some interval. T he heat is cooled b y sea-breezes during the former period ; in the interior, however, the heat is intense. T h e ra in y season, which begins about October, ends in M a rch ; but i f it continue longer, it is generally accompanied with contagious fevers. The trade winds (w hich begin to blow about March, and continue till September or October) are sometimes so violent, as to effect the nerves and limbs o f the natives who inhabit the coast. T h e inhabitants are ro b u s t; and some live to a great age. T h e Shelluhs, or inhabitants o f the mountains o f A tla s , south o f Marocco, are, however, a meagre people, w hich proceeds, in a great measure, from their abstemious diet, seldom indulging in animal food, and liv in g for the most part on barley gruel, bread, and honey ; the Arabs, the Moors, and the Berebbers,on the contrary, liv e in a hospitable manner, and eat more nutritious food, though th e y prefer the farinaceous, kind. CHAPTER III. Description o f the different Provinces, their Soil, Culture, and Produce. I n describing the soil and produce o f this extensive empire, we w ill proceed through the various provinces, beginning with the northern, called ERREEF, OF RIF. This province extending a l o n g the shore o f the Mediterranean sea, produces corn and cattle in abundance; that part o f it contiguous to Tetuan produces the most delicious oranges in the w o r ld ; also figs, grapes, melons, apricots, plums, strawberries, apples, pears, pomgranates, citrons, lemons, limes, and the refreshing fruit o f the opuntia, or p rick ly pear, ca lled b y the Arabs (Kermuse Ensarrah) Christian fig. This fruit was probably first brought into the country from the Canary Islands, as it abounds in Suse, and is called b y the Shelluhs o f South A tla s, (Takanarite) the Canary fruit. A ridge o f mountains passes from Tangier, along this province to the eastward, as far as Bona, in A lg ie r s ; these mountains are called Jibbel Erreef by the'natives, and the Lesser Atlas b y Europeans. EL GARB. T h e next province is called El Garb * (g guttural.) It is o f the * This is the westernmost province of Marocco northward, as its name denotes, El Garb s i g n in g the West. There is a tradition among the Arabians,.
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