DAIWA, a country in the n. of Africa, in lat. 26° to 33° n., and long. 20° to 25° e., between the Great Syrtis (now called the gulf of Sidra) and Egypt. It forms the eastern division of Tripoli, having the rest of that dominion on the w., the Mediterranean sea on the n., the Libyan desert on the s., and it is separated from Egypt on the c. by no definite line, but by a number of roving independent tribes. It nearly corresponds with the ancient Cyrenaica (q.v.). Pop. variously estimated from 300,000 to 1,000,000. The climate is healthy and agreeable in the more elevated parts, which reach a height of about 1200 ft., and iu those exposed to the sea-breeze. There are none but small streams, but the narro• terrace-like tracts of country are extremely fertile, realizing 1111 that is said of the ancient Cyrenaica. Rice, dates, olives, saffron, etc., are produced in plenty. The pastures are excellent: the horses still celebrated, as in ancient times. But the good
soil extends over only about a fourth of B.; the e. exhibits only naked rocks and loose sand. Many ruins in the north-western parts attest a former state of cultivation much superior to the present. So early as the time of Cyrus, B. became a state, which proved dangerous to the neighboring state of Cyrene; but within a single century it sank, and became subject to Egypt. In the Roman period, its inhabitants were noted for their predatory incursions. It was afterwards a province of the Greek empire, and had declared itself independent when the Arabs invaded and conquered it in 641. The pres ent inhabitants consist of Arabs and Berbers, who profess the Mohammedan religion, and are subject to the Pasha of Tripoli, to whom each of the begs pays an annual tribute.