186 INTERIOR COUNTRIES OF AFRICA. 



silver. Under this frock he wears the ordinary dress of the Tripoli- 

 tans ; but the most remarkable appearance is that of his turban, which 

 from the fore to the hinder part extends a full yard, and is not less 

 than two-thirds of a yard in breadth. The revenues of the sultan are 

 produced from a tax on cultivated lands, duties on foreign trade paid 

 by the caravans, from royal domains, and predatory expeditions. 



The religion of the Fezzaners is the Mahommedan. Justice is ad- 

 ministered, as in other Mahommedan countries, by an officer called a 

 cadi, who is here, at the same time, the head of the clergy, and pos- 

 sesses great influence and authority with the people. 



The name or title of the present sultan of Fezzan is, " Sultan Mu- 

 hammed ben Sultan Mansur;" but when he writes to the pasha of 

 Tripoli, he only stiles himself shereef. 



Mr. Horneman has since renewed his travels in the same track, 

 and a letter dated Mourzook, April 6th, 1800, has been received 

 from him by the society. He was then preparing to set out with the 

 caravan for Bornou, whence he proposed to proceed to Cashna, and 

 penetrate, if possible, to Tombuctoo. From the abilities and dili- 

 gence of this enterprising traveller, should no adverse accident occur 

 to him, much curious and useful information may be expected. 



We shall here add a short account of the country of Dar-Fur, ano- 

 ther kingdom of the interior of Africa lately visited by Mr. Browne. 

 K Dar-Fur, or the country of Fur, is situated to the south of Egypt 

 and Nubia, and to the west of Abyssinia. Cobbe, its capital, stands, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Browne, in north latitude 14° 11'; east longitude, 28° 8'. 

 In Dar-Fur wood is found in great quantity, except where the rocky 

 nature of the soil absolutely impedes vegetation ; nor are the natives 

 assiduous completely to clear ground, even where it is designed for 

 the cultivation of grain. The perennial rains, which fall here from 

 the middle of June till the middle of September in greater or less 

 quantity, but generally both frequent and violent, suddenly invest the 

 face of the country, till then dry and sterile, with a delightful ver- 

 dure. The tame animals in Dar-Fur are camels, horses, sheep, oxen, 

 and dogs ; the wild ones, lions, leopards, hysenas, wolves, jackals, and 

 elephants, which, in the places they frequent, go, according to re- 

 port, in large herds of four or five hundred ; it is even said that two 

 thousand are sometimes found together. The antelope and ostrich 

 are also extremely common. The population of the country Mr. 

 Browne estimates at 200,000 souls : Cobbe, the capital, he thinks 

 does not contain more than 6000 inhabitants. This town is more than 

 two miles in length, but very narrow ; and the houses, each of which 

 6ccupies within its inclosure a large portion of ground, are divided 

 by considerable waste. The walls of the houses are of clay, and the 

 people of higher rank cover them with a kind of plaster, and colour 

 them white, red, and black. The disposition of the people of Dar- 

 Fur is more cheerful than that of the Egyptians. Dancing is. practised 

 by the men as well as the women, and they often dance promiscuous- 

 ly. But the vices of thieving, lying, and cheating in bargains, are here 

 almost universal. No property, whether considerable or trifling, is 

 safe out of the sight of the owner. Their religion is the Mahomme- 

 dan, but they allow polygamy without limitation ; and they are little 

 addicted to jealousy. To the women are assigned the most laborious 

 employments : they till the ground, gather in the corn, make the 

 bread, and even build the houses. The government is despotic ; 



