Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/166

 186 NORTH-WEST AFEICA. of their notice. " Tunis invents, Algiers prepares, and Oran destroys," says an Arab proverb quoted by Theophile Gautier, but for physical energy and love of work the proverb must be read in an inverse way. The Africans of Tripoli are the most indifferent workmen ; those of Tunis are preferable, although inferior to those of Algiers, who, in their turn, have to yield the palm to the natives of Marocco. The Turks. The Turkish element, formerly represented by the Beys and Janissaries, has for some time past been on the wane in Tunis, and now Turks, properly so called, are no longer to be seen in this country. The (Jsmanli, and together with them the rcif niug family, by intermarrying have all become Kulugli, and are gradually beino- absorbed in the predominating race of the Arab '* Moors." The Malekite religion, to which they belonged, is gradually being replaced by the Hanefite ceremonies, which are practised by the bulk of the Maugrabin Mussulmans. Relio-ious heresy has, nevertheless, a large number of followers in the towns of Tunis. The Beui-Mzab, who regularly emigrate to Tunis as charcoal merchants and firemen at the baths, are all Kharejites, or " Dissenters." They are also called Khamsiya or " People of the Fifth," that is to say, that they do not belong to any of the four orthodox sects. Like the Beni-Mzab and the Berbers of the Jebel Nefusa, the Jeraba are also " People of the Fifth," and practise all the rites of the Ibadliite persuasion. They wear the sheshia, the gandura made of cloth embroidered with brilliant coloured designs, look upon the cat as an unclean beast, and hold the chameleon in awe. The rites of their religion oblige them to take off their nether garments when they prostrate themselves to say their prayers. The orthodox religious brotherhoods are represented in Tunis more especially by the Tijaniya, the Madaniya, the Aissawa, and in many tribes live holy families composed of Shorfa, or " Sons of the Prophet." As a general rule, more fanatics are found amongst the townsmen than amongst the nomads. According to Pellissier, this is due to the kind of education which prevails in the Mussulman world, where " those who are the most learned are also the most narrow-minded." Besides, many practices anterior to the advent of Mohamjnedanism are still extant in this country. The natives still tie strands of wool to certain trees pointed out by their traditions; they have a great dread of the evil eye, and protect their dwellings from it by the marks of their five fingers, the numeral 5 — the symbol of the fish — being considered as especially favourable. The father of a large family contents himself with the remark, "I have five children," so as not to mention other numbers of less propitious or even fatal influence. In times of drought, the natives have recourse to charms and witchcraft, so as to open " the gates of the clouds." When the rain is very tardy in coming, and their young crops and harvests are in danger, the people occasionally seize hold of their kaid and plunge him into a spring, taking care to let the water trickle through his beard. " This is their fashion of celebrating rogation days," says Beule.