ten times that he himself became the victim. On one occa-amount for ransom." "Silence, dog!" said sion, Fontimana stole and sold the anchor of the old pirate; "I have said it: my word is his master's galley. "How dare you sell my my word." Pichellin was further so accommoanchor, you Christian dog?" said Pichellin. dating as to take the merchant's bill for the "I thought," replied the thief," that the galley money, and set him and his daughter ashore would sail better without the additional weight." at once.

The master laughed at the impudent reply, Each slave who, from poverty, ignorance of and said no more on the subject. Another a trade, or want of cunning, was compelled to characteristic anecdote is recorded of Pichellin work in the gangs, always carried a bag and and a Portuguese slave, his confidential stew- a spoon-the bag to hold anything that he ard and chamberlain. One day, when cruising might chance to steal; the spoon, in case any off the coast of Portugal, the Capitan Pacha charitable person, as was frequently the case,