312 
Fes. _— classes to a strange system of equality. Flocks and 
—"Y—" herds were left in the Belds without ry ee 3 for- 
Mountains. 
Rivers. 
tunes were inherited, or rather taken wu fe omer 
labourers ; visions became ly and 
abandant ; t of enormous- 
ly ; and so few of the poor were spared, or those who 
had survived were now become so rich, that there were 
none almost to work or serve ; and the most wealthy 
individuals were obliged to labour for themselves, and 
to perform with their own bands the menial offices of 
their ive families. See Modern Univ. Hist. vol. 
xvii. p; 74; Chenier’s Present State of Morocco, vol. i. 
p- 71; and Jackson’s Account of Morocco, p. 129. (q 
FEZ, a province of the empire of Morocco, is bound- 
ed on the north by the.province of Errif, on the east 
by Tedla, on the south by the mountains of Atlas, on 
the south-west by Shawiya, and on the west by Garb 
and Its dependencies are very extensive, 
and include several mountainous tracts, well cultivated, 
and full of inhabitants. Its principal mountains are 
Zaragh, one side of which is covered with vines, while 
the other is completely barren, and which lies between 
the river Seboo and the plain where the capital stands ; 
and Zarkon or Zaraharum, wliich is shaded with olive 
trees, and on the summit of which are the ruins of Ti- 
tulies or Tuilit, once a considerable town, but demo- 
lished by a prince of the family of the Almoravides. 
The Seboo, one of the largest rivers, of West Barbary, 
rises in the eastern part of the province near the foot 
of the Atlas mountains, and passes within six miles of 
the city of Fez. It is impassable, except in boats and 
rafts; and at Mamora, where it enters the ocean, is a 
deep and navigable river, capable of affording a cheap 
conveyance for corn to the city of Fez, which is at pre- 
sent supplied with that essential article by means of 
loaded camels, whose hire often exceeds the original 
cost of the grain. The river Bu Regreg, also, which 
i itself into the ocean between the towns of 
Salee and Rabat, rises on one of the mountains of At- 
las, and proceeds through the woods and vallies of the 
territory of Fez. The only other townin the province, - 
of any note, besides the capital, is Mequinez, which 
will be described in a separate article. The whole of 
this province is a rich champaign country, remarkably 
productive in grain. The soil is arich black, sometimes 
reddish mould, without stones or clay. No other ma- 
nure is employed, than the long stubble burned on the 
field; and no other culture is necessary than to throw 
the grain upon the ground, and cover it with the 
pa yn ta crops are wheat and barley ; 
ut in lands adjacent to the rivers, beans, pease, ca- 
ravanies, rice, and Indian corn, are occasionally cul- 
tivated. There are few trees, except the olive plan- 
tations and gardens around the cities of Fez and Me- 
quinez. Fruits of various kinds are very 
sp oranges, (which are frequently sold at a dol- 
a thousand, ) , melons, and -figs of different 
sorts. Cherries are produced in this province, 
though they are said not to ripen in any other part of 
the empire. In the country around the city of Mequi- 
nez, a8 well as in the province of Benihassan, is produ- 
ced the tobacco called Mequinasi, which is so much es- 
teemed for making snuff. A mineral salt of a red co- 
lour, exceedingly strong, is. dug from quarries in the vi- 
cinity of Fez ; and considerable quantities of saltpetre 
are also produced in the adjoining country. Near to 
\ 
these innovators; who professed to. 
abundant, tiff of the M 
FE Z. 
the city is a mineral spring, which is ‘said to be an ins 
fallible remedy for the venereal disease, if used for for- ; 
days successively ; and many persons in all stages of 
ee dewdde, resort to its waters with much 
On the western side of the plain of Fez, is a village 
containing the sanctuary of Idris, the founder and 
first sovereign of Fez; and this asylum, to which ma- 
lefactors frequently betake themselves, is never viola- 
ted by the emperor, or any other authority in/his domi- 
nions. The country part of this province. is: inhabited 
altogether by Arabs, except a small tribe of Berebbers. 
See Jackson’s Account ef Morocco, p. 13 ;Chenier's 
Present State of Morocco, vol..i.; Modern Univ. Hist.. 
vol. xviii; vol. vi. (g) 
blished Mab ereignty in West Besbery, 
is ometan sov it ‘est , con= 
tained seven provinces, viz. F Ke El Gateinet non. 
under the article Morocco, with which they are now 
united as one empire. Of that empire, in short, the 
kingdom of Fez forms the northern division, and is se« 
parated from it by the river Morbeya on the south, | It 
is bounded on the east by Algiers, and on the north and 
west by the sea. It is inhabited chiefly by Arabs, who 
dwell in tents, and are divided into various tribes ; 
the mountainous districts of Atlas are occupied 
usurpers arose in the west of Bz . The tribe of 
Zenetes, called Mequinesi, seized upon several provi 
ces, and founded the city of Mequinez, within ten 
leagues of the capital. A marabout of that tribe, hav~ 
ing by fanatical predictions seduced the minds of the 
people from the family of. Idris, formed a considerable - 
vince of Temsena, arid marched 
‘ez, who was thus forced to 1 
Another of 
a descendant of 
himself El-Mohadi, or 
s, and accused the house of fdvis 
ater tee 
. princes t - *-. =. Gi ‘ 
a having declared hi Caliph, he marched to« 
party in the 
the king of 
the authority of the Zenetes at. Mequi 
Ali and Fatima, 
-wards Mount Atlas to extend his dominions. While 
-he was thus engaged in the South, Al-Habed Almon- 
sor, one of the generals of the king of Cordova, arrived 
with an army to aid the house | ery aimee 
conquered a of the kingdom of Fez, 
the city of Arzilla, which remained for some time un- s 
der the government of the Moors in Spain. El-Mohade, 
by this diminution of his power, and by the hatred 
* One of these princes named Shariff F1 Idrissi, was the author of the work entitled Geogrophia Nubiensis, which he dedicated to Roger’ 
i Cee tant ote aed hb take 4 4 yp 2D 
hing of Sicily, to whom court he had fled for protection, 
— 
by Bex 
a 
Fes. 
om Pp 
9). eet 4 
Debtetietnentees 404 2o0c came eee ee 
e : 
