GABES, a town of Tunisia, at the head of the gulf of the same name, and 7o m. by sea S.W. of Sfax, with which it is connected by rail. It occupies the site of the Tacape of the Romans and con sists of an open port and European quarter and several small Arab towns built in an oasis of date palms. This oasis is copiously watered by a stream called the Wad Gades. The European quar ter is situated on the right bank of the Wad near its mouth, and adjacent are the Arab towns of Jara and Menzel. The houses of the native towns are built largely of dressed stones and broken columns from the ruins of Tacape. Gabes is the chief town of a civil jurisdiction. The population of the oasis is about 20,000, including some 1,500 Europeans. There is a considerable export trade in dates.