Interior. —The north-westeru portion of Tunis, between the bout:au-y-1We of Algiers and the valley of the Mejordah, on the south and east, is very mountainous. A range of mountains enters Tunis near Z6* 30' N. lat, 6' 40' E. long., and spreads over the whole district The most elevated part of this range is art the distance of a few miles from the banks of the river Majerdah, where it runs from west to cart, and is called the Frigean range, from a district called Frigea, in which it Is situated, and which is one of the most fertile and populous districts of the regency. The mountains probably do not exceed 4000 or 5000 feet above the sea, and their sides are generally covered with fine trees. The lower bills which surround the more elevated portion of the range, are cultivated and partly covered with obve-plantationa, more especially in the upper valley of the Wady &In, where the mountains which lie east of it contain rich lead-mines. Near 9' 20' E. long. the Frigean range turns to the north, and forms a wide-spread mass of rocks of moderate elevation, which is divided into two parts by a small river that fella into the Lake of Benzart, and drains a narrow valley. West of this valley is a table-laud, which descends with rather a steep declivity towards the Mediterranean. It ie called Mogody, and its upper part la covered with shrubs and bruabwood, and is without cultivation ; but where it declines towards the Lake of Benzart it is well wooded, and near its base planted with olive-trees. The Lake, or rather Lakes, of Beuzart (for the lake is divided into two parts by a projecting pro montory), extend from north-east to south-west 23 miles; the greatest breadth is 14 miles. The lakes are connected with the sea by a channel about 10 miles long, which near the town of Benzart is little more than a fathom deep, but above it increases in depth to 6 and 10 fathoms. The depth of the northern lake varies from 10 to 60 fathoms of water. It abounds in several kinds of fish, among which Is the gray mullet, from the roe of which is made the famous botarga of Benzart. The lakes are surrounded by a level tract ono or two miles In width, partly cultivated, but chiefly planted with olive- and fruit-trees. The peaches of Benzart are in great repute. That part of the Frigean Mountains which lies cast of the valley and lakes of Ben cart rises only into hills. It contains a portion of cultivable land and many olive-plantations.
The river Mejerdah rises within the territories of Algiers, where it is formed by the junction of the waters of the Wady Serra and those of the Wady Khameea or Hamiz. [Mrarenneu.) As far as the Mejerdah runs eastward the valley is of moderate extent, and fre quently interrupted by spurs from the adjacent hills and mountains, but soon after it has begun to run north-north-cast it emerges from the hills and runs through a plain of considerable width. It flows in a deep bed in a light sandy soil, and is constantly changing its direction when tho waters are high. Unless swelled by rains, its lower course is sluggish, not exceeding a mile an hour; and it pro bably could be navigated by boats for the greater part of the year.
Near the mouth of the river is a wide plain, partly occupied by lakes, which have been formed by the inundations of the river. This plain, along the lower part of its course, is of moderate fertility, and only partially cultivated.
An elevated tract of ground traverses the country in a diagonal lino between 35° and 37° N. lat., beginning on the south-nest on the
boundary-line of Algiers, west of the town of Kazareen, and termi nating ou the north-east in the peninsula of Dakhul and Has-Adder. This tract appears iu most places to attain only a moderate elevation above its base, but it rises to a considerable height in the Jebel Truzzr, Jebel-Ussalat, Jebel-Zunghar, and Jebel-Zagliwan. Parts of these mountains are covered with pine-forests, and a large quantity of tar and pitch is made. Another chain of heights, called Jebel-al-Kaff, runs across the country from west to east, near 36° N. lat., beginning west of Al-Kaff, and joining tho former range at Mount Zunghar, near a point where the parallel of 30° N. lat. is cut by 10° E. long. This chain appears to consist of single mountain masses, frequently sepa rated by deep depressions or valleys, through some of the tributaries of the Mejerdah flow to the principal river. Some of its summits towards the west are very high. It is in many parts well wooded, especially on the lower declivities and in the valleys.
Between the valley of the Lower Mejerdah and that portion of the first-mentioned mountain which extends from Jebel-Zunghar to lias-Addar, lies the plain or Tunis, which extends 20 miles on the north and west side of the town, hut to double that distance towards the south. In several places there are extensive rocky tracts upon it 300 or 400 feet above the sea-leveL In other parts there are short isolated ranges. This plain is not distinguished by fertility, but it is better cultivated than any other part of the country, and more populous, owing to a largo commercial and populous town being situated nearly in its centre.
The Dakhul, or the peninsula which lies east of the Bay of Tunis, is nearly occupied by the range which extends from Jebel-Zaghwan to Ras-Addar. In this range occur two deep depressions of inconsider able width. Through the southern depressions the road is made which leads from Tunis to Nabal and Hammainet The northern depression occurs near the northern extremity of the peninsula, where a low plain unites the largo and elevated masses forming Itas-Addar with the continent. The eastern side of the Dakhul is noted for its fertility; but the interior appears to consist of naked rocky masses with little vegetation on them. The soil of the fertile part of it con sists of alluvium, deposited at the base of the highlands over a tract two or three miles wide. This tract is well cultivated, and produces abundant crops of grain, and the fields are interspersed with villages surrounded by groves Of olive-trees and orchards, in which fig-trees are common. The adjacent hills have excellent pasture for cattle, which are numerous. The dairies are well attended to. The western shores of the Dakhul are far from being fertile. North of the Jebel Zaghwan there are some lead-minea.
The countries hitherto noticed may be considered as the agricultural part of Tunis. Tho greater part of the inhabitants are chiefly engaged in cultivating the ground and in planting olive-trees and orchards. III some parts these occupations are united with the rearing of cattle and attending to the dairy. They all live in fixed habitations, with the exception of a few families of Arabs. In the countries farther to the south however the bulk of the population consists of wandering tribes, who only occasionally cultivate a few patches of ground.