Berbers

the name generally given to the inhabitants of the mountainous parts of Barbary and the northern portion of the Great Desert. It is either derived from their supposed ancester Ber, or from the Greek and Roman term Barbari. They call themselves Amdzigh, Masigh, Mazys, etc., according to locality and whether singular or plural. These tribes are the descendants of the aboriginal inhabitants of Northern Africa. Till the nth century they inhabited most of the southern coast of the Mediterranean, but afterwards they were driven to the Atlas Mountains. They are warlike and cruel. They live in clay huts and tents, but in the largest villages have stone houses. They work the iron and lead mines in the Atlas Mountains, and make swords, guns, and gunpowder.