There is much Spanish spoken in this place,especially amongst the Jews;it is also generally understood by the Europeans.The prevalent language however is the Arabic,or rather a dialect of it called by some Mograbbin.I was glad to find that I could make myself very well understood with the Arabic of the East,notwithstanding that it differs in many points from the Mograbbin,or language of the West.One thing has particularly struck me;namely that the wild people,who arrive from the far interior and who perhaps have never before seen a European,invariably understand me best,and frequently in conversation designate objects with the same words as myself,which however are not intelligible to the Moors of the coast.I am by this time exceedingly well known at Tangiers,indeed I take the best means of being so by entering into discourse with every person.I believe Iam liked by the Moors and am certainly treated with much respect by the Jews amongst whom a report prevails that I am a Polish rabbi.
Shortly after my arrival I was visited by the most wealthy Jewish merchant of Tangiers,who pressed me in the strongest manner to take up my abode at his house,assuring me [that I should live]at free cost,and be provided with all the comforts and luxuries which could be procured.
I will now proceed to relate what has been accomplished in the cause of the Gospel since my arrival at Tangiers.I will endeavour to be as concise as possible,reserving some particulars until a future occasion.For the first fortnight I accomplished nothing,and indeed attempted nothing in the way of distribution,being occupied in making myself acquainted with the place and studying the character of its inhabitants.I occasionally spoke to the Christians,who are principally Genoese and Spanish sailors and their families,on the subject of religion,but with the greatest caution,being unwilling to alarm the two or three friars who reside in what is called the Spanish convent,who are the only officiating Christian priests of the place,and who might have warned their flock against the heretic intruder.I found,as I had anticipated,great ignorance among these poor people respecting the most important points of the religion which they profess,and the Gospel of God they had never seen nor heard of.At the end of the above-mentioned period I employed a Jewish youth to carry the Testament to their houses and to offer it to them for sale.It is with humble gratitude to the Lord that I am able to state that considerable success crowned our efforts.The blessed Book is now in the hands of most of the Christians of Tangiers,from the lowest to the highest,from the fisherman to the consul.One dozen and a half were carried to Tetuan on speculation,a town about six leagues from hence;they will be offered to the Christians who reside there.Other two dozen are on their way to distant Mogadore.One individual,a tavern-keeper,has purchased Testaments to the number of thirty,which he says he has no doubt he can dispose of to the foreign sailors,who stop occasionally at his house.You will be surprised to hear that several amongst the Jews have purchased copies of the New Testament,with the intention as they state of improving themselves in Spanish,but I believe from curiosity.Whatever their motive be,let them but once read this holy Book and I have no fear of their remaining enemies of the Lamb whom their fathers crucified.I regret that only few can read the Spanish language,their law forbidding them to read or write any characters but the Hebrew.Had I the New Testament to offer them in the latter tongue,I believe that I could dispose of thousands of copies in Barbary.My work being completed here for the present,I now hasten back to Seville;pray write to me speedily directing to the usual place.
I remain,Revd and dear Sir,Truly yours,G.BORROW.
