a kingdom of Africa, about 300 miles long from north to south, and 200 broad from east to west. It is bounded on the east by the Harutsch and line of the deserts; by the country of the Tibboes on the south and south-east; by that of the Nomadic Touricks on the south-west; and the country which forms the western boundary is inhabited by Arabs. It contains 101 towns and villages, of which Mourzouk is the metropolis. The climate of this kingdom is neither temperate nor agreeable at any season whatever; for the heat of summer is almost intolerable, even to the inhabitants, especially when the wind blows from the south; and the prevalence of the north wind during winter makes the cold so intense, as not only to chill the natives, but those also who visit it from northern regions.

Rain falls but seldom in this country, and in very small quantities. Thunder is also a rare phenomenon: Mr Horneman assures us that there was not a single storm from November 1798 to June 1799; and that on the last day of January 1799 there were some faint flashes of lightning, unaccompanied by any claps of thunder. Winds, however, blow very frequently, both from the north and south, whirling up the dust and sand in such a manner as to give the atmosphere a yellowish appearance. There is neither river nor rivulet of any consequence in the whole country, according to Mr Horneman, who informs us that the soil is a deep sand, beneath which is found calcareous rock or earth, and sometimes a stratum of an argillaceous substance.

Date trees may be considered as the natural production of Fezzan, in the western parts of which some senna grows, of a superior quality to that which is imported from the country of the Tibboes. Culinary plants, and almost every vegetable peculiar to the garden, are met with in abundance. Wheat and barley seem well adapted to the nature of the soil, as well as to the climate; yet corn is not raised in sufficient quantity for home consumpt, which is brought from those parts of Africa bordering on the northern parts of the kingdom. This is most probably owing to the native indolence of the people, the despotism of their government, and the difficulties inseparable from their peculiar mode of tillage.

They bestow little attention on the rearing of cattle, which are only found in the most fertile parts of the country, and even in these their numbers are but small. They are made use of to draw water from the wells, and are never killed but in cases of absolute necessity. The common domestic animal is the goat; and although sheep are reared in the southern parts of the country, the most abundant supply is furnished by the Arabs on the borders. They make coarse cloths of the wool, which constitute the apparel of the inhabitants in general. Their horses are not numerous, as they make most use of asses, either for carriage, draught, or burden. Camels bear a most extravagant price, being only made use of by the higher ranks, or by opulent merchants; and the common food of all these animals is the fruit of the date tree.

Although the trade of Fezzan consists entirely of foreign articles, it is nevertheless considerable. Mourzouk is the great market and place of general resort for different caravans from Cairo, Bengasi, Tripoli, and other places, between the months of October and February. The caravans which come to Mourzouk from the west or south, deal in ostrich feathers, tiger skins, gold dust, and also in slaves of both sexes as articles of commerce. Tobacco and snuff, with other articles manufactured in Turkey, are brought to the capital by the merchants from Bengasi; and paper, fire-arms, sabres, knives, and woollen cloth, are conveyed to it from Tripoli.

Fezzan is governed by a sultan, a descendant of the family of the Shereefs; and according to the tradition of the country, his ancestors came from the western parts of Africa, invaded and made a conquest of it about 500 years ago. He reigns over his dominions with absolute It is difficult to ascertain anything like an accurate statement of the population of Fezzan; but Mr Horne- man conjectures that they may amount to about 75,000, all of them professing the religion of Maho- met. The complexion of the people varies consider- ably; those in the northern parts bearing in this respect a striking resemblance to the Arabians, while those in the southern districts are very much like the Tibboes and Tuaricks. Those who are strictly indigenous are of ordinary stature, and their limbs far from being muscular; of a deep brown colour, short black hair, with their face formed like the people of Europe, and their nose not so flat as that of the negro. Their walk, mien, and gesture, indicate a total want of energy, either of body or mind.

The women of this country are in general fond of dancing, and the wanton manners and public freedoms in which they are permitted to indulge, are frequently astonishing, even to Mahometans from other countries; and the men are very much addicted to the vice of drunkenness, using the juice of the date-tree, or a drink that is called bussa, which is of an intoxicating nature.

Different species of the venereal disease prevail in this country, but that which is brought from Soudan is reckoned the most inveterate. The common lues ve- nerea is called franzi, for the cure of which they make use of salts and colocynth as powerful cathartics, healing the sores with natron water or dissolved soda. They are sometimes afflicted with hemorrhoids, the cure of which is no doubt rendered more difficult by the too liberal use of red pepper; and a fever and ague which are very pernicious to foreigners. They are entirely unacquainted with phlebotomy, yet they sometimes draw blood by means of cupping; and some are as much acquainted with surgery as to be able to cure a simple fracture.

Their houses are miserable structures, composed of stones or bricks mixed with clay, and dried in the sun, and the hands of the labourer are all the tools which are employed in building. When the walls are finished, they are covered over with mortar made of calca- reous earth, which is also done with the hand. Their houses are extremely low, and there is no other entrance for the light but by the door. They are uncommonly abstemious in respect of diet. Indeed they can never abstain from butcher meat when it is placed before them; but this is not an article of food with the gene- rality, and their expression for a rich man is, "that he eats bread and meat every day."

FEWEL. See FUEL.