Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-07-02
Hens ano 9listeIlanu.
THE FAMINE IN ALGIERs.
Horrible Tales Of Murder and Cant
balism--The Locust Slaughter.

balism--The Locust Slaughter.
Paris MAY 2S) Cor. Boston Postl
Dispatches from Algiers continue TO be
Of the most deplorable nature. The famine
is widespread and sharp, and in the splen-
did valley Of the Chelif, in the heart Of the
grain-grawing country, caid of Zemarah,
who ruled, year ago, over 35, 900 souls, re-
ports to-day the figure of q, 900 as his pop
ulation In one small town, Mostagenem,
from January TO April, 1,O89 people were
officially registered as dead from lack of
food, and in Mascara, another town of about
5000 inhabitants, 2,540 persisted of hun
ger, from October to March. The sides of
the road are piled with the dead, and bod
les are strewn about the fields in the vicin-
ity of these places. Trials for murder and
canibalism are of constant occurrence
The Arabs daily risk their lives for
chicken or quart of corn. The
account Of q trial has just reached Paris
where the C0ur ddsSiss of Oran condemn
ed to death four chieftains who had Joined
band, organized for the pillage of grain,
to keep their families from starvation. The
same mail brings the details of another
trial. At the public market of Orleans
vile, Kabyle chief, named Ben Ali, had
stolen from shop two small oaten cakes
called gdlettes; and with them carefully
concealed under his bournous, was pro-
ceeding to retired spot TO feast in peace
upon his scanty but precious booty. His
stealthy movements attracted hungry eyes;
he was followed and surrounded while de-
vouring, by troop of famished Arabs,
who threw themselves upon him to obtain
his food. Ben Ali drew his knife and bat
tied like a mailman for his gdLettes; q gigan-
tic, slillful fighter, he killed Djilah at the
onset and wounded and laid dying at
his feet two other men. But num-
bers overpowered him, and dozen
wretches at last secured his cakes and
fled, leaving Ben Ali with many bleed
ing cash upon the ground behind them
ut was my life | defended, said the dus-
ky chief in court II was expiring with
hunger, and but for my weakness, by the
prophet would have slain a score of
them" The court rendered the verdict
that the man in fighting for his bread was
struggling for life, and he was condemned
for manslaughter-to his great delight, as
in prison he was sure of being fed.
The Government civil and military, have
exerted themselves in every way to allevi-
ate the general distress of the colony.-
The Archbishop of Algiers had received in
that city upwards of 500 unprotected chill
dren, some of whom had fed from their
homes in the interior, to avoid being eaten
in their own families. They were properly
cared for, and having them in hand,
his eminence announced his intention of
rearing them in the Catholic faith; but
Marshal de MacNIahon declared that at
the proper time they must on the contrary,
be delivered up to their relations, as any
such proceedings as the Archbishop's would
occasion the bitterest feeling among the ma
tives The dispute was lively one, and
the churchman came to Paris to request the
intercession of the Emperor, who interced-
ed and supported the Governor General;
so the Archbishop went back to Algiers
with broken nose--and was rightfully
served
Locusts have appeared throughout the
province of Aumale in the colony, and the
troops and natives have been put in requisi-
tion for their destruction, receiving a gov
eminent reward of two and half francs for
every hundred weight of the insects de-
stroyed and gathered. Many hungry
vagabond will fill his belly, many q family
will be kept alive by the locust slaughter