AIN-TA'B, a t. of Syria, near the source of the Kowek; an affluent of the Euphrates, 59 m. n.n.e. from Aleppo. It is tolerably well built : the houses are mostly of stone. It is well supplied with water, pure streams of which flow constantly through the streets. It has a castle built upon a mound, resting on rock, and of very striking appearance. The chief trade is in hides and leather ; but cotton, sheep's and goat's wool, wax, wheat and rice are also of commercial importance, being chief articles of produce in the surrounding district. A. is supposed by some to be the ancient Antiochia ad Taurum. Pop. 20,000, composed of Turks, Greeks and Armenians.
AIR, or ASBEN, a kingdom of c. Africa, extending from about 17° to 19° n. lat., and from 8° to 9° e. long. Agades (q.v.) is the capital, and residence of the sultan, but his power is in a large measure merely nominal. The country contains various towns and villages, and is principally inhabited by three large tribes—the Kel-owi, the Kel-geres, and Itisan, each. of which has numerous subdivisions. There are, besides, the Kel-n Negarru, the Imghad. etc. The word kel means "people," but specially denotes settled
people, in opposition to nomads. Thus, Kel-owi is people settled in the valley of Owi. Many of the tribes and families live not in fixed dwellings, but movable tents made of mats. The valleys of A. are naturally rich, but they are poorly cultivated. Food and clothing are both imported. The population, which is very considerable, could not be sustained, were it not for the salt-trade of Bilma, a t. lying to the e. of A., in the Tebu country. Although the valleys of A. are in the region of the tropics, the climate is comparatively temperate. See Barth's Travels in Central Africa, vol. i.
AIR is the name given to that compound of gases constituting the substance of our atmosphere. Formerly, all aeriform fluids were called "airs," but in this sense the word gas is now used. The chief properties of air, and the phenomena they give rise to, will be found treated under Atmosphere, Aerodynamics, Aerostatics, Air-Pump, Barometer, Balloon, etc.
AIR, in Music. See ARIA.