AFRICA.

An Egyptian Man and Woman, in their proper

Habits.

E

An Account of EGYPT.

GYPT, à Country in Africa, is parted from Afia by the Red Sea, and bounded on the North by the Mediterranean; on the Eaft by Arabia Petræa; on the South by Ethiopa, and Nubia; and on the Weft by Barbary. The Air of this Country is very unhealthy, occafioned by the Heat of the Climate. The Soil is made very fruitful by the River Nile, which overflows the Country annually, from the Middle of June to September, and fupplies the Want of Rain, of

which there is very feldom any. It abounds with Corn, and does not want for Rice, Sugar, Dates, Sena, Caffia, Balm, Leather, Flax, and Linen Cloth, which they export. Diodorus Siculus relates, that there had been formerly in Egypt, eighteen thousand great Towns; the most noted of which was Alexandria. In the Eastern Parts, beyond the River Nile, is the famous Country of Thebais, with its Defarts, where St. Anthony, St. Paul, and other Anchorets had their Cells. Beyond the Red Sea there is another Defart, where the Children of Ifrael lived forty Years. The modern Inhabitants are fine Swimmers, handy, pleasant, and ingenious, but lazy. This Kingdom was firft governed by the Pharoahs; afterwards conquered by Alexander the Great; and in the fixteenth Century, Selim, the Turkish Emperor, conquered the Mamalucks, or Saracens; for in the Year 1516, defeating and killing Camfon, Solden of Egypt, and Tomumbey the next Year after, Egypt was perfectly conquered by the Ottomans or Turks, who have governed it ever fince by their Bashaws. The old Religion of this Country was Idolatry, but now Mahometanifm prevails moft, though there are fome few Chriftians.

B

An Account of BARBARY.

ARBARY is bounded with Egypt on the Eaft, Mount Atlas on the South, Atlantic Ocean on the Weft, and the Mediterranean to

the

the North. Though this Country be under the Torrid Zone, yet the Mountains and Sea Coasts, between the Streights of Gibraltar and Egypt, are more cold than hot. The Men in this Country are allowed many Wives, though seldom are married to more than one: The Women are always veiled in the Prefence of Men; fo that a Man knows no more of the Beauty of the Woman he marries, than what he learns from her Parents, 'till they are actually married. The People are of a good mild Humour, and fuch as live abroad under Tents, as the Arabians or Shepherds, are laborious, valiant, and liberal; but they who live in Cities are proud, covetous, and revengeful; and though they traffic much, know but very little, and have neither Banks nor Bills of Exchange. Their Commodities are Beef, Hides, Linen, and Cotton; Raifins, Figs, and Dates. It is a rich Country, and governed, Part of it, as Fez and Morocco, by Kings; and the other, as Algier, Tunis, and Tripoli, by Bashaws from the Grand Seignior. As for Religion, they have the Christian, Jewish, and Mahometan, and they who live in the Mountains and Fields with their Flocks, which are a great Number, have hardly any at all. When any one dies, his Friends have Women that cry and scratch their Faces, and take on, feemingly, with great Grief for the Deceased. They live moftly on Rice, Beef, Veal, and Mutton; but Wine is forbidden by Mahomet's Law.

A De

A Description of ZAARA, or the Great Defarts of AFRICA.

T

HE Air of this Country is very hot, fa that the People are forced to keep in their little Huts, or feek Refreshment in Caverns the moft Part of the Day; thefe Defarts have a great Number of Lions, Tigers, and Oftriches. The Inhabitants are unpolifhed, favage, and very bold, for they will ftand and meet the fiercest Lion or Tyger. They are divided into Families or Clans, each Head of a Family is Sovereign in his own Canton, and the eldest is always Head; they follow the Mahometan Religion, but are no ftrict Obfervers of it. The Country is a mere Defart, as the Name imports, and fo parched for Want of Water, that the Caravans from Morocco to Negroland are obliged to carry both Water and Provifions, the Province producing hardly any Thing for the Support of Life.

A Negroe

A Negroe Man and Woman, in their proper

Habits.

T

An Account of the Land of Negroes!

HIS Country lies along the River Niger; on both Sides of it, between Zaara and Guiney. It contains fourteen Kingdoms. The Inhabitants of the Sea Coaft are fomewhat civilized by their Commerce with the Portugueze; but thofe that dwell up higher in the Country are favage and brutal. They are continually at War with one another, and all the Prisoners they take in War they fell for Slaves. They fow neither Wheat or Barley, but only Millet; and their chief Food is Roots and Nuts, Peafe and

Beans.