the capital of a kingdom of the same name in Barbary, in Africa. It is a very large place, surrounded with high walls, within which there are hills and valleys, only the middle being level and flat. The river, which runs through the city, is divided into two streams, from which canals are cut into every part of the town; so that the mosques, colleges, palaces, and the houses of great men, are amply supplied with water. They have generally square marble basins in the middle of the court of their houses, which are supplied with water by marble pipes that pass through the walls; they constantly run over, and the stream returns back into the streets, and so into the river. The houses are built with brick or stone; and are adorned on the outside with fine Mosaic work, or tiles like those of Holland. The wood-work and ceilings are carved, painted, and gilt. The roofs are flat; for they sleep on the tops of the houses in summer. Most of the houses are two stories high, and some three. There are piazzas and galleries running all round the court on the inside, so that you may go under cover from one apartment to another. The pillars are of brick, covered with glazed tiles, or of marble, with arches between. The timber-work is carved and painted with gay colours, and most of the rooms have marble cisterns of water. Some of the great men build towers over their houses several stories high, and spare no expense to render them beautiful; from hence they have a fine prospect all over the city.

There are in this city 700 mosques, great and small; 50 of which are magnificent, and supported with marble pillars, and other ornaments. The floors are covered with mats, as well as the walls to the height of a man. Every mosque has a tower or minaret, like those in Turkey, with a gallery on the top, from whence they call the people to prayers. The principal mosque is near a mile and a half in circumference. The middle building is 150 yards in length, and 80 in breadth, with a tower proportionably high. Round this to the east, west, and north, there are great colonades 30 or 40 yards long. There are 900 lamps lighted every night; and in the middle of the mosque are large branches, which are capable of holding 500 lamps each. Along the walls are seven pulpits, from which the doctors of the law teach the people. The business of the priest is only to read prayers, and distribute alms to the people; to support which, there are large revenues.

Besides the mosques, there are two colleges built in the Moorish manner, and adorned with marble and paintings. In one of them there are 100 rooms, besides a magnificent hall. In this there is a great marble vase full of water, adorned with marble pillars of various colours, and finely polished. The capitals are gilt, and the roof shines with gold, azure, and purple. The walls are adorned with Arabic verses in gold characters. The other colleges are not near so beautiful, or rather all are gone to ruin since the neglect of learning.

There are hospitals in the city, where formerly all strangers were maintained three days gratis. But the estates belonging to them are confiscated for the emperor's use. There are above 100 public baths, many of which are stately buildings. People of the same trade or business live in streets by themselves.

Though the country about Fez is pleasant and fertile, and in many places abounding with corn and cattle, yet a great part of it lies waste and uncultivated, not so much for want of inhabitants, as from the oppression of the governors; which makes the people choose to live at some distance from the high roads, where they cultivate just as much land as is necessary for their own subsistence.

Round the city there are fine marble tombs, monuments, and gardens full of all manner of fruit-trees.

Fez is seated on the river Cebu, W. Long. 4° 25'. N. Lat. 33° 58'.

FEWEL. See FUEL.