FKHUO. 



KK/./.AN. 



! i 



in which he had been brought up still exist*, nod ii called Casa degli 

 Ariosti. Tli Gun Chmriui, (till inhabited by the marquise* of 

 Quarini, recall* the name of the author of ' 11 Pastor FJoo.' The 

 great square (PUxza Grande) was named after Napoleon till 1814, 

 when it got the name of Piazza d' Ariosto, which it retain*. The 

 University of Ferrara (Studio Publico), which i attended by about 

 300 students, enjoys a high reputation a* a school of medicine and 

 jurisprudence. It contain! collections of medals and of Greek and 

 Roman antiquities, and a valuable library of 80,000 printed volumes 

 and 900 manuscript*, among which are autographs of Ariosto, Tasso, 

 Guorini, and many editions of the 15th and 16tn centuries, when the 

 presses of Ferrara were amongst the most active in Europe. In one 

 of the apartments of the library is the tomb of Ariosto, which was 

 removed hither by the French from the church of San-Benedetto in 

 1801, when they occupied that fine convent as barracks. In the 

 hospital of Santa-Anna is still shown a small room on the ground 

 floor in which Tasso was confined for seven years and two mouths by 

 Alfonso d'Este, duke of Ferrara. 



Ferrara is one of the most interesting and handsome of the 

 modern towns of Italy, for it has no claims to classical antiquity, 

 having risen after the fall of the enxpire. It was walled round by the 

 Exarchs in the 6th century. The bishopric of Ferrara dates from 

 COl, the archbishopric from 1735. From the 10th century the city 

 was connected with the family of D'Esto, first as magistrates ami afti-r 

 1240 as hereditary princes, generally holding their power from the 

 Pope, but sometimes asserting their independence. Ferrara remained 

 under the sway of the house of D'Este until the extinction of the 

 legitimate branch in 1597, when it was finally attached to the States 

 of the Church. During the last century of its existence Ferrara was 

 the most distinguished city in Europe for literature and refinement ; 

 the names of Ariosto, Tasso, and Ounriui throw an ineitingnishabl > 

 glory around iU little court during this period. The Ferrarese school 

 of art was founded and fostered by the house of D'Este. Under 

 Duke Ercole, Calvin and other French reformers found on asylum 

 in Ferrara when driven from France in the early part of the 16th 

 century. It lost part of its population in the 17th century in conse- 

 quence of having lost its sovereigns, and become a provincial town. 

 It carries on a considerable trade in corn and other produce of the 

 soil by means of large canals and the Po, which connect it with the 

 large towns of Northern Italy. A good deal of caviare is mode from 

 the roe* of sturgeon taken in the Po. 



('/uuta al Forettitro per la C'illd di Ferrara ; De Rossi, Barotti, 

 Lanzi, Ac. ; Handbook of Central Italy.) 

 FEKKO. [CANARIES.] 

 FEIIROL. [OAI.I Lai 

 FKKUY-POKT-ON-CKAIO. [FiFEsntRE.1 

 KKKTE-MILON, LA. [Ai 



FESTINIOO, or FFESTINIOO, Merionethshire, a village an.l the 

 eat of a Poor-Law Union, in the pari.sh of Fcstiniog, is situated on 

 a lofty bill at the bend of the beautiful vale of Festiniog, iu 52 59' 

 N. lat, 8 !>:' \V. l..ng. ; distant 16 miles W. by N. from Nala, nml 

 210 mile* N.W. by W. from London. The population of the parish 

 of Fratiniog in 1851 was 3460. The living is a rectory with the 

 curacy of Haentwrog annexed, in the archdeaconry of Merioneth and 

 diocese of Bangor. Festiniog Poor-Law Union contains 15 parishes, 

 with a population in 1S51 of 16,158. 



The town has considerably increased during the last 30 years in 

 consequence of the opening of several slate quarries. Copper has 

 recently been discovered. The parUh church is an elegant structure 

 erected in 1846, in the Norman style. Wesleyon and CVr. 

 Methodists and Independents have places of worship, and there arc 

 National and British schools, an hospital, and a savings bank. The 

 market is held weekly on Saturday. The scenery of the vale of 

 Festiniog is rich, varied, and picturesque. The two waterfalls of 

 Cynfael are situated in a beautiful glen about half a mile from the 

 village. 



(Parry, Camorian Mirror; Clifle, Bool of North Wala; Land We 



In, vol. iii. ; Communication from Patiniog.) 

 1 K\ KIisllAM. [FAVERSUAM.] 

 IT./. (MABOOOO) 



'./.AN, the J'ltasania of the ancients, a country in northern 

 Africa, between 24' and 31 N. lat, 12" and 17 80' E. long., may be 

 considered as the greatest oasis of the Sahara, by which it is inclosed 

 <.n the west and east, and partly also on the south. On the . 

 borders on a Inn. desert region belonging to Tripoli It* length 

 from north to south is about 300 miles, its breadth is 200 mil.-,.; 

 but when it borders on the desert, it* boundary of course is not 

 exactly fixed. On all sides it is surrounded by nomadic nations; on 

 the north and cut by Arabs, and on the south and west by the 

 Tibboo* and Tuaricks. 



Fezxan, according to Richardson, consists of a "great central table- 

 land, not quite clearly marked to the eye on some of it* northern 

 approach**, but dropping shew to the plain at other part*." It* 

 northern part is traversed by two ridges of stony and sandy hills ; 

 which in place* attain an elevation abuve their base of 1200 feet. 

 They are called in the eastern district El llaru.li, but in the western 

 tin y tike the name of Ghtirian Mountain* and Suudah Mountains. 

 The country south of these ridge* contains large plains, covered 



with cand, or pebble* and small stones, and without any trace* of 

 vegetation ; but some ridge* of hilU from 800 to 600 feet high, risa 

 above the plains, and inclose valleys between them, which are the 

 only port* capable of cultivation. The cultivable portion of the 

 country hardly exceed* one-tenth of its surface. The hills have 



jged, irregular, and peaked summits, and are composed of thick 



Is of blue clay, alternating with sandstone, beds of alum-slate, aud 

 thick strata of porphyritic clay-stone (Denbam) ; the tops con- 

 sandstune. The soil in the valleys is a stratum of sand, lying ou 

 chalk or clay, which is rendered fit for agricultural purposes by 

 irrigation. As there are no rivers or brooks, aud only very few natural 

 springs, the irrigation is effected by wells, water being commonly 

 found at a depth of about 100 feet The heat in sum: 

 great, but in winter, during the northern winds, the cold is unpleasant 

 even to European*. Rain is very rare ; and it rains very little at a 

 time. Violent gales are rather frequent, especially from the 

 aud south, which fill the air with clouds of sand. 



Date-trees, which constitute the principal wealth of the country, grow 

 plentifully near the towns and on some plains, where the soil in ii. 

 nated with saline matter. Some patches of wheat, barley, durrha, i 

 and other grains are cultivated, but not enough for the consumption, 

 though two crops are obtained yearly; flax is cultivated at Mourzuk, 

 as are also figs, water-melons, vines, pomegranates, &c. iu otv; 

 onions, parsley, and other vegetables are likewise grown. Culti 

 is carried on without much .-kill or industry, but a rudely managed 

 irrigation ia practised. Goat* and asses are reared in great numbers ; 

 cows, sheep, horses, and camels ore not so numerous. All then 

 animal* feed on dates or their kernels. 



Fe/./.an is very thinly peopled: from the most recent estimate* 

 founded ou the tribute returns of the Turkish authorities, it does not 

 appear to contain more than 26,000 inhabitant*, who occupy tin- 

 little oases scattered over this wide tract of half-desert country. 

 Richardson says that the inhabitants of Fezzan consist of tlio 

 "three varieties of the human race which overspread all Central 

 Africa, namely, the Arabs and Moors, the Touaricks, and the Negroes 

 and these all mixed and blended together of all shades of colour, 

 stature, and configuration. The Arabs and Moors abound tin 

 [north of] Mourzuk. Sebhah, and Zcghen are all Arabs and Moors. 

 The Touaricks are found iu the Wadi Gharbi, aud ore oc< 

 chiefly in a pastoral life leading their flocks through open desert. . . . 

 The Negroes begin at Mourzuk aud extend south iu all the districts 

 of I-Yzzan as for as the Tibboos." They are all Mohammedan 

 commonly use the Arabic language, except iu the most sou 

 district* where the Tibboo and Beruou languages are spoken. I' mil 

 recently they were governed by a native chief who assumed tin 

 of Sultan, and exercised despotic power, though nominally dependent 

 on the Bey of Tripoli. In 1842 the Turks taking advantage of a 

 dispute respecting the succession, demanded the acknowledgment ..r 

 Turkish supremacy. This being refused, they sent an army to take 

 possession of the country. The sultan of !' ,./.;m, Ab.l-el < . 

 defeated and forced to surrender, was put to death, aud l-Y/./,m hi. < 

 since remained a Turkish pasholic. 



The inhabitants formerly depended to a great extent on the 

 caravans which passed through the country, but this trade 1m 

 almost wholly lost, and Fezzan has in consequence become g. 

 impoverished and depopulated. The oases arc capable of yielding 

 an ample supply of the necessaries of life, but cultivation U neglected, 

 and several oases have been altogether abandoned. The manu- 

 facturing industry of the inhabitants is limited to the making of 

 coarse blanket*, which form the principal dress of the 

 i '.i i . 



r'e//.an is divided into ten districts: El Hofrah, the principal and 

 most fertile, ia nearly iu the centre ; it contains the capital, Muur/uk, 

 and several smaller towns; ou the north are WadiUhudwah, contain- 

 ing only the town of the same name; Sebhah containing two town. 

 with a good population ; Bouauees, containing three towns, aeon 

 able population, and an immense number of date paluis ; 

 iMiiKi.ting of small oases, each having its little village and plantations 

 of date palms ; El .lofrah, the most northern district, containing 

 Sockua, the town next in importance to Mourzuk, and nine or ten 

 smaller towns ; ou the east Bharkeeah, containing the ancient < 

 Zuilali, and some villages ; ou the w>-t. Wadi . .-iiniLir in 



character to Shati ; on the south ore lihortroiin and Tajerhy, containing 

 three small towns, thu inhabitants of which districts are all black. In 

 native phraseology Fezzan contains 101 towns and villages. 

 are really not more than six or eight places which deserve to be 

 towns, aud the villages, though numerous, have for the most port 

 very few many of them less than fifty inhabitants. 



3/our2Jt,the capital and the residence of the pasha, is much the most 

 important town. It is a walled town, about 3 miles in circumf- 

 occupying a slight depression, in 25 64' N. lat, 14" 1:!' K. l"ii.-,, 

 and !'J miles iu a dir < -t liin- S. from Tripoli, with a population of 

 about 3500. The houses ore built of sun-dried bricks, and for the most 

 pait mere hovels. The castle has a ruinous appearance; coir 

 with it are r.ithcr extensive barracks. Since the Turkish occuj 

 ik has however been much improved, a new mosque ha 

 erected, as well as a guard-house, and a colonnade to the princiji:.! 

 while the town lias been rendered more healthy. Mourzuk wo.; 



