Orfella

Orfella (Urfila), a fierce and powerful people, North Africa, about the shores of the Great Syrtis, Tripolitana; they speak Arabic, call themselves Arabs, and claim to have migrated from Egypt about the 9th century; but their customs, sub-tribal names, and other indications show a large admixture of the aboriginal Berber element. The Orfellas own all the wells along the caravan routes, and are much dreaded by the surrounding populations; owing to their predatory excursions, the Tirsa oasis. formerly thickly peopled and highly cultivated, has been completely abandoned.