CALIPHS OF EGYPT. 47 



of fleeting dynasties ravaged and distracted these 

 western provinces. Various kingdoms Avere formed, 

 the most considerable of which were those of Mo- 

 rocco, Algiers, and Tunis. From Leo Africanus, it 

 appears that in the year 1215 a flourishing kingdom 

 was founded at Timbuctoo by a Moorish chief. Some 

 of its rulers had the reputation of warlike princes, 

 who maintained a splendid court, encouraged com- 

 merce, and extended their frontiers in all directions. 

 Of their prosperity the Portuguese voyagers received 

 the most flattering accounts, but were never tempted 

 to ascertain their authenticity by ocular evidence. 

 Other adventurers were equally negligent ; and it is 

 only at the present day that the successful career of 

 African discovery has made this mysterious capital 

 known to Europeans. It were out of our province 

 to pursue further the history of Northern Africa. 

 Scenes of horror and bloodshed fill its pages. The 

 grand seignior, since tlie time when Solyman assisted 

 the two Greek corsairs, Hayradin and Barbarossa, 

 with his fleets in reducing Tunis and Algiers, has 

 always claimed the Barbary States as fiefs of Con- 

 stantinople ; and the proud list of his titles is still 

 swelled by their names. 



Egypt was reduced by Moez, the last of the Afri- 

 can caliphs, who built Grand Cairo (A. D. 972), and 

 established there the dynasty of the Fatimites ; 

 leaving his western dominions to be holden in fief 

 by one of his generals. His g-enealogy was doubt- 

 ful ; but he had now an argument to prove his legiti- 

 macy, which it might have been dangerous to call in 

 question, and which silenced the indiscreet demand 

 of one of the Arabian princes of the sacred blood, 

 who inquired from what branch of the family he drew 

 his title. " This," exclaimed Moez, drawing his 

 scimitar, " is my pedigree ; and these," throwing a 

 handful of gold among his soldiers, " are my kindred 

 and my children." His general Jauher had sent a 

 detachment of troops towards Syria and Palestine ; 



