SAHIL, AS-

Latin Byzacium, coastal plain in the eastern Mediterranean littoral of Tunisia, comprising a sandy coast with large bays and lagoons of the Mediterranean and situated between the sea and the steppe country of central Tunisia. The region extends from the town of An-Nafidah on the central coast of Al- Hammamat Gulf in the north to the town of Qabis on the Gulf of Gabes in the south, but As-Sahil (Arabic: Shore) in particular designates the stretch of land between the towns of Susah and Safaqis. The islands of Jarbah and Ash-Sharqi are also considered a part of As Sahil. The region receives sufficient rainfall for irrigation owing to the chergui (eastern) wind. As-Sahil was first inhabited by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC. Cereal growing is traditional, especially wheat and barley, and Hannibal introduced the cultivation of olive trees in about 203 BC. In AD 1091 Muslim refugees from Sicily settled in the region. The chief industries are based on the pressing of olive oil and the manufacture of soaps. Pottery making, weaving, and fishing are also economically important. As-Sahil is densely populated and characterized by closely spaced villages. The inhabitants are referred to as either Sahili, in Arabic, designating persons from the coastal region, or Afaqi, a local term designating sedentary villagers. The main towns include Susah, locally referred to as the pearl of As-Sahil; Al-Munastir, the birthplace of the first Tunisian president, Habib Bourguiba; Al-Mahdiyah, the marketplace of the villagers; and Safaqis, an important port and a trading centre.