Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 1, A-AME

Africa.'
Tribe of
Monfele-
raines in
Weftcrn
Africa
Govern¬
ment.
Produc¬
tions.
Rude agri
culture.
XVars.
Manners.
A F R [262
gine, that except their own little territory, the whole
earth refembles the great defert which they fee around
them.
It is to be obferved, that the Sahara, or great wil-
dernefs, does not on its weftern boundary all at once
attain its utmoft degree of barrennefs. Immediately
to the fouth of Morocco and of the mountains called
Mount Atlas, is a confiderable extent of territory in¬
habited by a tribe called the Monfelemines. In their
manners, they differ confiderably from the Moors on
the coafls of the Mediterranean, and alfo from the
Moors or Arabs of the defert. Their civil govern¬
ment is republican, as they ehoofe new chiefs every
year, who are accountable to the aged men of the com¬
munity. It is probable, however, that order is pre-
ferved among them chiefly by the influence of their
prieifs, who are greatly refpefted ; and the influence
of the high prieft amounts almoft to defpotic power.
The people are chiefly engaged in a fort of paftoral
life, to which agriculture is occafionally united. I hey
have alfo villages in which various tradefmen refide,
chiefly weavers, fhoemakers, fmiths, and potters, who
have no cattle : But fome opulent perfons refiding in
the towns have flocks and herds of cows, horfes, ca¬
mels, flieep, and goats, befides poultry, kept by (laves
at a diftance in the country. The foil poffefles confi¬
derable fertility, and produces the neceffaries of life
with little cultivation. The plains abound with date,
fig, and almond trees ; and grapes are cultivated. Oil,
wax, and tobacco, are alfo produced, and fold in the
■ villages. Their agriculture is very rude. The chiefs
of families, or fmall tribes, choofe the ground moft fit
for cultivation. Its furface is (lightly turned over with
a kind of paddle, for the plough is unknown ; and then
the feed is Town upon it. The fpot is then deferted
by the inhabitants, who wander in all direftions with
their cattle, and do not return till harveft, when the
corn is cut down and thraflied. Magazines are then
formed, confiding of holes in the earth, into which
the corn is put. Planks are laid over it, which are co¬
vered with a layer of earth, made level with the foil,
to prevent its being difcovered by enemies. Thefe ma¬
gazines belong to every chief of a family or tribe, in
proportion to the number of men he employed in the
common labour.
The Monfelemines are almoft conftantly engaged to
war againft the emperor of IVIorocco. Phey are ex¬
tremely jealous of their independence and freedom-,
and their country is the retreat of all the difcontented
Moors. No fooner does the emperor of Morocco take
the field againft them, than the whole inhabitants of
the country diftri&s mount their horfes ; and, while a
part of them efcort the women and (laves, and cattle,
to places of fafety, or even into the defert if they are
clofe preffed, the reft of them occupy the paffes of the
mountains, and meet the enemy. During peace, par¬
ties of them often undertake to efcort caravans, by
which means there is preferved among them a confi¬
derable military fpirit. In other refpeas, they bear a
great refemblance to the ancient Arabs. I hey per¬
mit polygamy, but their women are not fo much fe-
cluded from fociety as among the Moors on the fea-
coaft. Their children are brought up with care j and
are not confidered as men till they exhibit fome proofs
of their courage. Jews are permitted to live among
]
A F R
Afri:
them in their villages, but they are not allowed to cul¬
tivate the earth, or to carry arms. Chriftians are much
hated •, but a Chriftian (lave is better treated than among
the other Arabs, becaufe the avarice of the Monfele¬
mines is greater than their fanaticifm. As their (laves
conftitute their riches, they treat them tolerably well
from a principle of prudence.
To the. fouth of the country of the Monfelemines,
upon the coaft of the Atlantic, is the wandering tribe
of Wade Urns ; to the fouth of whom are the Labdejfe-
bas : And next to thefe are the Trafarts, who border
with the country of the Negroes. EaAward along
the northern frontier of the Negroes lie the Moorith
dates of Ludamar, and others. With the ex¬
ception of thele fmall dates, it is to be obferved, that
the great defert, or Sahara, reaching from the Atlan¬
tic ocean to the frontiers of Abyffinia, and (rom the
vicinity of the Mediterranean to the country of the
Negroes, is poffefled by two great Moorith nations
called the Tuarick and the Tibbo. Of thefe the Tuarick Tuarick
is the mod powerful: It con fids of the whole defertaild Tibb*.j
weftward from the meridian of I’ezzan. J he defert,
of Sahara, eaftward from the fame meridian belongs to
the Tibbo. The manners and characler of the whole
of thefe tribes, whether great or fmall, is nearly or
altogether fimilar. The defert which they inhabit is
parched and uncultivated. Many places of it have
the appearance of being capable of cultivation, as
fhrubs grow in various fituations j and palms, or dates,
rife at diftant intervals. But the flying (and is the great
obftacle to cultivation, by rendering the refult of it
uncertain. The fand drifts with every gale,, and is at
times accumulated into high mountains, which difap-
appear as the winds blow. Thus it is th if ted about with
every change of the blaft, excepting when the air is en¬
tirely ftagnant. When the fand (hower becomes for¬
midable, the Moors are obliged to load their camels,
turn their backs to the gale, and haften away, to avoid
being buried alive.
As water is very fcarce in the defert, the Arabs or
Moors form large holes for refervoirs to collect the
rain water, which, though it foon becomes putrid and
difgufting, is the only drink of man or bead. From the
foarcity of water, they have few horned cattle ; and
their (locks confift chiefly of (heep, goats, and camels,
animals which are patient of third. None but the weal-
thieft Arafcs, who poffefs numerous herds, are able .to
maintain horfes, as it is often neceflary to give them milk
to drink inftead of water. The urine of the camels is
carefully preferved to walh the velfels ufed to contain
food ; and the Arabs are frequently under the neceflity
of drinking it, mixed with milk, for the purpofe of al¬
laying their thirft. As their riches confift of their herds
and flocks, they attend them with the greateft care.
If a bead be fick, it is attended with more anxiety than
a man j but if it (eem likely to die, they kill and eat it.
If it die before its blood be (hed, it is accounted un¬
clean, and is never eaten. . . •
The Sahara, or defert, abounds in antelopes, wildAmma^>
boars, leopards, apes, and ferpents. The Arabs or1 e
Moors are expert hunters, and, as the leopard’s (kin
is an article of commerce, that animal from being fre¬
quently attacked, learns to keep at a diftance from
their habitations. Hunting the oftrich is a favourite
amufement. It is undertaken by about twenty horfemen
who