Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/167



In proportion to the Mohammedan population, the Jews are more numerous in the regency of Tunis than in Algeria. They are grouped together in important communities, not only in the city of Tunis, but also in the other towns of the coast and in Jerba Island. Many of these Israelites are the descendants of Jews settled in the country before the conquest by the Arabs, and it may be asked whether these families, till recently looked on with contempt, do not contain some elements of the ancient Carthaginian masters of the country. The Jews driven out of Spain and Portugal, us well as all those who have immigrated within the lust few hundred years, are generally known by the name of Grana, that is to say, natives of Leghorn — Gurna, or Leghorn, having been the principal market of the Jews expelled from the Iberian peninsula. The Grana, most of whom had placed themselves under the protection of the Italian consul, or the representatives of other foreign powers, had rarely cause to complain of the Tunisians, whilst the "Old Jews" were denied all rights to appeal against any injustice or extortion they had had to submit to. A great many families were compelled to abjure their faith to avoid persecution; but although they willingly consort with their ancient co-religionists, they have remained Mussulmans. There are also Jews in Tunis whose doctrines have become modified. Such are the Israelites of Jerba Island who worship saints, and show great veneration for the Mussulman marabuts. So recently as 1868, seventeen Tunisian Jews were assassinated, and no one dared to pursue the murderers, who got off with impunity. A special headdress distinguished the Jews who had no rights from those whom no one dared to molest without the permission of the consuls. By a singular irony of fate, the majority