Suabia

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

an ancient German duchy. After bearing the name of Alemannia, its original inhabitants the Alemanni, changed it to Suevia or Schwabenland, in consequence of the incursion of the Suevi. On the division of the kingdom of the Franks in 843, Suabia, along with Bavaria, became as it were the nucleus of Germany, and its rulers continued for many centuries to hold a prominent place in its history. In 1376 was formed, chiefly by the union of its towns, the celebrated Suabian League. From 1512 to 1806 Suabia formed one of the 10 circles into which the German empire was divided. The name of Suabia is also given to a division of Bavaria. Augsburg is its capital. SUAKIN or SUAKIM, a seaport of the Red Sea, stands on a small rocky island in a bay on its W. side, and is the principal outlet for the commerce of Nubia and of the countries of the Sudan beyond. The island town is connected with the settlement of El-Keff on the adjacent mainland by a causeway. There is some trade in silver ornaments, knives and spear heads, and leather work. The more important exports are silver ornaments, ivory, gums, millet, cattle, hides, and gold; the imports, durra, cottons, flour, sugar, rice, ghi, dates, and coal. Here some 6,000 or 7,000 pilgrims embark every year for Mecca. The Egyptians occupied this port when they extended their power over the Sudan; and in its vicinity several battles were fought between the allied Egyptians and English against the fanatical followers of the Mahdi.