[ 817 ] 
TAB T* TAB 
PS'* A mute consonant, which, at the beginning and end 
-*■ 9 of words, has always the same sound, nearly approach¬ 
ing to that of d; but before an i, when followed by a vowel, 
has the sound of an obscure s: as, nation, salvation; ex¬ 
cept when s precedes t: as Christian, question. 
TA, a city and fortress of China, of the second rank, in 
Sechuen. Lat. 36. 55. N. long. 107. 15. E. 
Ta, a river of China, which falls into the Eastern seas. 
Lat. 36 55. N. long. 121. 34. E. 
TAAIF, a town of Hedsjas, in Arabia, situated in a moun¬ 
tainous, but fertile and well cultivated district, from whence 
Jidda and Mecca are supplied with excellent fruits, particu¬ 
larly almonds; 60 miles south-east of Mecca. 
TAAS, or Taaes, a considerable city of Yemen, in 
Arabia, on the road from Mocha to Sana. It is surrounded 
by mountains, which are said to be the most productive of 
plants in the world. They are in the possession, however, 
of several schiechs; 48 miles east-north-east of Mocha. 
TAASINGE, a small island of Denmark, about 8 miles 
long and 4 broad, lying between Funen and Langeland. 
The soil is tolerably fertile, and the inhabitants are employed 
in agriculture, navigation, and fishing. The island has a 
small town of the same name, and contains about 1800 in¬ 
habitants. Lat. 55. 0. N. long. 10. 37. E. 
TAASKIER, a small island of Scotland, on the south 
coast of the isle of Hay. 
TAAWIRRY, an island in the South Pacific Ocean. 
There are two situated within the reef of the island of Ota- 
heite, and on the east side of the main island. Within 
these islands there is anchorage within the reef that surrounds 
them. The French vessels under the command of M. Bou¬ 
gainville lay here. The name of the other island is Boou- 
rou. 
TAB, a river of Persia, the ancient Arosis,, which rises 
in the mountains of Fars, divides that province from Khusis- 
tan, and falls into the Persian gulf near Endian. At that 
place it is 80 yards wide, and navigable for boats of 20 
tons. 
TABA, a village on the Grain coast of Africa. 
TABA ISLANDS, four small islands in the Eastern seas, 
lying north-west and south-east, near the east coast of Bor¬ 
neo. Lat. 2. 6. N. long. 118.12. E. 
TABABELLAH, a town of Hindostan, province of Mal- 
wah, belonging to the Mahrattas. Lat. 23. 16. N. long. 
75. 20. E. 
TABAFRA, a village on the Ivory coast of Africa; 15 
miles east of Drewin. 
TABAGO, or Taboga, an island in the Pacific Ocean, 
near the coast of Mexico, about three miles long and two 
broad. It is mountainous, and on the north side the high 
land declines with a gentle descent to the sea. Near the 
strand the soil is a black mould, and deep, but towards the 
top of the mountains strong and dry. The north side of 
the island makes a very pleasant appearance, and seems to 
be a garden of fruit trees, inclosed with others of the forest 
kind. The principal products are plantains and bananas, 
which grow very well from the foot to the middle of the 
mountain; but those near the top are small, as wanting 
moisture. There was formerly a small town near the sea, 
on the north side of the island: but it was ruined by the 
privateers that then frequented those seas. Before it is a 
good road, about a mile from the shore, where ships may 
ride very safely in 16 or 18 fathom water; 18 miles south 
of Panama. Lat. 8. 40. N. long. 80. 9. W. 
TABAGUILLA, or Little Tabago, a small island 
in the Pacific Ocean, near Tabago. 
TABALLAR POINT, a cape on the east coast of the 
island of Borneo. Lat. 2. 12. N. long. 177. 4. E. 
TABANIE, a village of Lower Egypt, on the eastern 
branch of the Nile; 6 miles south-west of Mansora. 
Vol. XXIII. No. 1610. 
TABANUS, the Ox-fly, in Entomology, a genus of the 
Diptera order of insects; the generic characters of which 
are, that the mouth has a fleshy proboscis, terminated by 
two lips, and that the rostrum is furnished with two awl- 
shaped palpi, placed on each side of, and parallel to, the 
proboscis. Gmelin, enumerates 38 species. 
1. Tabanus bovinus.—Greenish eyes; marked dowm the 
back by a series of large, whitish, triangular spots, and on 
each side is a similar appearance, but less distinct than that 
of the dorsal row. This is the largest of the British species, 
and, like others of its species, is seen generally in the hottest 
part of the day, during the middle and the decline of sum¬ 
mer. It is very troublesome to cattle. Its larva is large 
and dusky yellowish, like that of a tipula, marked by trans¬ 
verse blackish streaks or rings; residing under ground in 
moist meadows, &c.; and changing into a cylindric brown¬ 
ish chrysalis, with a roundish or slightly pointed extremity, 
from which within a month proceeds the perfect insect. 
2. Tabanus fervens.—With green eyes, yellow abdomen 
and antenna:, and brown head and thorax.—Found in 
South America. 
3. Tabanus Mexicanus.—With a livid body, green an¬ 
tennae, and greenish wings.—Found in Surinam. 
4. Tabanus rusticus. — Cinereous, with grey eyes, and 
two black points in the front.—An European insect. 
5. Tabanus bromius.—With a purple fascia about the 
eyes, and cinereous body.—Found in Germany, and the 
northern part of Europe. 
6. Tabanus occidentalis.—With eyes having double 
brown fasciae, a brown body, and the abdomen marked 
with three yellow lines.—Found in Surinam. 
7. Tabanus tropicus.—With eyes having triple purplish 
fasciae, and the sides of the abdomen ferruginous.—An Eu¬ 
ropean insect of a brown colour, smaller than Tabanus 
bovinus, and less common, troublesome to cattle, and 
especially to horses. 
8. Tabanus pluvialis.—With eyes waved with four-fold 
fascia, and brown-speckled wings.—This is an European 
species, very troublesome with us in the latter part of sum¬ 
mer, fastening on the legs, hands, &c., and peculiarly teas¬ 
ing on the approach of rain. 
TABARABA, a river of Mexico, in the province of Ve- 
ragua, which runs into the Pacific Ocean. Lat. 8. 40. N. 
long. 82.48. W. 
TABARCA, a small sea-port of Tunis, in Africa, situated 
in the midst of extensive woods. It is now almost in ruins, 
but occupied by a small garrison. Opposite to it is a little 
island famous for a coral fishery. It was long in possession 
of the Lomellines, a noble Genoese family, from whom it 
was taken in 1740, by Ally Bashaw, who, having treach¬ 
erously obtained entrance into the place, put a number of 
the Genoese garrison to the sword, and carried the rest into 
slavery; 60 miles north-west of Tunis. Lat. 36. 55. N. 
long. 9. 18. E. 
TABARCA Nueva, an island of Spain, in the Mediter¬ 
ranean, on the coast of Valencia. It is small, and almost 
destitute of trees and water, but is inhabited by the descend¬ 
ants of a colony of Spaniards, who were redeemed from 
slavery in Barbary by the government, and settled here in 
1771. 
TA'BARD, s. \tabar, Welsh; tabardum, low Lat.] A 
short gown ; a herald’s coat; sometimes written, incorrectly, 
taberd. —Their apparel is said to shine beyond the power 
of description, and their tabards to be studded with 
diamonds and rubies. Warton. 
TA'BARDER, s. One who wears a tabard, or short 
gown: the name is still preserved in certain bachelors of 
arts on the old foundation of Queen's College in Oxford. 
TABARIA. See Tiberias. 
9 Y 
TABARRA, 
