TARIFA  , a seaport of

Spain, in the province of Cadiz, at the extreme south point of the Peninsula, 21 M. by rail W.S.W. of Gibraltar . Pop . (1900) 11,723 . The town is nearly quadrangular, with narrow, crooked streets, and is still surrounded by its old Moorish walls . On its east side, just within these, stands the citadel . The rocky island in front of the town, connected with the mainland by a causeway, is strongly fortified; on the south side there is a modern lighthouse . Anchovy and tunny fishing, is carried on, and there is some coasting trade, chiefly in live stock, salt fish and fruit . The manufactures (leather and earthenware) are unimportant . The oranges of Tarifa are famed for their sweetness . Tarifa is the Julia Joza of Strabo, between Gades and Belon . According to that writer, it was colonized by Romans and the removed inhabitants of Zelis in Mauretania Tingitana . The Julia Transducta or Traducta of coins and of Ptolemy appears to be the same place .

Its

present name, dating from early in the 8th century, is derived from Tarif, whom Tariq sent to Spain in command of the advance-guard of the Moorish invaders (see CALIPHATE and SPAIN: History) . In 1292 Tarifa was taken by Sancho IV. of Castile from the Moors, who made several subsequent attempts to recapture it . In the defence of Tarifa Alphonso XI. gained the battle of Salado, a short distance to the westward, in 1340 . In 1812 a French force of Io,000 men under Generals Victor and Laval vainly endeavoured to capture Tarifa, which was garrisoned by 2500 troops (mostly British) under General Gough .