Mauritania

Mauritania, or MAURETANIA, the latter form that of the coins and inscriptions, was anciently the most north-western part of Africa, corresponding to the present Morocco and the western portion of Algeria. It derived its name from its inhabitants, the Mauri or Maurusii (see MOORS). It reached on the south to the Atlas Mountains, and was originally separated from Numidia on the east by the river Mulucha, now the Muluya, though at a later date it extended as far east as the Ampsaga. In ancient times it yielded great quantities of corn and valuable timber. See MOROCCO.