TIINIS, a country of Africa, and one of the Barbary States, is bounded on the n. by the Mediterranean, on the w. by Algeria, on the s. by the Desert, and on the e. by Tri poli and the Mediterranean. Its greatest length from n. to s. is about 440 m.; its average breadth, 160: area, upward of 45,000 sq.m.; pop., according to latest authorities, 2.000.000. Tunis is traversed by brandies of the great Atlas range, which in fact, has its proper termination here. The northern coast is rocky and steep, with numerous bays. of which the largest is the gulf of Tunis; and two of its promontories, capes Blanco and Bon. are the most northern in Africa. The eastern coast, on the other hand. is flat, sandy, and infertile, like that of Tripoli, but has two large gulfs, Il•mmamet and Cabes (the Syrtis minor of antiquity). The southern part of Tunis belongs to the desert steppe known as Belud-el-Jerid. There is only one fresh-water lake of any consequence, that of Biserta or Beusart. near the n. coast. The brooks and torrents of Tunis either lose themselves in the sand. or find their way to the sea after a short Course. None are navigable. The longest is the Mejerdah (the Bogradas of the ancients), which flows in a generally north-eastern direction into the gulf of Tunis. Other streams are the Ved-el-Milianah and the Ved-el-Kebir. There are several mineral springs in the country. The climate of Tunis is fine, and the soil exceedingly fertile, so that, in spite of a very poor knowledge of agriculture, wheat, barley, maize, dlitirra, pulse, olives, oranaes, figs, grapes, pomegranates, almonds, and dates are abundantly produced. The culture of oil is more attended to, and is very lucrative. Great herds of cattle are fed on the plains; the sheep arc famous for their wool; and the horses and dromedaries are no less celebrated. The chief mineral products are sea-salt, saltpeter, lead-ore, and quicksilver. In the vicinity of the sea-coasts, considerable manufacturing and trading industry is manifested, more particularly in the cities of Tunis and Susa. Wool, olive-oil, wax, honey, soap, hides, coral, sponges, dates, wheat, and barley are the principal exports. Cloth, leather, silks, muslin, spices, cochineal, and arms are transported by caravans to the interior of Africa, whence are brought for export to Europe, etc., senna, gums, ostrich-feathers, gold and ivory. In 1876 the exports were
of the value of £687,680; the imports, £473,650.
The predominant race is of Arabic descent, but there are many Berbers, especially in the interior. The territory of Tunis, corresponds pretty nearly with that of ancient Carthage; and for a sketch of its pm-Christian history the reader is referred to the articles CARTHAGE, R031E, HANNII3AL, IIAMILCAR, SCIPIO, JUGURTHA, etc. Its subse quent fortunes, down to 1575 are interwoven with the general fortunes of Barbary (q.v.); but in that year, Sinan Pasha conquered and incorporated it with the Ottoman empire, and gave it a new constitution. The government was placed in the hands of a Turkish pasha, a divan or council, composed of the officers of the Turkish garrison, and the commander of the Janizaries. After a few years, however, an insurrection of the sol diery broke out, and a new government was established, the head of which was a "dey," possessing very limited authority; the chief power being at first exercised by the military divan. Gradually, however, an officer with the title of "bey," whose original functions were confined to the collection of tribute and taxes, acquired a supremacy over the other authorities, and finally obtained a kind of sovereignty, which Murad bey succeeded in making hereditary. The family of Murad bey ruled in Tunis for 100 years, and gained considerable renown both by their conquests on the mainland, and their piratical enterprises against Christian powers at sea. During the 18th c., it became tribu tary to Algiers. About the beginning of the 19th c. Hamuda pasha threw off the Algerian yoke, subdued the Turkish militia, and created a native Tunisian army; in con sequence of which Tunis virtually attained independence. The recent rulers, Achmet bey (1837), Mohammed bey (1855), and Mohammed Sadyk bey (1859), have proved liberal, enlightened, and reforming sovereigns. By a firman of Oct. 25, 1871, the sultan renounced the tribute formerly exacted, and fixed the future relations of the sublime porte to Tunis. The "bey" is to receive his investiture from Constantinople; without the sultanas authority he can neither declare war, conclude peace, nor cede territory; the sultan's name must appear on all the coinage, the army must be at the disposal of the porte. In internal matters, however, the power of the bey remains absolute.