The Jews of Europe at the present time are divided into two classes—synagogues, as some call them—the Portuguese and German. Of these the most celebrated is the Portuguese. Jews of this class are generally considered as more polished than the others, better educated, and more deeply versed both in the language of Scripture and the traditions of their forefathers. In London there is a stately edifice which is termed the synagogue of the Portuguese Jews, where the rites of the Hebrew religion are performed with all possible splendour and magnificence. Knowing all this, one would naturally expect, on arriving in Portugal, to find one’s self in the head-quarters of that Judaism with which the mind has been accustomed to associate so much that is respectable and imposing. It was, therefore, with feelings of considerable surprise that I heard from the beings, whom I have attempted to describe above, the following account of themselves:—“We are not of Portugal,” said they; “we come from Barbary, some from Algier, some from the Levant, but mostly from Barbary, yonder-away!” And they pointed to the south-west. “And where are the Jews of Portugal,” I demanded: “the proper children of the country?” “We know of none but ourselves,” replied the Barbaresques, “though we have heard say that there are others: if so, they do not come near us, and they do right, for we are an evil people, O thou _Tsadik_, and thieves to a man. A ship comes every year from Swirah; {68} it brings a cargo of thieves, for it brings Jews.” “And your wives and families,” said I, “where are they?” “In Swirah, or Salee, or other places from whence we come. We bring not our wives with us, nor our families: many of us have escaped hither barely with life, flying from the punishment due to our crimes. Some live in sin with the daughters of the Nazarene: for we are an evil race, O _Tsadik_, and do not observe the precepts of the law.” “And have you synagogues and teachers?” “Both, O thou righteous one, yet little can be said of either: our _chenourain_ are vile places, and our teachers are like ourselves, bound in the _galoot_ of sin. One of them keeps in his house a daughter of the Nazarene; he is from Swirah, and what good ever came from that shore?” “You say your teachers are evil: do ye hearken unto their words?” “Of course we hearken unto them: how could we do else and live? Our teachers are evil men, and live by fraud, like ourselves; yet still are they masters, men to be dreaded and obeyed. Have they not witchcraft at their command, and angels? Have they not words of power, and the _Shem Hamphorash_? {69} Were we not to hearken to them, could they not consign our souls to horror, to mist and vapour, to mire and clay? Even as thou couldst, O righteous one!”