ZAPARA, SAHARA, or the Desert, a vast country of Africa, bounded on the north by Barbary, on the east by Fezzan and Cashna, on the south by Tombuctoo, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Zaara contains a variety of wandering nations, all proceeding from Arabs, Moors, and fugitive Portuguese, who took refuge there when the family of the Sherifs made themselves masters of the three kingdoms of Barbary. All these people bear indiscriminately the names of Nars, Moors, or Arabs. They are subdivided into various nations, of which the most considerable are the Mongearts, Trasars, and Bracnars. The Mongearts lead a wandering life, and live chiefly on the milk of their flocks, with a little barley-meal, and some dates. The poorer sort go naked, except the females, who commonly wrap a clout about their middle, and wear a kind of bonnet on their head; but the wealthier have a kind of loose gown, made of blue calicoe, with large sleeves, that is brought them from Negro-land. When they move from one place to another for fresh pasture, water, or prey, most of them ride on camels, which have generally a sort of saddle between the bunch and the neck, with a string or strap run through their nostrils, which serves for a bridle; and instead of spurs they use a sharp bodkin. Their tents or huts are covered with a coarse stuff, made of camel's hair, and a kind of wool or moss that grows on the palm trees. These Arabs live here under the government of their sheiks or cheyks; as in Arabia, Egypt, and other places. The other two tribes are rather more civilized. They are all Moametans.