James Baquet The northwestern African country of Mauritania doesn’t seem to have a tourism slogan — and that’s just as well, as many governments have declared travel there to be it “ill advised.” Kidnapping, rape and mugging are common occurrences in some areas. Local law enforcement cannot keep up with crime, and on top of that, terrorists frequently target travelers. This is in addition to inner turmoil involving coups and military juntas. Just as alarming is the fact that Mauritania is reported to have more slaves per capita than any other country, called “slavery’s last stronghold.” Slaves may account for as much as 4 percent of the population, over 150,000 people. It should be noted that the Mauritanian government denies the existence of slavery in the country, putting such reports down to a conspiracy against the government. Located on the Atlantic, with Western Sahara (disputed with Morocco) to its northwest, Algeria to its northeast, Mali to its east and south, and Senegal to the southwest, Mauritania should not be confused with Mauritius, an island nation lying 2,000 kilometers east of the other side of the continent, in the Indian Ocean. Mauritania takes its name from the ancient Berber kingdom (and later Roman province) Mauretania, named after the Mauri people (whose name ultimately gave us the English word “Moor”). Mauritius, on the other hand, was named after a Dutch prince, Maurice van Nassau. Conditions in the country really are a shame, because this sparsely populated Saharan land has some real attractions. It is located in the Maghreb, a largely desert region comprising North Africa (exclusive of Egypt) and including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya. Mauritania is the only Maghrebi country with no Mediterranean coastline. Tourists can visit such ancient cities as Chinguetti, called the “seventh holy city of Islam” for its former Koranic schools and universities, Ouadane, a former caravan city on the road to Timbuktu, Oualata, which dates to the Middle Ages and is famous for its bas relief mural decorations, and Tichit, once famous for its libraries and still boasting an ancient mosque. Vocabulary: Which word above means: 1. small groups illegally ruling a country 2. “train” of camels carrying cargo 3. painting on a wall 4. mixed Berber and Arab Muslim of northwestern African 5. attacking and robbing 6. make a target of, attack 7. not including 8. disturbing; frightening 9. making up 10. “flat” sculpture | 