Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/156

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FEUILLANTS 126 FEZZAN immediate tenants, and held courtSv and administered the laws within his lord- ship, like a sovereign prince. The exis- tence of manor-courts and other small jurisdictions within the kingdom is one of the features of the feudal system. The land escheated to the lord when the tenant left no heir, and it was forfeited to him when he was found guilty either of a breach of his oath of fealty or of felony. There were also fines payable to the lord on certain occasions, as well as aids, reliefs, etc. The vassal had also to attend the lord's courts, sometimes to witness, and sometimes to take part in, the administration of justice; in battle, he was bound to lend his horse to his lord if dismounted, to keep to his side while fighting, and go into captivity as a hostage for him when taken. It was a breach of faith to divulge his (the lord's) counsel, to conceal from him the machinations of others, to injure his person or fortune, or to violate the sanc- tity of his roof. FEUILLANTS (fu-e'yans), a re- formed branch of the Cistercian order of monks. It was founded by Jean de la Barriere, abbot of the Cistercian monas- tery of Feuillans near Toulouse, in 1577, who, being opposed to the great laxity of discipline that then prevailed, introduced a much more austere mode of life. They were declared independent by Sixtus V. in 1589. They were afterward divided, in 1630, into two congregationo by Pope Urban VIII., who separated the French from the Italian. FEUILLET, OCTAVE (fe-ya'), a French novelist; bom in St. L6, Aug. 11, 1821. "The Great Old Man" (1845) was his first story; but the "Romance of a Poor Young Man" (1858), which was dramatized, first made him famous. Among his numerous other novels are: "The History of Sibylla" (1862), "Julia de Trecoeur" (1872), "A Marriage in High Life" (1875); "Story of a Parisi- enne"; "La Morte" (1886). He was also a successful playwright. He was elected to the Academy in 1863. He died in Paris, Dec. 29, 1890. FEVER, a disease or rather a whole group of diseases, one general, though not universal, symptom of which is in- creased heat of the skin, besides which the pulse is frequent, and various func- tions are disturbed. Fevers may be di- vided into continued, periodic, and erup- tive or exanthematous. Under the first are ranked typhus, typhoid, and relap- sing fevers; under the second, inter- mittents and remittents; and under the third variola, rubeola, and scarlatina. Yellow fever belongs to the remittent rather than the continued type; so also does hectic fever. Puerperal fever should be removed to the class of inflam- mations. FEZ, a city of Morocco, capital of the province, as it formerly was of the king- dom of the same name, and residence of a kaid or governor. It is singularly and beautifully situated in a funnel-shaped valley, open only to the N. and N. E., the sloping sides of which are covered with fields, gardens, orchards, and orange groves, 95 miles from the Atlan- tic, 225 N. E. of Morocco, and 80 miles S. E. of Tangier. Fez contains about 100 mosques, the chief of which, called El Carubin, is a fine structure, and possesses a covered place for women who may choose to participate in public prayers — a circumstance unique in Mo- hammedan places of worship. Public baths are numerous and good. Twice a year caravans go from Fez across the desert to Timbuktu. This city has al- ways been considered one of the chief ?eats of Moslem learning. Old Fez was founded in 793 by Edris II., a descend- ant of Mohammed, and continued the capital of an independent kingdom till 1548, when it was, together with its territory, conquered, and annexed to Morocco. Fez has always been held so sacred by the Arabs and others, that when the pilgrimages to Mecca were interrupted in the 10th century, the Western Moslems journeyed to this city, as the Eastern did to Mecca; and even now none but the Faithful can enter Fez without express permission from the emperor. Pop. estimated at 100,090, of which about three-fourths are Moors and Arabs, and the remainder Berbers and other cognate tribes, Jews, and Negroes. FEZZAN (ancient Phasania Regio, and the country of the Garamantes), a coun- try of central Africa, immediately S. of Tripoli, to which pashalic it is tributary. Its true boundaries are ill-defined, and its area is uncertain. Fezzan is, as far as has been ascertained, the largest oasis, or cultivable tract in the great African desert of Sahara, by which it is surrounded on three sides. A great portion of this region consists of an extensive valley, bounded by an irregu- lar circle of mountains on all sides ex- cept the W., where it opens into the desert. No streams (properly so called), but Water is plentifully found at a depth of from 10 to 12 feet below the surface of the soil. A few small lakes, incrusted with carbonate of soda, are dotted here and there. The osti'ich and antelope are commonly met with, while to the ordinary domestic animals cam- els may be added. In summer the tem-