A geographical dictionary or universal gazetteer, ancient and modern Volume 2 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1823 Excerpt: ...Saltan, mountainous district, Arabia, N.of Yemen. Sahar, t. Hiud., Allahabad; 7 NNE. Corah. Sahar, t. Hind., in Mewat; 18 NW. Matura Sahar, (an. Sariphi.) mt. Persia, in Chorasan; 20 SSE. Mcsghid. Sahar, see Schtthhr. Sahara, Zaara, or the Great Desert, an immense tract of territory situated between the states of Barbary and the countries watered by the Niger. In its greatest length it extends nearly across Africa, from the Atlantic to the Nile, forming a space of 45 deg. of Lon., or about 3,000 miles, in breadth about 15 deg.; or 1,000 miles. But the name is usually limited to the main body of the desert, which lies to the west of Fezzan and Cassina, extending through about 30 degrees of Lon. It is much the largest desert on the globe. On the northern side the transition from cultivated land is gradual, and often insensible. A great part of the surface consists of a dead level, stretching on every side like the ocean, and over which the eye roves without any object to arrest or bound its view. In some parts it is covered with small stones sharp as flints; in some places the surface is diversified by ravines, rocks, and eminences covered with shrubs; other parts are composed of moving sand, which, being piled up in hillocks, cannot be passed without the severest labour. These, w lien blown by the wind, sometimes produce the most terrible effects. arid whole caravans have been found buried beneath them. This vast tract is occasionally diversified by oases, or islands, where a supply of water admits of a certain degree of verdure and cultivation, and affords, in some instances, a support to a certain number of inhabitants, producing grain, oil, wine, and pasture, and in others furnishing merely springs for the refreshment of travellers. These places are inhab...