Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-13
IN FAR OFF ALGIERS.
The Interesting Region Where
Lay Dying the High Private
from Sweet BiDgen on the
Rhine. -T EN
Oorrsspondent s.. Louis OhrOnioIe.

% Correspondent St. Louis Chronicle.
There are a good many places within
a semicirele of 100 miles or so from
Algiers that the visitor usually con-
siders it his business to see. The
most fashionable Of these resorts is
Blidah, a town of 10000 inhabitants
lying about 80 miles south OF Algiers,
just at the foot of the Atlas Mountains,
and at tho southern extremity of the
great fertile plain of the Metidja. Its
Importance lies chiefly in its being a
central point from which short expedi
tions may be made to interesting spots
in the neighborhood. During trip
from Algiers to Blidah | stopped at
an Arab market, and | here propose to
describe such scenes and incidents in
connection with it az have interested
or amused me, and may, therefore, |
take it for granted, interest or amuse
few other people:
1t was Z o'clock in the morning Of a
day
Asfare as day in June
When heaven tries the earth if 1t be in tune,
when we started on our prilgrimage to
Bidah. The slanting rays of the
morning sun fell warm and bright on
the rich red earth and the green hills,
and turned to diamonds the dew that
trembled OIL the leaves Of the aromatic
trailers that lined the road side.
THE WHITE ROBBED ARAB
that we occasionally passed on the
road, trudging along in silence by the
side of his heavily laden camel or
donkey, only added novelty to the
scene, without msrring its beauty.
We made our first stop at Bouiarik
town famous throughout the colony
for its Monday market for the sale Of
cattle and agricultural products; and
which might with propriety be called,
as it sometimes is, an Arab market
from the preponderance OF the native
element in attendance. Each town in
this vast fertile plain-some sixty by
fourteen miles in extent-has its own
market day, and the Arabs Of the
plains and mountains when they start
out on market expedition often
make the entire round, driving before
them their little herd of sheep or goats
or cattle, or their donkeys laden with
paniers or charcoal, dates, oranges,
olive oil or other produce, which they
sell or barter for clothing and house
hold, farm or manufacturing imple-
ments. When the noon hour comes
and the market closes they turn their
faces, with what is lett of their goods,
toward the next market place,
ALWAYS ON FOOT,
sleeping at night in the tent Of some
compatriot, or, that wanting, on the
bit Of carpet or mating they carry
with them with the blue sky for a
canopy; and eating from their little
store of black bread and dates.
| 1t presented a curious spectacle
| this market, at distance, like a great
gathering Of white moving masses. Al
we got nearer these divided them.
selves off into sections, but still com.
pletely overshadowed all ordinary
people. In the rear we're grouped
| little herds of sheep and goats, with
their young frisking about them; cows
with the tiniest Of calves; donkeys 81
small that when We declined all soil
citations to buy one, on the ostensiblt
ground Of the Inconvenience Of gettinl
It home, its owner deliberately pickeC
it up in his arms and slung it over hi
shoulder, to show us how easily i
might be carried. AS we had no am
bition to try this method of trans
portation, however, we were obliget
TO leave the Arab disconsolate in pos
session of his donkey, In anothe
place buying and selling Of grain wa
going on, with much
HIGaLIEG ABOUT THE PRICE,
and manifest unWilIingness on tn
: side Of the native to part with hi
little hoard of coin, that he dFeV
: slowly and suspiciously from the ba
Of that he carried in the yoluminou
0 folds Of his wsistband. One dusk
!. son Of the desert had bargaired 70
Y some rye, which had been measures
out in the flexible, grass-w woven baske
that he carried over his shoulder
But the note he rendered in paymen
r was torn, and the vender proposed t
s take Of discount Of FIVE sous "NC
d you don't" said the Arab, in his gut
Q tural vernacular, mot a cent TIL
b Frenchman was determined, an
a SO was the Arab, and both wer
a equally anxious to sell and buy re
n spectively. Tine was no object wit
b the Arab, however, though none
G was, SO he sat himself down patientl
i on the ground till the Frenchma
b should yield; and when we passe
/ that way an hour later be was stil
Q patiently waiting In a small build
0 ing sat scribe recording the sale
,f effected, with the names and resi-
r denoes Of the parties to the transaC
y ton, On one side of the enclosur
r were rows of tents, within wbid
: enterprising Jewish merchants ha
J. spread out on the ground temptin