a large country of Africa, lying on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, between the kingdoms of Egypt and Tripoli, extending itself in length from east to west from the 39th to the 46th degree of east longitude, and in breadth from north to south about 30 leagues, as is generally supposed. It is for the most part, especially in the middle, a dry sandy desert: on which account the Arabs call it Sahari, or Ceyart Barka, that is, the desert or road of whirlwinds or hurricanes. It labours almost everywhere under a great scarcity of water; and except in the neighbourhood of towns and villages, where the ground produces some small quantities of grain, such as millet and some maize, the rest is in a manner quite barren and uncultivated, or, to speak more properly, uncultivable: and even of that small quantity which those few spots produce, the poor inhabitants are obliged to exchange some part with their indigent neighbours, for dates, sheep, and camels, which they stand in greater need of than they, by reason of their great scarcity of grafs and other proper food; for want of which, those that are brought to them seldom thrive or live long. In this country stood the famed temple of Jupiter Ammon; and notwithstanding the pleasantness of the spot where it stood, this part of the country is said to have been the most dangerous of any, being surrounded with such quick and burning sands as are very detrimental to travellers; not only as they sink under their feet, but being light, and heated by the rays of the sun, are easily raised by every breath of wind; which, if it chance to be in their faces, almost burns their eyes out, and stifles them for want of breath; or, if vehement, often overwhelms whole caravans. Against this temple Cambyses king of Persia detached an army of 50,000 men. They set out from Thebes in Upper Egypt, and under the conduct of proper guides reached the city of Oasif seven days journey from that place: but what was their fate afterwards is uncertain; for they never returned either to Egypt or to their own country. The Ammonians informed Herodotus, that, after the army had entered the sandy desert which lies beyond Oasif, a violent wind began to blow from the south at the time of their dinner, and raised the sand to such a degree, that the whole army was overwhelmed and buried alive.

Concerning the government or commerce of this country we know nothing certain. Most probably the maritime towns are under the protection of the Porte: but whether under the bafhaw of Egypt or Tripoli, or whether they have formed themselves into independent states like those of Algiers and Tunis, we cannot say; only we are told that the inhabitants of the maritime towns are more civilized than those that dwell in the inland parts. The first professed Mahometanism, and have imbibed some notions of humanity and justice; whilst the latter, who have neither religion nor any sign of worship among them, are altogether savage and brutish. They are a sort of Arabs, and like them live entirely upon theft and plunder. By them this tract, which before was a continued desert, was first inhabited. At their first coming in, they settled themselves in one of the best places of the country; but as they multiplied, and had frequent wars with one another, the strongest drove the weakest out of the best spots, and sent them to wander in the desert parts, where they live in the most miserable manner, their country hardly affording one single necessary of life. Hence it is that they are said to be the ugliest of all the Arabs: their bodies having scarcely any thing but skin and bone, their faces meagre, with fierce ravenous looks; their garb, which is commonly what they take from the passengers who go through these parts, tattered with long wearing; while the poorest of them have scarce a rag to cover their nakedness. They are most expert and resolute robbers, that being their chief employment and livelihood; but the travellers in these parts are so few, that the Barcans are often necessitated to make distant excursions into Numidia, Libya, and other southern countries. Those that fall into their hands are made to drink plenty of warm milk: then they hang them up by the feet, and shake them, in order to make them vomit up any money they think they have swallowed; after which, they strip them of all their clothes, even to the last rag: but with all this inhumanity, they commonly spare their life, which is more than the other African robbers do. Yet notwithstanding every artifice they can use, the Barcans are so poor, that they commonly let, pledge, or even sell, their children to the Sicilians and others from whom they have their corn, especially before they set out on any long excursion.