Page 270
THis Province contains onely the Cities of Kayravan, Tobute, and Asta∣chus.
Kayraoan or Karure, * 1.1 or Karoen, lieth seven or eight miles from the Mediter∣rane, twenty from Tunis, and eleven from Carthage. Its first Builder was Hukba or Okkuba, Ben Nasik, an Arabian Commander sent out of Arabia Deserta by Hutman the third Mahumetan Kaliff, into Barbary and Biledulgerid to pillage the Countrey; during which time of his harrasing, he erected this onely for a convenient Retreat for the Army, and a Repository for his Booty; for the se∣curity whereof he environ'd it with impregnable Walls: Within he erected a stately Mosque supported with Marble Pillars, two of which were of an unva∣luable worth, being of a red Colour, and glistering, intermixt with small white Spots like Porphiry: but notwithstanding this Strength and Beauty, yet is it destitute of water, being scituate on a dry and sandy Plain.
Tobulte or Tabulta, * 1.2 according to Bertius, and by some taken for Adrimentum, boasts it self a Roman Foundation, standing on the edge of the Midland-Sea, three miles Eastward of Monaster.
One Elugleb, being chief Magistrate there by the consent of the Inhabitants, erected another goodly Pile of Buildings, which they nam'd Recheda, adjoyn∣ing to it for a Palace for the Prince and his Retinue, both which in the Civil Wars of Barbary were greatly defac'd, and never since recover'd their former Lustre.
Arfachus, * 1.3 otherwise Esfakos, or according to Marmol, Elfachus, thought by some to be Rhuspe of Ptolomy, and by others Tafrute, built by the Moors at the Mediterranean-Sea; heretofore handsomely Wall'd, and very Populous, but now can shew not above four hundred mean Houses.
¶ THe Sandy-Plain about Kayravan bears neither Trees, * 1.4 Corn, nor Fruit; so that all Necessaries are fetcht by them from other places. They have no Wells, nor any Springs; onely Rain-water, which with great dili∣gence they preserve: Nor is that of sufficiency; for that also after the going out of June fails them; so that they are reduc'd to great extremity.
About Arfachus and Tobulte, there grows some Barley and Olives; but the greatest part of the Land lies waste, because of the Arabians pillaging.
¶ THe Inhabitants of Kayravan are generally Skinners and Tanners, * 1.5 which send their Leather to Biledulgerid, and there barter and exchange it for European Cloth.
¶ KAyravan is eminent for the Residence of a Mahumetan Pope, * 1.6 or High Priest, of great esteem among them for his Sanctity and strict Ob∣servance of the Alcoran. The Arabians ascribe to this place extraordinary Ve∣neration; for that their Kasiz or Priests, continually here exercise their Priest∣ly Functions; maintaining that the Dead there buried cannot be damn'd, be∣cause