Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/99

 TOPOGRAPHY. 79 Since the middle of the century they have even grown jworer, the more vigorous young men having emigrated to Sudan to escape military service. According to Richardson, the men are considerably less numerous than the women in Fezzan, scarcely exceoiling 11,000 in a total estimutiHl by him at no more than 20,000 adults. In certain villages visited by Duvoyrier the able-bodied men had been reduced to about 12 per cent., foreign rule having here also depopulated the country and caused a relapse into barbarism. Topography, In the Wady Shiati, the most important oasis of North Fezzan, there are two places ranking as towns : in the east Brak, residence of the mudir or governor, in the west Edcri, standing on an eminence and surrounded by fortifications. Jcduf, that is, the " New," in the more southerly oasis of Sebha, despite its name, is at least three hundred years old. It is also enclosed by walls, and has a population of about a thousand souls. Like the neighbouring town of Karda, it was formerly peopled by a branch of the Aulad Sliman Arabs, who, however, were driven out by the Turks and dispersed throughout the surrounding countries, even as far as Wadai. To the north-east follow the three towns of Tcmenhint, Semiiti, and Zighetif in the oasis of like name — the last mentioned, a mere collection of hovels grouped round a central castle, and exclusively inhabited by Marabuts from the Fogha oasis. In the Wady Lajal, south-west of Jedid, the largest places are Tekerfiba, Ugraifeh, and Ubari. Towards the western extremity of the valley lies the little village of New JermOy near the ruins of Garamn, which 2,500 years ago was the capital of the powerful nation of the Gararaantes, who held sway throughout the Libyan oases as far as the region now known as Marocco. Of Jirma Kadim, or "Old Jerma," there still remain the enclosures, 1 miles in circumference and flanked by broad earthen towers. Not far from the palm groves of Jerma stands a well-preserved monument, noteworthy as being the most advanced Roman structure in the interior of the continent. To this point during the reign of Augustus had penetrated Cornelius Balbus Gaditanus, conqueror of Garama and Cydamus, or Ghadames. Hence the special historic interest attaching to this square tomb, which is in the form of an altar, decorated at its four angles with Corinthian pilasters. Mitrzuk, present capital of Fezzan, has the advantage of being situated in the centre of tlie country. Nevertheless, it seems strange that its rulers should have selected such a malarious place for their residence. In the hot season nearly all strangers, even the Negroes, are attacked by ague ; and till recently the whites were allowed to reside in the town only during the three winter months, not through any solicitude for their health, but from the prevalent idea that their bodies fomented and rendered more fatal the miasmatic exhalations. In the cemetery to the east of the town is shown the tomb of the traveller Ritchie. But the choice made of ^furzuk, which lies on the track of the caravans traversing the southern plateaux in the direction of Sudan, has hel]K'd to make it the most |)opulous city in Fezzan, the number of its inhabitants being estimated by Nachtigal at six thou-