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The Barbary States
More Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli comprise what is generally called the Barbary States. They occupy the entire N. coast of Africa, W. of the boundaries of States.
They occupy the entire N. coast of Africa, W. of the boundaries of Egypt. It is estimated that they contain an aggregate area of fully 500,000 sq. m., and a total population variously figured all the way from 9,000,000 to 13,000,000. They extend over 35° of long. and from 6° to 12° of lat. The N. boundary is formed by the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic washes the N.-W. The famous range of the Atlas mountains runs through Morocco, and sends out spurs through Algeria and Tripoli. The Great Desert of Sahara and the Libyan Desert bound the entire territory upon the S. The rivers are few and short, and lakes are scarce and small. A detailed description of the several countries, which differ greatly in form of government and in many other respects, is given as follows :-
MOROCCO. - The Sultanate or Empire of Morocco, or Marocco, is the largest of what were formerly grouped as the Barbary States. It is bounded N. by the Mediterranean; E. by Algeria; S. by the Desert of Sahara; and W. by the Atlantic. It lies between lat 27º and 36° N., and long. 4° 30′ E. and 11° 50′ W., and has a supposed area of about 260,000 sq. m. The Atlantic coast line extends over about 750 m., and that on the Mediterranean some 250 m. Harbors are scarce and poor, the only shelters worthy of the name being the ports of Mazagan and Mogadore on the Atlantic, and Tetuan and Tangier on the Mediterranean. The Greater Atlas range traverses the country from N.-E. to S.-W., and contains the highest peaks in Northern Africa. Several smaller ranges, mostly running in the same parallel direction, divide the country between the main chain and the Atlantic into valleys and tablelands, and there is a maritime range known as Er-Rif, which extends from Algeria to the Straits of Gibraltar. The soil and climate are alike well suited to the production of wheat, barley, maize, and other grains, and some flax, hemp, and tobacco are grown. Oak and other valuable forest trees clothe the slopes of the Atlas; and of fruits, the date, orange, citron, fig, almond, olive, and grape are abundant. The chief wealth of the inhabitants consists in their flocks and herds. Many of the tribes are nomadic, and own large numbers of horses, asses, mules, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Wool of splendid quality, and the famous "moroc- CO leather made from goat-skins, are exported. Of manufactures the chief are weaving of fine cloths, embroidering, and the production of carpets, rugs, and arms. Commerce is limited, and the maritime trade is entirely in the hands of foreigners. Trade with the interior is carried on by vast caravans, which go S. to Timbuctoo and through the continent to Egypt. The utmost uncertainty prevails as to the number of people residing in Morocco. It has been estimated by some travellers as high as 15,000,000 souls; while other authorities, equally worthy of credence, are inclined not to allow more than one-fifth of this number. Mohammedanism is the prevailing religion, but Christianity is tolerated. Education is at the lowest ebb, and the people generally are ignorant almost beyond belief. The Sultan, Muley Hassan, b. 1831, succeeded Sept. 20, 1873, has only a nominal control over much of the interior country, which is governed by its own local officers and heads of tribes, Morocco has two capitals-Fez and Morocco-and there are but few other cities of any importance. دو
ALGERIA, an extensive province controlled by France, is bounded on the N. by the Mediterranean, E. by Tunis, S. by the Great Desert of Sahara, and W. by Morocco. It lies between lat. 32° and 37° N., and long. 2° W. and 9° E., and has an estimated area of 198,900 sq. m., divided into three provinces: Algiers, Oran, and Constantine. The coast line of 550 m. is moderately regular, but there are several bays, forming good harbors. The Greater Atlas range, with peaks 6000 to 8000 ft. high, occupies the S., and the Lesser Atlas runs along the rocky coast. Between these is an elevated plateau containing much fertile soil. Hides, tallow, wool tobacco, cotton, esparto, and some horses and sheep, are exported. The authentic history of Algeria dates from the conquest of Carthage, at which time it was occupied in part by Numidians and Moors. Under Constantine the Great it formed a Roman Province, and, like Tunis, it passed successively under the control of the Vandals and Arabs.
TUNIS is bounded N. and E. by the Mediterranean, S.-E. by Tripoli, S. by the desert of Sahara, and W. by Algeria. It lies between lat. 32° 20′ and 37° 20′ N. and long. 7° 20' and 11° 30′ E.; has an extreme length of 350 m., an average breadth of 130 m., and an area of 45,000 sq. m. The capital, of the same name, is situated on the river Mejerda, 400 m. E. of Algiers, and has a population estimated at 140,000. Other leading cities are Kairivan, Susa, Bizerta, Kef, Sfax, and Hammamet. The N.-W. division contains some mountains rising to 4000 to 5000 ft. in height, and from this region to the Gulf of Hammamet is an extensive plain, S. of which the country is desert. The coast line is long and irregular, with three extensive indentations, forming the gulfs of Tunis, Cabes and Hammamet. The Mejerda, which has a course of about 200 m. through the centre and N.-E., is the only river of any importance. The mountain country is well timbered and the valleys fertile, but the great plain is adapted for grazing purposes only, and droughts prevail in summer. The principal crops are wheat, barley, corn, and tobacco, with some cotton and indigo. The datepalm flourishes, and all the fruits of the S. temperate zone abound. There are no manufactures except of woolen fabrics, and although silver, lead, and copper are found in the mountains there is no mining worth speaking of. The coast fisheries are of some importance, and the capital has some trade with the interior and with European ports on the Mediterranean. Domestic animals include cattle, horses, mules, and camels; and wild animals, as the lion, panther, and wolf, are plentiful. Tunis has been known to history nearly 3000 years. Ancient Carthage was probably founded prior to its great rival, Rome, and is said to have been founded by Dido, 900 years B. C. The people are warlike, and those of the interior are not more than half civilized. The language spoken is a dialect of the Arabian, but much corrupted.
TRIPOLI is bounded on the N. by the Mediterranean; E. by Barca, a dependent state; S. by the Sahara; and W. by Tunis. It lies between lat. 28º and 33° 15′ N., and long. 10º and 20° E., and has an area of 399,000 sq. m., with its dependencies, Barca and Fezzan. The coast line extends over 600 m., but has only one decent harbor, that of Tripoli. The Gulf of Sidra is a vast indentation in the E. division.
The vine, olive, fig, and almond tree abound, and timber is plentiful on the hill slopes. Cattle, horses, sheep and camels form the chief wealth of the interior tribes. There are few minerals, and manufactures are confined to woolen goods and goats'-hair cloths. Wool, hides, cattle, ostrich feathers, ivory, and other natural products are exported in considerable quantities. The population is about 1,010,000, and comprises Moors, Turks, Arabs, Jews, negro slaves, and a few Europeans. The dominant religion is Mohammedanism, but other faiths are tolerated. The government is a pure despotism, the ruler being known as a Bey. LIBERIA.
The republic of Liberia is an independent negro state of Western Africa, occupying that part of the coast of N. Guinea which is between the river San Pedro, on the S.-E., in long. 6° 51' W. from Greenwich, and the river Manna, a distance of 400 m., with an area of about 14,360 sq. m., with a seaboard of nearly 509 m. It claims authority interior-wards for about 200 m. The republic was founded by the American Colonization Society in 1823, and since 1847 the independence of the state has been recognized. The population consists of 18,000 emigrants from America and their descendents, and aborigines, numbering in all nearly 1,068,000. The principal exports are coffee, cocoa, sugar, wax, ginger, palm-kernels, palm-oil, indigo, hides, and gold-dust. Monrovia is the Capitol, with a population of 5,00০.