180 GEOGRAPHY. 



objects in this country, are the Pyramids, near Grand Cairo, and the 

 remains of the ancient temples and tombs, at Thebes, and elsewhere 

 in Upper Egypt. 



Barbary, occupies the northern border of Africa, from Egypt to 

 the Atlantic Ocean ; and comprehends the stales of Tripoli, in the 

 east ; Tunis and Algiers, central ; and Morocco, in the west ; be- 

 sides the region called Biledulgerid, or Beled-el-Jerid, south of the 

 Atlas Mountains. The name of Moors, derived from the ancient 

 Mauritania, belongs properly to the people of Morocco ; but is often 

 applied to the people of Barbary generally. Tripoli, is the Tripo- 

 litana of the Romans ; and includes Barca, the ancient Libya, on 

 the east ; and Fezzan, the great oasis, to the south ; both of which 

 are tributary to Tripoli proper. Libya comprehended Cyrenaica, 

 along the coast, so named from its chief city, Cyrene. The present 

 cities of Tripoli, are, besides Cyrene, Tripoli, the capital ; Derne, 

 in Barca ; and Mourzouk in Fezzan. The Pacha of Tripoli, is 

 still tributary to Turkey. Tunis, is the country of ancient Car- 

 thage; to which the name Africa was originally confined. Its chief 

 city and capital is Tunis, near the site of Carthage, and east of 

 ancient Ulica. The Bey of Tunis is also tributary to the Turkish 

 Sultan. 



Algiers comprehends the ancient Numidia, and part of Mauri- 

 tania. Its chief cities are Algiers, the capital ; Constantinc and 

 Bona, in the east; and Oran, in the west. Algiers was recently 

 conquered by France, and is now a French colony, held by military 

 force. Morocco, the ancient Mauritania, includes Fez, in the north ; 

 Tafilet, in the east ; and Suse, in the south-west ; all of which were 

 formerly independent, but are now tributary to the Moorish emperor. 

 The chief cities of this small empire, are, Morocco, the capital ; Fez 

 and Mequinez, in the north ; and Mogadore, on the western coast. 

 The emperor is a despotic and independent sovereign ; whose political 

 strength is said to be declining. Biledulgerid or Bled-el-Jereed, so 

 named from its being the land of the date palm tree, lies south of 

 Algiers and Tunis ; extending to the great desert. Tuggurt, is one 

 of its chief towns ; but the inhabitants are principally roving Arabs. 



Sahara, or Zaara, often called the Great Desert, extends from 

 the Atlantic Ocean, to the borders of Egypt and Nubia, including 

 Fezzan, and other oases, or fertile spots, like islands, in an ocean of 

 sand. The part of it east of Fezzan, is called the Libyan Desert, 

 and the whole was anciently called Deserta Libyse Interioris. It is 

 nearly 3000 miles long, and 1,000 wide ; and is inhabited only by 

 tribes of wandering Arabs, who travel over it in caravans, on camels ; 

 living partly by merchandize, and partly by plunder. 



Nubia, is a part of the ancient Ethiopia, like Egypt, partly 

 watered by the Nile, and partly a sandy desert. It comprehends the 

 petty kingdoms of Dongola, in the north, and Sennaar, in the south ; 

 each deriving its name from its capital city. The northern part 

 of Nubia is said to be subject to Egypt. Abyssinia, is also a part 



ancient Ethiopia ; the southern and western boundaries of which 



were undefined. Abyssinia contains the eastern sgurces of the Nile ; 



I the Bahr-el-Abiad or main source may be regarded as its western 



