an extensive country of Africa, and at one time the most flourishing kingdom in the northern part of that continent. It now, however, forms a province of the empire of Morocco.

Fas, the capital of the above kingdom, was built in 793 A.D., by a prince named Edris, and having soon risen to be a city of the first magnitude, became the capital of the western Mohammedan states. In the twelfth century it is said to have contained seven hundred temples and mosques, and other public edifices, a number of which were erected upon a magnificent scale, and adorned with a profusion of marble pillars. It was at one time held in the highest veneration; and when the road to Mecca was shut up, in the tenth century, pilgrimages to Fez were performed by the western Moslems, who considered it as a place nearly equally sacred with that where the Prophet had been born. It was also distinguished for its learning, at a time when the Saracens may be said to have enjoyed a monopoly of all the knowledge which then existed. Its schools of philosophy, medicine, and astronomy, were famous throughout the Mohammedan kingdoms of Spain and Africa, and were not only resorted to by the youth of these countries, but likewise by Christians. When the Moors were driven out of Spain, Fez became the resort of numerous refugees, who, being superior in knowledge and civilization to their original countrymen, introduced several of the arts, the practice of which for a time retrieved the decaying fortunes of the city. But it gradually sunk with the declension of arts and wealth in Northern Africa; and when the kingdom of which it was the capital became incorporated with the empire of Marocco, it ceased to possess almost any political importance. Fez is situated in a funnel-shaped valley open only on the N. and N.E., and drained by one of the upper branches of the Sebou River, in N. Lat. 34° 6' 3", W. Long. 4° 58' 15". The vicinity is fertile and well cultivated, being covered with fields, gardens, and orange-groves. Fez consists properly of two parts, the old and the new town, the latter standing on a height and overlooking the former. In old Fez the streets are narrow, unpaved, and dirty, especially in rainy weather; and from the great height of the houses, are dark and gloomy. They are crossed at different intervals by high walls, which prop up the bulging and leaning walls of the buildings on each side. These cross-walls are perforated with arched passages, which being closed at night cut off all communication between one part of the city and another. The houses are built around court-yards, and have a mean and ruinous appearance. The windows are either very small or they are altogether wanting. The different stories are surrounded with galleries supported by colonnades, by means of which the adjoining rooms communicate. The new town is better laid out and built than the old one, and contains several palaces, numerous mosques, and other public buildings. The palace of the sultan is composed of a great number of court-yards which serve as entrances to the apartments. Fez at present contains about 100 mosques, which are all built on a uniform plan. They consist of a court-yard surrounded with arcades, and having on the S. side a covered square. The chief mosque, called El Carubia, was built during the flourishing period of the city, and is described by Leo Africanus as being a mile and a half in circumference. It possesses a great number of arches and gates, upwards of 300 pillars, and two handsome fountains in the court. The minaret contains globes and astronomical instruments brought from Europe, but they are now neglected, and most of them useless. The mosque dedicated to Edris, the founder of the city, is much frequented, and is a sanctuary for thieves and murderers. The public baths are numerous, and the city is abundantly supplied with water. The various trades and the different articles sold are divided into classes in separate streets, so that a whole street is occupied by those pursuing one traffic or art. Provision markets are numerous, and the inhabitants of the surrounding country daily resort in great numbers to the town as to a fair. Fez is still considered one of the principal seats of Mohammedan learning, and has schools attached to many of the mosques.

The manufactures of Fez consist of woollen khaiks, sashes, and silk handkerchiefs, slippers of good leather, which they tan remarkably well, red felt caps, some coarse linen cloth, fine carpets, a curious kind of earthenware, weapons of several kinds, saddlers' ware, jewellery, and copper utensils. The arts here find little encouragement, and are indeed far inferior to those of Europe, except in the preparation of leather, and in the fabrication of carpets and of hhaiks, which the manufacturers know how to weave as fine and as transparent as gauze. They are also expert workers in wax, weapons, and harness. The heat during the summer is very great; but in other seasons of the year, particularly winter, the climate is agreeable. With regard to the number of inhabitants, much difference of opinion prevails among travellers.