' BILEDULGE RID, an appellation given to one of the divisions of Northern Africa ; but which has been continually varying in the extent of its applica tion. It was understood by the older geographers„ to comprehend all the countries formerly known by the name of Numidia • and was described as including the southern part of Algiers, with the whole tract of land between that kingdom and Egypt. It has been confined by De Lisle to a province called Biledulge. rid Proper, situated to the south of Tunis, but pro perly speaking, under the government of that state, from which it is separated by a ridge of high moun tains. In several later maps, however, and especially by the modern Arabs, the name Biledulgerid is applied to the whole of that district which lies between the maritime states of Barbary and Sahara, or the de sert ; • which extends from 10 degrees west to 15 east longitude • from 29 to 33 north latitude • and which comprehends Lower Suse, Dara or Draha, Taflet or Tafilelt, Sigilmessa, and Biledulgerid Pro per. The word has been analysed by some authors into Bled-el-Jerid, " the land of dates ;" by others, into Bled-el-Jeraad, " the land of locusts ;" but Dr Shaw, who writes it Blaid-el-Jeride, and Mr Jackson, who makes it Bled-el-Jerrede, unite in giving it the interpretation of " the dry country." The country,. especially in the central regions, is sandy, barren and mountainous, and almost entirely destitute of rivers and fresh water springs. In the districts •nearer the Atlantic, water may generally be found by dig ging three or four feet below the surface, but it is of a brackish taste, and unwholesome quality. The cli mate is extremely hot and unhealthy ; especially in the months of July, August, and September, when suffocating wind, loaded with particles of sand, and. extremely pernicious to the eyes; blows very tempes tuously from the desart. In many parts of this ex tensive tract, very considerable ruins are to be found, from which it would seem to have been formerly bet ter peopled, and more carefully cultivated;. but now its principal and almost only produce is dates, which grow every where in the greatest variety and abun dance ; though, in some spots of the more western proviaces, a little Indian corn, rice, wheat, and bar ley, are produced : In these also a very superior breed of goats are reared, which are in high repute among the inhabitants of Morocco. The natives of Biledul
gerid are chiefly composed of wild Arabs, who come originally from Sahara, and who resemble the wan dering tribes, already described under the article BARBARY. Those of them who border upon the northern states, are rather more civilized and station.: ary in their habitations, frequently engaging in agri culture and the mechanic arts ; but the inhabitants of the interior are a set of miserable and murderous ban ditti : They are a meagre, swarthy race, with shri velled complexions, and almost continually afflicta • with ophthalmia. Their principal food is the fruit of the date tree, the indigestive effects of which they are accustomed to correct by the use of dried fish. They use also camels milk, and goats flesh ; and, on ac count of the intolerable heat, their principal meal is always after sun-set. They arc extremely liable to a most inveterate scurvy, which affects their gums, loosens their teeth, and sometimes spreads over their whole body. In other respects, they are said to be vigorous and healthy, living to a very advanced age, and seldom subject to sickness and disease. The small-pox, and even the plague, the great scourges of Barbary, are said to be unknown in though the countries are so contiguous, and the in habitants have so much intercourse. The natives are chiefly employed in predatory excursions, in serving occasionally as mercenaries under the neighbouring states, and particularly in hunting the ostrich, which supplies them with various necessaries. The flesh is used as food, the fat as medicine, the claws as orna ments ; the skin is made into pouches, and the fea thers constitute their most valuable article of traffic. All these Arabs profess the religion of Mahomed; but have little knowledge of its tenets, or regard to its precepts; and mix with it an endless variety of Jewish ceremonies, and Pagan superstitions. See Mod. Univ. Hist. vol. xvii. ; and Jackson's Account of Morocco. (q)