The Baht rises in the Atlas, and partly loses itself in the swamps and lakes of the province of El Garb; the other branch probably falls into the river Seboo.
The Seboo is the largest river in West Barbary; it rises in a piece of water situated in the midst of a forest, near the foot of Atlas, eastward of the cities of Fas and Mequinas, and winding through the plains, passes within six miles of Fas. Another stream, proceeding from the south of Fas, passes through the city, and discharges itself into this river: this stream is of so much value to the Fasees, from supplying the town with water, that it is called (Wed el Juhor) the river of pearls. Some auxiliary streams proceeding from the territory of Tezza fall into the Seboo in Liali (the period before mentioned). This river is impassable except in boats, or on rafts. At Meheduma, or Mamora, where it enters the ocean, it is a large, deep, and navigable stream; but the port being evacuated, foreign commerce is annihilated, and little shipping has been admitted since the Portugueze quitted the place. This river abounds more than any other in that rich and delicate fish called shebbel. If there were any encouragement to industry in this country, corn might be conveyed up the Seboo to Fas at a very low charge, whereas it is now transported to that populous city on camels, the expense of the hire of which often exceeds the original cost of the grain.
The Bu Regreg.—This river rises in one of the mountains of Atlas, and proceeding through the woods and valleys of the territory of Fas, traverses the plains of the province of Beni Hassen, and discharges itself into the ocean between the towns of Salée and Rabat, the former being on the northern, the latter on the southern bank: here some of the Emperor’s sloops of war, which are denominated by his subjects frigates, are laid up for the winter. This river is never fordable, but ferries are constantly passing to and fro.
The Morbeya also rises in the Atlas mountains, and dividing the territory of Fas from the province of Tedla, passes through a part of Shawia, and afterwards separates that province and Temsena from Duquella; dividing that part of the empire west of Atlas into two divisions. There was a bridge over this river at a short distance from the pass called Bulawan, built by Muley Bel Hassen, a prince of the Mareen family; at this pass the river is crossed on rafts of rushes and reeds, and on others consisting of inflated goat skins. Westward of this pass, the river meanders through the plains, and enters the ocean at the port of Azamor. The Morbeya abounds in the fish called shebbel, the season for which is in the spring. This river not being at any time fordable, horses and travellers, together with their baggage, are transported across by ferries.
The Tensift.[20]—This river rises in the Atlas, east of Marocco, and passing about five miles north of that city, it proceeds through the territory of Marocco, Rahamena, and nearly divides the two maritime provinces of Shedma and Abda, discharging itself into the ocean about sixteen miles south of the town of Saffy. This river receives in its course some tributary streams issuing from Atlas, the principal of which is the Wed Niffis, which, flowing from the south, enters it, after taking a northerly course through the plains of Marocco or Sheshawa. The Tensift is an impetuous stream during the Liali, but in summer it is fordable in several places; and at the ferry near the mouth of the river, at low water, reaches as high as the stirrups. In many places it is extremely deep, and dangerous to cross without a guide; about six miles from Marocco, a bridge crosses it, which was erected by Muley El Mansor; it is very strong but flat, with many arches. One of the Kings of Marocco attempted to destroy this bridge, to prevent the passage of an hostile army, but the cement was so hard that men with pick-axes were employed several days before they could sever the stones; and they had not time to effect its destruction, before the army passed. The shebbel of the Tensift is much esteemed, as is also the water, which is extremely salubrious, and aids considerably the powers of digestion, which, from the intense heat of the climate, are often weakened and relaxed. This river is supposed to be the Phut of Ptolemy; on the northern bank, where it falls into the ocean, is to be perceived the ruins of an ancient town, probably the Asama of that Geographer.
There is a small stream two miles south of Mogodor, from whence that town is supplied with water; and about twelve or fourteen miles more to the south, we reach
The River Tidsi, which discharges itself into the ocean a few miles south of Tegrewelt, or Cape Ossem, where the ancient city of Tidsi formerly stood. Passing to the south in the plains at the foot of that branch of Atlas which forms Afarnie, or the lofty Cape de Geer,[21] we meet
The River Benitamer, which, with the before mentioned branch of Atlas, divides the provinces of Haha and Suse.
Farther to the south is another river called
Wed Tamaract; and about sixteen or seventeen miles south of that place, and about six south of Agadeer, or Santa Cruz,[22] the majestic