, 1876-12-09
Algeria and fts Arabs.

teresting book on Algeria, full OF
amusing notices of the quaint customs
of the Arabs of that colony. Many
of them have the charm of entire nov
city to Western readers.
On the market place Of Bouftarik,
NJ Feydeau made the acquaintance OF
a queer commercial man, who called
himself a Jew, and who did flourish
ing business without any stock-in-
trade. He was an agent who conduct,
ed transactions between buyers aud
sellers-the Arabs entertaining so per
feet contempt for mercantile pursuits
that they will not personally engage
in them. NJ. Feyleau saw this 60 be-
tween pocket p per cent. on the sale
Of a horse in presence Of both buyer
and seller, though the bargain was
concluded in a few minutes, in the
public street. All the parties concern
ed were previously strangers to each
other. These middle men are iDgenI-
Gus in raising the wind. NJ. Feydean
saws that a spirit merchant sold pipe
If absinthe to one Of their number on
the usual terms of three months cred
it. and the next day be offered another
pipe of the sans liquor to European
trader at the same price The Euro
pean answered th2t he had Just par
chased pipe of absin;he at much
lower price, and the merchant found
ont that it had been sold 20 him by
the middle man. When asked how
ne coud make a profit by selling
Things under their cost, he answered,
IF had asked you TO lend me 3,OO9 +.
for three months You would not have
done so; but you were ready to deliv-
er NE goods 10 tnat value, and they
served my purpose equally well. 1t
is true that | so!d them for less than |
have agreed TO pay you, but | have
got ready mouey, which may be
doubled and trlp!ed by shrewd invest
ments in corn and cattle this harvest
Many of the mos! prosperous French
agriculturists of Algeria are Alsatlans.
NJ. Feydeau saw a beautiful young
woman from this province, who had
made true love match with a black
man. Three-generations of this fami-
ly were all living happily together
under the same roof, aud they owned
a prosperous farm called oval de
Louise" in the plain Of the Mitidja.
Their farm had been named after the
pretty Frenchwoman. Marriage be-
tween natives and colonists are grow
ing very frequent, because they are
encouraged by the government Such
marriages are under the protection OF
French law; and though Mabom
medan who marries a French girl is
not required to renounce his religion,
be cannot contract a valid marriage
with another woman during her lite>
time. These unions usually turn out
well, and the Arab husband submits
passively to the dominion of his
French consort, as though he tacitly
acknowledged himself OF an inferior
race. 1t should be added, that the
AIgerine negroes are often very hand
some men.
The mountain chiefs still keep up
the custom of saluting guests and
superiOrs by q discharge Of firearms,
aud use ball cartridges TO make the re
port of their guns louder. The Younger
French officers from the military
schools, especially those on frontier
service, are fond Of adopting Is much
as possible of the Arab dress and man
ners; one of their favorite amaSe
ments is tanning lions wheipS to fol-
low them about, and teach them the
tricks Of dancing dogs. A tender Of
fcer, says an English reviewer OF the
book, sometimes groves Il terrible
temptation To hungry young lion,
and the manifestation Of strong dis
position to breakfast of the French
gentleman is not uncommon on the
part of an educa ed quadrupea. NJ
Feydeau states, on General Yusufs au>
thority, that the conquest of Algeria
was really effected by mules, they be-
ing the only beasts which could carry
the French artillery up the painless
hills were Abdel Kader and his adhe
rents took refuge.