it:
324 keep them moving, and no evil will happen." So his subjects, if
kept continually occupied, the government went on well; but if left
quiet, seditions would quickly arise. This sultan was always in the
tented-field: he would say, that he should not return to his palace
until the tents were rotten. He kept his army incessantly occupied
in making plantations of olives, or in building: rest and rebellion
were with him synonymous terms.

Before the Portuguese transplanted their African colonies to South
America, they had penetrated far into West Barbary; they frequently
made incursions into the country from Mazagan to Marocco, and
eastward of that city. They had a church near Diminet, on the
declivity of the Atlas, about thirty-five miles east of Marocco,
which is still existing: it is a kind of sanctuary; the Berebbers
say it is haunted; they will not approach it. There is said to be
an inscription on the building in Roman characters, over the
entrance; but I never could ascertain what it is.

_Library at Fas_.

When the present Emperor came to the throne there was a very
extensive and valuable library of Arabic manuscripts at Fas,
consisting of many thousand volumes. Some of the more intelligent
literary Moors are acquainted with events that happened formerly,
325 during the time of the Roman power, which Europeans do not possess.
Abdrahaman ben Nassar, bashaw of Abda, was perfectly acquainted
with Livy and Tacitus, and had read those works from the library at
Fas. It is more than probable that the works of these authors, as
well as those of many other Romans and Greeks, are to be found
translated into the Arabic language, in the hands of private
individuals in West and in South Barbary. This library was
dispersed at the accession of Muley Soliman, and books commenting
on the Koran only were retained; the rest were burned or dispersed
among the natives.

_Deism_.

Deism was very prevalent throughout the empire. When the present
Emperor Soliman came to the throne, the deists went about in large
numbers, exclaiming, _La Allah ila Allah_, "There is no God but
God." The Emperor soon silenced these people, by proclaiming that
if any should be found uttering this truth, without adding,
"Muhamed is his prophet," should ([199]_ekul lassah