FEZZAN, one of the provinces of the state of Tri poli, is a considerable tract of country in the interior of Northern Africa, situated about 360 miles south of Mesu rata, and nearly midway between Tunis and Egypt. It is considered as the country of the ancient Garamantes, and as corresponding with the Phazania of Pliny, (lib. v. c. 5). As it is completely insulated by sandy or rocky pacts, and separated to a considerable distance from any other habit able district, it falls under the description of Oases, or fer tile spots in the middle of the desert, and may be reckon ed the largest Oasis that is known. It is a circular or ra ther oval domain, surrounded on all sides by an irregular ridge of mountains, except on the western border, where it communicates with the flat sandy desert, or Sahara. The greatest length of the cultivated part of the king dom is about 300 English miles from north to south, and the greatest breadth 200 miles from cast to west. But the mountainous regions of Harutch, on the eastern fron tier, and other desert districts of considerable extent to wards the south and west, are within its territory. On the north, it is bordered by Arab tribes, nominally dependent on Tripoli; on the east, by the hilly deserts already men tioned ; on the south and south-east, by the country of the Tibboes ; on the south-west, by that of the Nomadic Tu. arics; and on the west by Arabs. Almost the only his torical notices of this country by the ancients, are to be found in Pliny, who mentions it as one of the most impor tant conquests of the Homan general Balbus.
The climate is at no season temperate or agreeable. The heat is intense during summer ; and when the wind blows from the south, is scarcely supportable, even by the natives. A bleak north wind prevails during winter, which produces a severe and chilling degree of cold. Rain very seldom falls through the whole year, and when it does come, is little in quantity ; but water, notwithstanding, is found every where in wells of eight or ten feet in depth ; a circumstance, supposed to be owing to the high lands by which the country is surrounded. Thunder and lightning
are rare ; but storms of wind, whirling up the sand and dust, are very frequent. There is not a river or stream of any note in the whole country, as far as was observed by Horneman ; but Edrisi mentions a river of some size, which takes its course by Zuela, and which is lost in the sand before it reaches the sea. The soil is a deep sand, covering calcareous rock or earth, and sometimes a stra tum of argillaceous substance; but, as the springs are so abundant, few regions in the north of Africa exhibit a richer vegetation. Both the soil and climate are well adapted for the growth of wheat and barley ; but, from the indolcpce of the people, their ignorance of tillage, or the oppressions of their government, a sufficiency of corn for their subsistence is not raised in the country, and they de pend upon importations from the Arab countries to the north. Pot-herb and garden vegetables in general are plentiful, and some senna is raised in the western districts; but the natural and staple produce of Fezzan is dates. There are few horses in the country, and camels are kept only by the wealthy inhabitants; but asses are generally used for all the purposes of burden, draught, or carriage. A few horned cattle are found in the fertile districts, which are employed in drawing water from the wells, and are never slaughtered for food unless in cases of extreme ne cessity. The ordinary domestic animal is the goat, and P. few sheep are reared in the southern parts of the king dom. The antelope, tiger, and ostrich, are the principal wild animals, from which the natives derive any benefit ; but the more noxious and loathsome creatures are suffi ciently abundant ; and snakes, adders, scorpions, toads, and similar vermin, are the constant inhabitants of the fields, gardens, and houses.