TANGIER, a seaport of Morocco, near the western entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar, a short distance S.W. of Cape Spartel; N. Lat. 35. 47.; W. Long. 5. 48. It stands on an eminence at the west end of a spacious bay, and it has a fine appearance from the sea, rising gradually upwards in the form of an amphitheatre, and defended by walls, a castle, and several forts. The streets are very narrow and crooked, and the houses, with the exception of these occupied by foreign ambassadors or consuls and a few others, are of the meanest description. The manufactures of Tangier are of little importance, consisting chiefly of coarse woolen cloth, mats, and pottery. Tanning is also carried on; but the leather, though much esteemed in Europe, is inferior to that made in other parts of Morocco. Between Tangier and Gibraltar an active trade is constantly going on; the exports from Tangier being hides, wax, wool, leeches, dates, almonds, oranges, bark, flax, durra, cattle, sheep, various dyes, woolen sashes, Moorish slippers, &c.; and the imports, cotton goods, silk, velvet, hardware of all
kinds, cochineal, indigo, tea, coffee, paper, looking-glasses, and other articles. In 1856, the total value of goods exported from Tangier was L.77,263; of which L.63,580 went to British ports; and the total value of imports was L.135,566; of which L.101,773 were British goods. In the same year there entered the port 313 ships, tonnage 15,663, including 203 British vessels, tonnage 10,883; and there cleared 317, tonnage 15,714, among which were 207 British vessels, tonnage 10,934. The harbour is a mere roadstead, but it affords good anchorage and shelter to the largest vessels, except during the prevalence of strong winds from the north-west or east, when the shipping is somewhat exposed. There are some remains of an old English mole, which, if reconstructed, might improve the harbour very much. Most of the goods imported here are sent on to Fez; but the defective state of the means of internal communication offers many obstructions to this branch of trade. The climate of Tangier is temperate and healthy, but the inhabitants often suffer much from the want of water, as the aqueduct that supplies the town frequently falls into disorder. The ancient Tingis, which occupied the site of Tangier, was, under the Roman emperors, a colony, and the capital of the province of Tingitana. The population of the modern town is estimated at 8500, of whom about 6000 are Moors, 2200 Jews, and 300 Christians.