ORAN, a very strong town of Africa, in Barbary, with several forts, and an excellent harbour. It is seated partly on the side of a hill, and partly on a plain, about a stonecast from the sea, almost opposite to Carthage in Spain, and is about a mile and a half in circumference. In 1790, 2000 of the inhabitants perished by an earthquake which nearly destroyed the whole town. It was taken by the Spaniards in 1509, and retaken by the Algerines in 1708; but in 1732 the Spaniards became masters of it, and have continued so ever since. E. Long. 0. S. N. Lat. 36. 2.