period also, the inhabitants are much annoyed with scorpions, which are frequently found in the beds, and other places ; *' to these may be added the domestic serpent, but this is rather considered as an object o f veneration, than a nuisance.'f The air about Marocco is generally c a lm ; the neighbouring mountains o f A lla s defend the plain in which it stands from the scorching Shume, or hot wind (which blows from Tafile lt and Sahara), b y arresting its progress, and the snow with which they are always covered, imparts a coolness to the surrounding atmosphere ; in summer, however, the heat is intense, though the nights during that period are c o o l; in winter the cold is v e ry sensibly f e l t : but the climate is altogether extremely healthy. The inhabitants, particularly the Jews, are, however, affected with opthalmia. On the death o f A ly ben Yusif, a private ind ivid u a l named E l Meheddi, a man o f ambitious character, sprung up in the A tla s mountains, and le v y in g a large army, proceded to Marocco, and laid siege to the town, which was then commanded b y Muley Bryhim, successor to A ly ben Yusif, who collecting his forces, marched out to giv e E l Meheddi battle ; but being completely overpowered and defeated, he fled to Imsmise in the A tla s east o f Marocco. El Meheddi not satisfied with his escape, ordered his general in chief to pursue him with one h a lf o f his numerous army, whilst he took possession o f Marocco with the o ther; the general pursued the K in g so closely, that he arrived immediately after him at Oran, where the latter, finding no support, and being driven to despair, mounted his # See under Zoology. *f See under Zoology. Though not now worshipped, the serpent was probably one of the deities previous to the introduction of Mohammedanism, horse in the night, and placing his queen behind him, rode out o f the place, and clapping spurs to the horse, passed o ve r a precipice, and was, together with his queen, dashed to piece s' His body being discovered, the general, who was a prince, and named Muley el Mamune, returned with the army to the city o f Marocco, where, on his arrival, finding El Meheddi dead, and succeeded b y his son, he attacked the city, and after a year’s siege took i t ; irritated at being so opposed, he put El Meheddi’s son to death, and a dreadful massacre o f the army and citizens ensued, after which he was proclaimed Sultan and Am e r el Mumenine,* and established the first Biwan, which consisted o f ten men learned in the A rab ic language, and in the laws o f the Koran. This E l Mamune’s posterity reigned at Marocco from the 516th to the 668th y ea r o f the H e jir a ,f and then were dispossessed b y a king o f the tribe o f Marin, whose posterity reigned with despotic sway till the year 785 o f the Hejira. MEQUINAS. The city o f M equinas stands in a beautiful v a lle y about sixty miles from Salée, near the sanctuary o f Muley Dris Zerone;: and is surrounded b y gentle eminences, and h igh ly cultivated vales, ornamented with plantations o f dates, grapes, figs, pom- granates, oranges, olives, &c., all which grow in abundance, the surrounding country being well watered by various springs and streams. This c ity owes its present extent and consequence to the * An Arabic title implying commander of the faithful., + The year of the Mohammedans is. lunar. The Hejira began; in July. 622 A. Cl &
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