the greater part of North
Africa and Spain, but gave place in the middle of the twelfth to the
Muwahhids or Almohades, whose rule extended from the Atlantic to
Tunis, and endured for over a hundred years. On the ruins of their
vast empire three separate and long-lived dynasties sprang up: the
Ben[=i] Hafs in Tunis (1228-1534), the Ben[=i] Ziy[=a]n in Central
Maghrib (1235-1400), and the Ben[=i] Merin in Morocco (1200-1550). To
complete the chronology it may be added that these were succeeded in
the sixteenth century by the Corsair Pashas (afterwards Deys) of
Algiers, the Turkish Pashas or Beys of Tunis, and the Sher[=i]fs or
Emperors of Morocco. The last still continue to reign; but the Deys of
Algiers have given place to the French, and the Bey of Tunis is under
French tutelage.

Except during the temporary excitement of a change of dynasty, the
rule of these African princes was generally mild and enlightened. They
came, for the most part, of the indigenous Berber population, and were
not naturally disposed to intolerance or unneighbourliness. The
Christians kept their churches, and were suffered to worship
unmolested. We read of a Bishop of Fez as late as the thirteenth
century, and the Kings of Morocco and Tunis were usually on friendly
terms with the Pope. Christians were largely enrolled in the African
armies, and were even appointed to civil employments. The relations of
the rulers of Barbary with the European States throughout the greater
part of this period--from the eleventh century, when the fighting
F[=a]tim[=i]s left Tunis and went eastward to Egypt, to the sixteenth,
when the fighting Turks came westward to molest the peace of the
Mediterranean--were eminently wise and statesmanlike. The Africans
wanted many of the industries of Europe; Europe required the skins and
raw products of Africa: and a series of treaties involving a principle
of reciprocity was the result. No doubt the naval inferiority of the
African States to the trading Republics of the Mediterranean was a
potent factor in bringing about this satisfactory arrangement; but it
is only right to admit the remarkable fairness, moderation, and
probity of the African princes in the settlement and maintenance of
these treaties. As a general rule, Sicily and the commercial Republics
were allied to the rulers of Tunis and Tilims[=a]n and Fez by bonds of
amity and mutual advantage. One after the other, Pisa, Genoa,
Provence, Aragon, and Venice, conclude