e, which is thence called
the marine gate, one near the citadel, which is termed the new gate; and
the other two, at the north and south sides of the city, with the
principal street running between them. All these gates are strongly
fortified, and outside the three land gates run the remains of a ditch,
which once surrounded the city, but is now filled up except at these
points. The streets of Algiers are all crooked, and all narrow. The best
are scarcely twelve feet in breadth, and even half of this is occupied
by the projections of the shops, or the props placed to support the
first stories of the houses, which are generally made to advance beyond
the lower, insomuch that in many places a laden mule can scarcely pass.
Of public buildings, the most remarkable is the Cassaubah, or citadel,
the situation of which we have already mentioned. It is a huge, heavy
looking brick building, of a square shape, surrounded by high and
massive walls, and defended by fifty pieces of cannon, and some mortars,
so placed as equally to awe the city and country. The apartments set
apart for the habitation of the Dey and the ladies of his harem, are
described as extremely magnificent, and abundantly supplied with marble
pillars, fountains, mirrors, carpets, ottomans, cushions, and other
articles of oriental luxury; but there are others no less valuable and
curious, such as the armory, furnished with weapons of every kind, of
the finest manufacture, and in the greatest abundance, the treasury,
containing not only a profusion of the precious metals, coined or in
ingots, but also diamonds, pearls, rubies, and other precious stones of
great value; and lastly, the store rooms of immense extent, in which
were piled up the richest silk stuffs, velvets, brocades, together with
wool, wax, sugar, iron, lead, sabre-blades, gun barrels, and all the
different productions of the Algerine territories; for the Dey was not
only the first robber but the first merchant in his own dominions.

Next to the Cassaubah, the mole with the marine forts, presented the
handsomest and most imposing pile of buildings. The mole is no less than
one thousand three hundred feet in length, forming a beautiful terrace
walk, supported by arches, beneath which lay splendid magazines, which
the French found filled with spars, hemp, cordage, cables, and all
manner of marine stores. At the extremity of the mole, lay the barracks
of the Janissaries, entrusted with the defence of the