960 
ufe them. The nearer we approach the 
Defert, the more the fecundity of the foil 
decreafes ; there are, however, on the bor- 
ders of it diftriéts where agriculture is 
followed with advantage. In the Defert 
itfelf, only particular {pots, here and there 
are (own with corn: the chief products are 
figs and dates. Here live a number of no- 
madical tribes and families, who, proud of 
their independence, endure with fortitude 
the want of poffeffions and of the conveni- 
ences of a more civilized ftate of fociety. 
They are, however, addicted to plunder, 
fufpicious, and frequently treacherous and 
cruel. On the coaft, and in the northern part 
of the country, forings and rivers abound. 
Of the latter, the Sheilif is the moft confi- 
derable: it takes its rife in the Sabra, paffes 
through the lake Titeri, and empties itlelf 
in a weltern direction into the Mediterra- 
mean Sea. 
‘The kingdom of Algiers compreheuds a 
part of the ancient Mauritania, and in par- 
ticular Mauritania Cafarienfis, and the 
ancient Numidia. At prefent it contains 
four principal divifions: 1 the Weftern 
Province, or Mafcara; 2 the territory of 
the City of Algiers: 3 the Middle or fou- 
thern Province, Titervz; 4 the Eaftern Pro- 
vince, or Confiantine. 
: I. MASCARA. ~ 
The Malva or Mallosiha, which, as we 
remarked above, is the boundary of the 
dominions of Algiers on this fide, takes 
itsrife in the Sabra, and runs, with {mall 
windings, from fouth to north. This river 
might, to the great advantage of com- 
merce, be rendered navigable to a confide- 
vable extent: but, in the prefent fituation 
of affairs in Algiers, it cannot be expected 
that fuch beneficial undertakings fhould be 
eventhoughtof. Thirtees miesfrom the 
meuth of the Melva, cn the coatt, are three 
uninhabited iflands, between which {mall 
coating veficis may lie in fafety. To the 
eat, on the coaft, are fituated Segedz Abdel- 
moumenand Maifcarda, two inconfiderable 
places, the latter of which is celebrated for 
contaising the fepulchre of a Mahemedan 
faint of the fame name. AQ little to the 
fouth-weft le two caliles, formerly garri- 
foned by troops of the Emperor of Morce- 
co, Fort él Wed and el Foube ; to the eatft, 
in a pleafant diftridt, is fituated Wogeda. 
The fouthern parts of the province are in- 
habited by independent wandering tribes, 
efpecially by the tribe Angad. 
From the Trara Mountains, along the 
coaft towards the ealt, we meet with the 
following places : ‘want ; Cape Hone, 
formerly Promontorivm Magnum; Tack- 
umbreit, at the mouih of theTafna 5 at a 
New and correct Account of Algiers. 
[Jan, 1, 
{mall diftance from it lies the ifland of 
Acra. All thefe are inconfiderable places. 
Farther towards the north, the Salt-Rzver, 
after having been increafed by the Sizaz 
and Wed el Mailah, empties itfelf into the 
Mediterranean. i , 
Cape Ferrat or Mefaff (Portus Magnus 
of the ancients,) together with the fortified 
city of Warran or Oran, and Fort Majal- 
guivir, at prefent belong to the Spaniards. 
Oran is one of the largeft cities of the 
province of Mafcara ; has ftrong and re- 
gular fortifications, and can eafily be fup- 
plied by the Spaniards with provifions and 
warlike ftores. It lies in 35‘ of longi- 
tude weft from Greenwich; and in the 35° 
55’ north latitude. Since the year 1732, ~ 
the Spaniards have held uninterrupted 
pofieffion of Oran. It has a parifh-church, 
three monafteries, a hofpital ; and the num- 
ber of the inhabitants, according to the 
account given of it by the Spaniards, 
amounts to 12,000. ‘Towards the Sea, 
the city rifes in the form of an amphi- 
theatre, and is furrounded with forts 
and batteries. Clofe to the city, lies a 
ftrong caftle, Alcazava, in which the 
Spanifh governor refides. On the higheft 
hill ftands Fort St. Croix, whofe guns com- 
mand the city and the adjacent country. 
From this fort they make fignals of the ap- 
proach of fhips, and carefully watch the 
motions of the Moors, who often attempt 
predatory incurfions into the reighbouring 
diftriéts. . A confiderable number of Ma- 
homedans take refuge in Oran ; they dwell 
in a diftinét part of the city, receive pay 
from the court of Spain, and render fignal 
fervices againft the Moors. ‘The greatelt 
part of the inhabitants of Oran confifts of 
fuch as have been banifhed from Spain ; 
and the fame may, in a great meafure, be 
faid of the foldiers who compofe the garri- 
fon, Five regiments are commonly tta- 
tioned here; but, ewing to continual de- 
fertion, their Rrength fcarcely equals that 
of four complete regiments. One of them 
wholly confifts of malefactors who have 
been condemned to remain here for life. 
The reft are fuch as have been tran{ported 
for oneor more years. ‘There is here like- 
wifea military {chool. Around the city are 
pieafant gardens; burit is very dangerous 
to culcivate them, on account of the Moors 
and Arabs, who frequently lie in ambufh 
among them. The fame :eafon prevents - 
the cultivation of the fields inthe vicinity 5 
and the garrifon and inhabitants muit be 
fupplicd with provifions immediately from 
Spain. 
Muftygannim is one of the mo confide- 
rabie towns of the province of Ma/cara, 
but 
