The present state of the Jews (more particularly relating to those in Barbary) wherein is contained an exact account of their customs, secular and religious : to which is annexed a summary discourse of the Misna, Talmud, and Gemara / by L. Addison ...

CHAP. I.

The present Condition of the Jews in Bar∣bary; their Places of Residence, Pro∣fession, Apparel, Stature and Com∣plexion, &c.

WHen I looked into the great number of Jews in Barbary, and saw how they were lorded over by the im∣perious and haughty Moor, I could not but resent their Condition, and wish their Deliverance from that direful imprecation, His blood be upon us and our Children. One effect whereof may be seen in their present Con∣dition under the Moresco Government; which is no other then a better sort of slavery. For even in those places where they have permis∣sion to inhabit, they are not only Tributary, but upon every small disgust, in danger of Eject∣ment. Insomuch that they cannot promise to themselves either any durable Settlement or Security. Indeed their calmest state is suffici∣ently stormy; and when they seem to enjoy the greatest peace, they are vilely Hector'd by the Moors, against whom they dare not move a finger, or wag a tongue in their own defence

and vindication; but with a Stoical patience support all the Injuries and Contumelies to which they are dayly exposed. For in the midst of the greatest abuses, you shall never see a Jew with an angry countenance, or ap∣pearing concern'd; which cannot be imputed to any Heroick Temper in this People, but rather to their customary suffering, being born and Educated in this kind of slavery. By reason whereof, they were never acquain∣ted with the sentiments of an ingenuous and manly Usage. It is very common with the Moresco-Boys to rally together, and by way of pastime and divertisement, to beat the Jew∣ish Children: which later, though they should far exceed the former in numbers and age, yet dare not give them the least resistance or oppo∣sition.

The Moors permit not the Jews the possession of any warlike Weapons, unless in point of Trade. And herein they do not so much re∣strain, as gratifie their disposition; for they seem generally inclined to a great averseness to every thing that is Military: being as de∣stitute of true Courage, as good Nature. Nor doth this their cowardly humour at all render them unfit for the Musters of their expected Messiah: for though they believe that his ap∣pearance shall be Warlike, and that he shall lead all their Enemies Captive, and triumph in the Spoils of Esau; yet they imagine there

shall be such a general surrender of the Edo∣mites, that there will need no Valour by dint of Sword to subdue them: and that this sub∣mitting themselves to his rod, shall be an infal∣lible Testimony of the truth of his coming.

The Jews in Barbary generally decline living in the Country, not out of any dislike of a ru∣ral Conversation, but because it doth not yield sufficient opportunities and safety for Traf∣fique. For this being their general Profession, they can with more convenience and advan∣tage manage it (as we say) in good Towns: And in these they live in a heap, seldom (or not at all, if it be in their power to avoid it) mingling with the Moors. And the Apart∣ment of the Town where they have permis∣sion to inhabit, is from them Called the Ju∣deria, or Jury; which in some places in Bar∣bary is so contrived, that the Moors can lock it up at night.

Merchandize is their common Profession, wherein they are notoriously dextrous and thriving. And as their Dexterity may be im∣puted to their continual practice in Trade, so their Thriving therein to their Frugality in living. For both in Diet and Clothes, they seem to design nothing but Sustenance and Co∣vering. And in this plain and frugal way of living, they greatly symbolize with the Moors, who (as I have observed in another Discourse) take no care for sumptuousness or delicacy.

When 'tis said that Merchandize is the Jews general Profession in Barbary, it is not to ex∣clude their darling Brokage and Ʋsury, in which they are very serviceable both to Christi∣ans and Moors. And indeed the latter do sel∣dome use them for any other purposes, unless in sending them upon hazardous Messages, or to Collect their Maritime Imposts, in which they know them to be more exacting than any else they can imploy.

'Tis true, the Moors entertain but a very mean esteem of this people, being taught by Tradition, which age hath made Authentique, that they are an anomalous issue, and not like other men descended from Adam; and that the end of their Being was to serve the Musulmin: which Opinion the Jews sufficiently deride, and give it no other confutation, but the citing of Oba∣diah, which Prophesie they wholly apply to their Condition, upon the coming of their Messiah: when all Edom, that is, all Mankind who are not of their Religion, shall become their Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Wa∣ter.

The next thing which I promised to remark concerning the Jews, is their Apparel, in which those who have been born and bred up in Barbary, differ little from the Moors. For first, they wear little black brimless Caps, as the Moors red; which they seldom move in greet∣ing one another. They likewise, as the Moors,

go slipshod, and wear linnen Drawers and Vest, over which they put a loose Garment, called a Ganephe, which differs only in colour from the Mandilion, or Albornoz, which the Moors bestow upon the Christians when they are redeemed from slavery. This Ganephe is a black square piece of course Hair-stuff, closed at the cross corners, and all round it is a large Thrum, which at first sight looks like their Re∣ligious Fringes, whereof we shall have occasion in due time and place to discourse.

The Jews in this Continent much resemble the Spaniard and Portuguez in their Stature and Complexion, but are much different in their nature and disposition, as being more flexible and sequacious, especially in things whereby they may reap advantage. In point of Civil Government, they indifferently submit to any that is able to secure their Interest; and boggle at no servile obeysance that may be con∣ducive to their worldly ends. They are not peremptory in intitling themselves to any pecu∣liar Tribes, yet they generally believe that they are the remains of Judah and Benjamin, toge∣ther with a few among them of the Family of Levi: whom they conceive to be won∣derfully preserved, that they might not be destitute of competent persons to officiate in the Synagogues.

There are not any to be found among them who publickly own the Samaritan Schism, in

rejecting all books of Scripture, but the Pen∣tateuch of Moses. Of which Sect there were some not long since (saith a great Traveller) who worshipt a Calf at Sichem, or Neapolis. Nor are there any to be met with who adhere to the Old Bible, without Talmud-Traditions. There are likewise none among them who are known by the peculiar Denomination of any Sect, such as were the Assideans, Phari∣sees, Sadduces, Essenes, or Gaulonitae of old. For however their private judgments may dispose them, yet they are careful to preserve an outward Unanimity in their Religion; and are signally vigilant to avoid Divisions, as looking upon those among Christian Profes∣sors, to be an Argument against the truth of the things they profess. And that the differences in matters of Religion, which are so offensive∣ly visible among Christians, may be reckon'd for one impediment of the Jews Conversion, we may in another place have occasion to demon∣strate.