Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms

Volume 31

Algeria

The country of Algeria original: 阿爾尼阿 (A’ernia) was known in ancient times as Numidia original: 虛彌尼阿 (Xuminia). It measures seven hundred li a traditional Chinese unit of distance, roughly 500 meters in length and between fifty to one hundred and fifty li in width. The population consists of two million households. In the past, its customs were the same as those of Morocco this proves that in ancient times it also belonged to the Moroccan kingdom.

However, since the Arabs original: 阿丹 (Adan), likely referring to the Saracen or Arab conquests seized the country, the people have all converted to Islam original: 回敎 (Huijiao). For over two hundred years, they have completely lost their original character, becoming stubborn, brutal, and ignorant. The soil was originally fertile and well-suited for planting; the mountains and forests were thick with groves of cypress and oak. Yet, because the local customs have turned to idleness and laziness, more than half of the land has been abandoned. The people now make their living through robbery and plunder.

Furthermore, the territory was occupied by Turkey original: 都魯機 (Duluji), referring to the Ottoman Empire, which established a Dey original: 呃官 (E-guan), a phonetic transliteration of "Dey," the title of the local Ottoman governor to oversee its affairs. There is a garrison of fifteen thousand troops, but the ranks are composed entirely of scoundrels who have no regard for the law of the land. There have even been instances where the troops strangled the Dey and chose a brave soldier from their own ranks to replace him.

The local pirates original: 土番之海寇 (Tufan zhi haikou), literally "native sea-bandits" have also established their own ruler, who specializes in plundering maritime vessels. Half of the captured wealth and goods goes to the leaders, while the other half is distributed among the men. It was not until the year 1815 the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign that they were first defeated by American and British ships. Shortly thereafter, the French...