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addison’s west barbary.

CHAP. VII.— Of the Morefco Priefs, their Education, Orders, Office, Reverence of thePriejl, Revenue , the Almuden, Penalties for Abfence from the Giammas.

THE Moors have at this day no fchools of fcience, like the European univerfities andcolleges ; which may be a main reafon of their growing ftupidity and barbarifm; forthe want either of leifure, or lack of opportunity to ftudy arts and fciences, becaufetheir whole time is fpent in gaining whereon to live, through a deficiency whereof thepoliteft nations will foon degenerate into ignorance and rufticity. As for the collegecalled Amarodoch in Fez (whofe ftrufture coft King Aba Henen 480,000 crowns,and which has been fo amply celebrated for the concinnity of its building, delightful-nefs of fituation, carved roof, Mofaic arches and brazen gates), it is now wholly defti-tute of ftudents. And if the Moors were not careful to keep up great ftore of pettyfchools they would foon decay and fall into a total illiterature. In thefe petty fchoolsthe alfaqui, or prieft, takes in the firft rudiments of his learning, without any poffibilityof climbing higher than to write and read ; and if a youth be found towardly anacapacious, and bearing a good affection to the priefthood, when he has arrived to thefirft form in the' fchool, he is removed thence, and placed with one of the belt learnedalfaquis in the town, or cavila where the fchool is kept. And this new tutor inftruftshis pupil to read the Alcoran with perfpicuity, and to underftand the principal points itcontains : the tutor likewife informs him of all the rites of the giamma, which beingboth few and eafy, are quickly obtained ; and W'hen the fcholar is deemed competentboth for age and learning to be a prieft, then his inftitutor calls two or three alfaquismore to examine the candidate, who being found deferving, they grant him teftimonialsof his willingnefs and abilities to be an alfaqui; and this is all the education and or-ders which I could obferve to be bellowed upon their priefts. But it is very remark-able, that among the Moors none are admitted to this holy dignity but fucn as are ofa competent age, and married ; for the former they render this reafon, a novice oughtnot to be admitted to the priefthood ; but I conceive that their jealoufy, with which,they are notorioufly gifted, is the fitteft account can be given of the latter.

The Moors fuffer no giamma to be vacant, becaufe they efteem an alfaqui to be alto-gether neceffary to exterior religio'n ; and that common perfons, or the laity, perform-ing the folemn offices of religion, doth make them common. For holy rites are nomore to be difpenfed by all, than the fecular laws; and though all men have commonintereft both in religion and the laws, yet all cannot be adminifters of either ; and uponthis confideration, that in the combinations and communions of men religion cannotfubfift without fome to guide, officiate, and prefcribe the minifteries thereof, the Moors are diligent to provide an alfaqui for every giamma, that there may be no vacancy nofomifficn in the fervice.

To the alfaqui the lay Moors pay a fignal reverence, giving him the more honour-able hand and place. They plough his ground, drefs his vineyard, reap his corn, &c.»,to the end that by no fecular cares he may be interrupted in his function; and by thisI am guided to look into the office of the alfaqui, which is firft, to preferve thegiamma in decency, and to provide that the ftru&ure be not dilapfed, and that the lampsand matts be duly fupplied. But the prieft never puts his hand to any fervile work,having thofe under him upon whom all the drudgery is difcharged.

The fecond part of the alfaqufts office is to infpedt the inftitution of the children ; t0which purpofe he hath ufually under him one that is fit for the toil, and referves to him-felf no more but the examination of the children’s proficiency, which he doth once aweek j and thofe whom he finds remifs receive his correction, but the diligent the

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