Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ...

THE TERRITORY OF BILEDULGERID.

BIledulgerid, * 1.1 or Beledulgerid, which is a single Province, yet gives Denomi∣nation to all Numidia, as we said before, signifying Date-Land, ex∣tendeth to the Realm of Tunis; beginning at Teskare, so reaching to the Coasts belonging to the Isles of Zerbes, bordering on the East at Cyrene; one Point shoots far from the Mediterrane; for Tousar and Cafta, two stretched∣out Arms of the Province, reckon seventy five Miles from the Midland-Sea.

This Countrey hath onely three Cities: * 1.2 The first Teusar, antiently erected by the Romans, near a Desart, and water'd by a small River, replenished from the Southern Mountains, is divided in two Divisions; one stands possest by the Natives, and the other by the Arabians, since the Mahumetans deserted it, ha∣ving destroy'd the place.

The second, * 1.3 Kafsa, also a Colony of the Romans, stands in Longitude for∣ty, and in Latitude twenty seven Degrees, and ten Minutes, and hath a strong Fort; with Walls of Touch or Black-Stone, being five and twenty Cubits high, and five broad. There are also stately Mosques, and spacious Streets pav'd with Black-Stone. The middle of the City is adorn'd with several Fountains standing within a Quadrangular Wall.

The City Nefzara, in Longitude forty two Degrees, and fifteen Minutes, and in Latitude thirty Degrees, consisting of three inclos'd or wall'd Villages, close together, is very populous.

¶ THe Air of this Province is generally hot, and that of Kafza is so bad, * 1.4 that the Inhabitants are always troubled with Agues and Feavers. The whole Tract of Land of Tousart is befriended with a handsome River, and that of Kafza onely by a warm Stream, not potable, unless it stands an hour or two cooling.

This Countrey also dry, bares no Corn, but abounds in Dates. But the Kassan Countrey hath not onely the best, but the greatest quantity of Dates, and also Olives, of all the adjacent Territories. Neither want they store of Flax, and are well provided with Potters Earth, of which they make very fine Earthen War. This Countrey as far as Tripoli is under the Government of Tunis.

Teorregu.

TEorregu borders on Tripoli, nearest to the Desarts of Barka, having three good Forts, and six and twenty Villages.

The Inhabitants distanced far from other well-peopl'd places, are very poor.

Jasliten, or Jassitin.

JAsliten, or Jassitin, is a small Canton near the Mediterrane-Sea, between Kafza and Trioply; in Longitude two and forty Degrees, and fifty Minutes, and in Latitude eight and twenty.

This Countrey hath also store of Dates, and is under the Jurisdiction of Tripoli.

Gademez.

GAdemez, a Countrey Southward from the Midland-Sea sixty miles, con∣taining sixteen wall'd Cities, and ninety two Villages; * 1.5 the chiefest Seat is Gademez, by Zieglerus taken for the Oasis of Ptolomy.

This Territory also rich in Dates, is slenderly accommodated with Grain and Flesh. The Inhabitants deal much in Negro-Land. They were under the Kingdom of Tunis, but now forsooth boast themselves a Free-State.

Fassen, or Ferssen.

FAssen, a great Countrey, borders Agadez, and the Lybick Desarts: There is no other inhabited place in those Wilds but onely Augele; but the whole Countrey contains eight and fifty Wall'd Towns, and a hundred open Villages; the chief Seat being in Longitude forty four, and in the Lati∣tude twenty six.

These want no Dates, though Corn and Flesh, (which other places supply) except Camels, which there they make their usual Food.

They obey a Supream Authority, who receives and pays all that belongs to the Publick.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Territory of Bile∣dulgerid.
• * 1.2

  Teusar.
• * 1.3

  Kafsa.
• * 1.4

  The Air.
• * 1.5

  Zieglerus.