2^0 Phyfical and Mifcellaneous 



The Salt of Of the like Quality and Flavour is the Salt of the Lake of 

 .^.shibkas. j^^^.j^^^ {cdWedlikQWiL• BabirahTJjaraotme,) and of other leiTer 

 Plains of the fame Nature. Thefe are ufually called ^Ihkah or 

 SJjibkah [e^-j ^=^λ^^ i_ e. 8αϊίφ Tlats of Ground ; being com- 

 monly overflowed in Winter, ( at which Time they appear 

 like fo many extenfive Lakes) but are dry all Summer, (when 

 they may be taken for the like Number of Bowling Greens 

 prepared for the Turf) Some of thefe Shihkas have a hard 

 and folid Bottom, without the leaft Mixture of gritty Mould, 

 retaining the Salt that lyeth chriftalized upon Them after 

 Rain. But others are of a more ov^ zy abforbent Nature, feldom 

 preierving any faline Incruftations upon the Surface. The 

 chief Subflratum of the Shibkah El Low-deah is like a tefl^el- 

 lated Pavement, made up of various little Cubes of common 

 Salt ; but in thofe Shibhas, that are of a foft and owzy Com- 

 pofition, as near Warran and Kairwan, I could never obferve 

 any Salt that was concreted, though the Earth of them all is 

 very pungent to the Tongue, and, by a proper Solution, would 

 yield, no doubt, a copious Portion of It. 

 The Method I have feen fome large Pieces of Sal Gem brought from the 

 Sifpm?^ Country of the Beni Mezzab ; but Sali Tetre called (Mailah 

 [^.^] haij) Lhe Salt by the^r<r^^.v, is never, that I know, found in 

 Subftance or concreted, being always extrafted by Art. For 

 which Purpofe, They eretl feveral Troughs of Brick or Stone, 

 with wooden Grates for their Bottoms ; and after having co- 

 vered the Infides all over with Mats οι Talmeta οΐ SfarUmi, 

 They fill them with Salt Petre Earth ; fprinkling It every fix 

 or eight Hours, for five or fix Days together, with Water. 

 The Water, by foaking through the Earth, engageth all the ni- 

 trous Partides lodged in It's Way, and, draining afterwards 

 through the Mats, falls into fmall Cavities, made on Purpofe 

 below to receive It. When they have by this Means obtained 

 a fufficient Quantity of Brine, they pour It into Caldrons, 

 boyl it up and refine it. There are feveral Works of this Kind 

 in Tlem-lan, Bifcara and Kairwan, befides others that are 

 carried on privately among the Kabjles and yirabs. The prin- 

 Theh Gun- cipal Ufe that is made of Salt Petre thus prepared, is in the 

 powder. Compofition of Ba-route\ (as thefe People call Gunpowder:) 

 the Sulphur being moftly from Europe, and the Allies of the 

 [ Bivnt/ah ] Kings Spear, being rather chofen than Charcoal. 



They 



