Mequinez.

The established religion of the Moors is Mahometan. Formerly, as wellas at present, women were considered by the Moors as the mere objectsof sensuality, and only esteemed while in full bloom. At the age ofthirty, or at most forty, they were looked upon as an inferior orderof beings, and doomed to the most abject and insupportable slavery:indeed, the latter circumstance still exists, though considerablymitigated. No wonder then that the doctrine of Mahomet should becordially embraced by a people with whose inclinations it so exactlycoincided. But that part only was adopted, which indulged them in thegratification of their wishes; that which imposed restraint wasrenounced, or only nominally acceded to. And fortunate it certainly isfor the security of the neighbouring countries that they did so; as,when formerly they were inured from infancy to all the hardships of awarlike life, and possessed much skill in war, they were undoubtedlyvery formidable; but since their conversion to Mahometanism, they havegradually become inactive, and their natural passion for war andconquest has changed to absolute effeminacy. The illiterate system ofthe Moors has also completely shut the door against the arts andsciences, and all knowledge of the value of a free and securecommerce. Yet, notwithstanding this people are no longer either inappearance or reality those fierce barbarians they once were, nor cantheir actions in point of valour bear any comparison with those oftheir ancestors, like them they retain a most inveterate antipathy toall Christians; and a propensity towards cruelty, revenge, rapine, andmurder, still continues to form one of the most prominent features oftheir character. However, under the comparatively mild government ofthe present Emperor, their behaviour towards Christians has visiblyundergone a favourable change, which would almost persuade some toindulge a hope of the entire annihilation of their aversion; but I amsorry to add, that I am not so sanguine, as from accurate observationI have been led to conclude, that nothing but an immense length oftime can overcome their habitual prejudices and constitutionalinclinations.