subsequently was carefully put together and placed in the Louvre at Paris. It is the record of the revolt of Mesha, king of Moab, who is mentioned in 2 Kings iii, against the king of Israel. See Heth and Moab by Conder and Records of the Past by Neubauer.
Moberly (mō′bẽr-lĭ), Mo., city, in Randolph County, about 125 miles northwest of St. Louis. The surrounding country is agricultural, and in the vicinity are deposits of fireclay and extensive coal fields. It has flour and lumber mills, brick and lumber yards, a foundry, ice factory and the Wabash Railway's machine-shops. The city has good public and parochial schools, a public library and a Young Men's Christian Association building, and is the seat of St. Mary's Academy. It has the service of two railroads. Population 10,936.
Mobile (mō-bēl′), the only seaport of Alabama, is situated on the west side of Mobile River, at the head of Mobile Bay. It is built on a sandy plain rising gradually from the river, with broad streets shaded with live oaks and magnolias. It has a large cotton and timber trade, and manufactures cottonseed oil, chewing gum, cigars and leather. Its public buildings include a city hall, market house, cathedral and a Catholic college in the neighborhood. Mobile has successively been a French, English, Spanish and American city. It was the capital of Louisiana under the French until 1723, when New Orleans became the seat of government. In 1763 the lands east of the Mississippi, including Mobile, were ceded to England, and in 1783 the British possessions on the Gulf of Mexico were yielded to Spain, which kept possession until 1813. The city has a large manufacturing and export trade in cottongoods, flour, lumber and farm products. Population 51,521.
Mobile, a bay on the coast of Alabama, about 30 miles long and 10 or 12 wide. The entrance from the Gulf of Mexico is only three miles wide, and is guarded by Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines. It also has an outlet on the southwest, used by small steamers between Mobile and New Orleans. The upper part of the bay is shallow, and is becoming more so all the time from the sediment left by the rivers flowing into it. There are three lighthouses on its shores. One of the great naval battles of the Civil War was fought (Aug. 5, 1864) between Admirals Farragut and Buchanan on the bay.
Mobile, a river in the southern part of Alabama, formed by the union of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers. The name is that of the Indian tribe living in the region when first settled by whites. The river divides into two branches, the western one taking the name. These two streams, after several more divisions, unite and flow into Mobile Bay. The river is 45 miles long.
Moccasin (mŏk′kȧ-sĭn), a very poisonous snake of the southern United States. It belongs to the rattlesnake family, but the tail is short and ends in a horny point instead of a rattle. The water moccasin is the most dreaded snake of the United States. The rattlesnake strikes only when disturbed, and gives warning by its rattle. The moccasin strikes without warning at anything that displeases it. It is an expert swimmer. Often it lies on bushes overhanging streams, watching for frogs and fish. It occurs from North Carolina to southern Illinois and Arkansas and south. Its closest relative is the copperhead or upland moccasin, commonly called the cotton-mouth.
Moccasin, a shoe (Algonquin mok-i-sin) worn by the Indians of North America. It is made, sole and upper, of deerskin or other soft leather, and is ornamented on the top with beads of various colors.
Mo′cha. This village lies 130 miles west-northwest of the British port of Aden, in Yemen, Arabia. It is near the site of a large, ancient city (Musa), but it came into importance through the traffic in coffee. No coffee is or was grown near Mocha, but the place for a time was an important market for this product. In 1709 it had 10,000 inhabitants, but in 1806 only 5,000. Now it has dwindled to a mere village, having surrendered most of its commerce to Aden. But its name is still given to a kind of coffee.
Mockingbird (mŏk′ing-bird), a singing bird of the thrush family closely related to the catbird. There are several species in South America, the West Indies and the United States. That of the southern United States is best known. It ranges across the country to California and south into Mexico. In the summer it is found in small numbers as far north as Massachusetts, but in the eastern states is not common north of Virginia. It is the most common bird of the south; of sociable disposition, dwelling in town and country garden close to man's dwelling. It is about the length of the rob-
