GEOGRAPHY. 103 



c. Algiers, with 67,200 square geographical miles, and a pop. of 1,000,000 

 (among them at least 150,000 Europeans), has been a French colony since 

 1838, ruled by a military governor. The immediate territory of the French, 

 which, besides the towns, includes only their immediate vicinity, is divided 

 into the three divisions of Algiers, Oran, and Constantine. The capital is 

 Algiers, with about 100,000 inhabitants. Next to this, the most important 

 towns are : Constantine, Oran, Bona, Philippeville, Budschia, Blidah, 

 Medeah, &c. 



d. Empire of Fez and Morocco, 224,000 square geographical miles, and 

 six to eight millions of inhabitants. These are composed mainly of Moors 

 and Arabs, and Amazirghes, or descendants of the aboriginal inhabitants 

 (divided into Berbers and Schellus) ; there are also 500,000 Jews, and 

 120,000 Negroes. The empire is subject to an entirely independent Sultan 

 (at present Muley Abderrahman), and is divided into the kingdoms of Fez 

 and Morocco. The capital of Fez is the town Fez, with 80,000 inhabit- 

 ants : other towns are Mekines, Tetuan, Tangiers, &c. The capital of 

 Morocco is Morocco, with 30,000 inhabitants ; other towns are Tarudant, 

 Mogadore, &c. To these must be added the district of Tafilet. 



The coast towns of Ceuta, Penon de Velez, and Alhucemas, belong to 

 Spain. 



3. The Sahara. 



By Sahara (Desert) is to be understood that extensive African lowland 

 which, with the exception of the lands already referred to, and Nubia, 

 includes the whole of Northern Africa, to the amount of about 1,280,000 

 square geographical miles. The western portion, termed Sahel, is the most 

 desolate, the eastern including numerous Oases. The most extensive of 

 these are : In the East: the Little Oasis El Wah, only ninety miles from 

 the Nile ; the Middle Oasis, Takel ; the great Oasis south of the first, wif.h 

 the town of El Karjeh ; the Oasis of Darfu, the largest of all, with numerous 

 inhabitants under a Sultan. 2. In the North : the Oasis Siwah (Oasis of 

 Jupiter Ammon), Augila, and Tessan or Fezzan, with the town of Mursuk. 

 The strip of land between the Atlas and the Desert is termed Biledulgerid, 

 or the Land of Dates. 



4. Nubia. 



Nubia extends along the Gulf of Arabia in a straight direction from north 

 to south for more than 800 statute miles ; since 1822 it has been under the 

 dominion of the Pashas of Egypt. The inhabitants are partly true 

 Nubians or Barabras in three branches, partly Negroes, and partly Arabs ; 

 all, however, are Mohammedans. The southern part of Nubia is termed 

 Sennaar, area about 80,000 square geographical miles, and pop. one million 

 and a half, cap. Sennaar. North of this is the land of Schendy, and to the 

 west the Oasis of Cordofan, with the cap. Obeid. 



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