[945] Numidia is the central tract of country on the north coast of Africa, which forms the largest portion of the country now occupied by the French, and called Algeria, or Algérie. The continuous system of highlands which extends along the coast of the Mediterranean was in the earliest period occupied by a race of people consisting of many tribes, of whom the _Berbers_ of the Algerine territories, or the _Kabyles_ or _Quabaily_, as they are called by the inhabitants of the cities, are the representatives. These people, speaking a language which was once spoken from the Fortunate Islands in the west to the cataracts of the Nile, and which still explains many names in ancient African topography, and embracing tribes of quite different characters, whites as well as blacks (though not negroes), were called by the Romans Numidæ; not a proper name, but a common denomination from the Greek form, νομάδες. Afterwards Numida and Numidia became the name of the nation and the country. Sometimes they were called Maurusii Numidæ, while the later writers always speak of them under the general name of Mauri. The most powerful among these tribes were the Massyli, whose territories extended from the river Ampsaga to Tretum promontory; and the Massæsyli, occupying the country to the west, as far as the river Mulucha. _Smith, Dict._ art. Numidia. [946] Cartagena. [947] Marseilles. [948] The words περιτραχήλια ξύλινα offer some difficulty. Paul Louis Courier, who is of authority on this subject, says that Strabo, having little experience in horses, has mistaken the first word for another, and intended to speak of the horse’s nose, and not his neck. Letronne and Groskurd both agree that ξύλιναn is rightly to be translated, “of cotton.” [949] Constantine. [950] The Pharusii, and not the Mauretanians, came with Hercules from the East, according to Pliny, Mela, and Sallust; hence Letronne conjectures that we should read here Pharusii. [951] A. D. 18 or 19 at latest, but the exact date is uncertain. [952] Groskurd corrects the text, and translates, “there existed in the Bay Emporicus very many Phœnician cities.” [953] _Plutarch._ Sertorius. [954] Ebba-Ras. [955] Probably Tafna. [956] Jama. [957] According to Shaw, who however did visit the place, its ruins are still to be seen by the present Tucumbrit; others identify it with Areschkul of the Arabs, at the mouth of the Tafna near Rasgun. [958] In the text μεγέθει δὲ ἑπτασπονδύλων, scorpions “of seven joints” in the tail; the correction of Letronne, which Kramer supports, is adopted. Groskurd however retains the text, and reads μεγέθει δὲ [ὑπερβαλλόντων καὶ ἐσθ’ ὅτε] ἑπτασπονδύλων, “of enormous size, and sometimes of seven joints.” [959] Cherchell, a corruption of Cæsarea-Iol. [960] Ebba Ras (the seven capes) or Bougaron. [961] Bougie.