The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-07
ALGlERS.
A LAND THAT WAS ONCE A
PIRATES PARADISE.
The Country Under the Reign Oh
Freebooters of the Sea-Pictur-
esque Old Algiers-Quatnt
and Odd Structures.

To read of that distant but interest.
ing country, Algiers, as it is to-day. ana
compare it with the condition of less
than hundred years ago, shows con-
trasts that are extraordinary. The old
saw, "History repeats ITSELF" seems to
reveal q detection in this instance at
least, for it would be hard to tiud in the
present life any suggestion of the past.
When looking over Algiers now from
Its delightful suburbs, and seeing steam.
ers and pleasure yachts from all parts OF
the world anchored peacefully in the
harbor, while the blue Mediterranean
beyond is dotted with the merchant
ships of all nations, it is not easy to real
ize that only a few years ago the land
was ruled by pirates, with the only
American or English residents Christian
captives. From the surrounding heights,
now so attractive to visitors, the muir
derous natives watched the spreading
sea for prey, their victims either put to
death or thrown into slavery.
The history of Algiers in nutshell
comes in appropriately at this point.
After the Roman civil war Algeria be-
came a Roman province and was ex-
ceedingly prosperous. Agriculture was
encouraged, commerce extended, towns
sprang up ana Christianity tiourished.
During the fifth century the Romans
we're conquered by the Eandals, sue
ceeding which the land was the scene of
almost constant strife and changes uf
rule. The consequence was that IN the
seventh century the people had sunk
into barbarism. There was but little
change until in 1863, when Ferdinand,
King of Spain, made himself master. In
1916 he died, and Aruch Barossa, q
notorious Turkish pirate, by trcacherV
and force, acquired the rule and intro
duced the system of piracy, that was
continued to as late a date as 1871.
Barossa was taken prisoner and beheaded
bv'the Spaniards while in the glory OF
his reign, but his successors perpetuated
his methods and extended their piratical
enterprises. =,
Among other things the port of AL
giers was protected by mole that took
so, 900 Christian slaves three years to
construct.
Cutrages of all kinds were carried on
until the Algerian pirates were feared by
all the maritime Powers. Matters
finally came to such pass that in 1880
the French began war on big scale,
and, on July 4, Algiers surrendered.
But the French were not allowed to re-
main undisturbed, war and massacre
being waged against them by hostile
tripes until 1871, when there was an
armistice agreed upon, military rule
withdrawn and civil government es-
tablished. Since then peace has pre-
vailed and the advance has been rapid.
The horrors of pirate rule have been
swept away. The slave prisons and
gates where the heads Of murdered
Christians were displayed have been re-
moved. The palace of the pirate King
is occupied by the French Governor
General. and military bands. play for
balls and receptions by the Europeans
in the halls formerly held by merciless
cut. throats. Modern streets and boule-
wards are crowding out the old town.
The sea is circled by tramways, cabs
and omnibuses rattle along, and throngss
of Europeans bent on business and
pleasure ill the walks. But while this
new order of life is in the supremacy,
much of the picturesque of old Alglers
remains, and the Moors are not lost sight
of, although outnumbered. In the old
town silence and mystery reign.
The houses are high and windowless,
- that
the caves of the houses meet overhi al,
and so dark in places that stranger
feels uncertain rs to his steps. Feiled
women and turbaned men pass to and
fro. Fromentir, the artist and writer,
saws the s'dirt of the Arabs has dignity
of its own; thsir beggars are epic
poems-half Lazarus, half Job. They
arc grave, but eau be violent; but never
stupid, never coarse" " -,
such are the people seen to day in old
Algiers. They sit cross-legged in little
shops, look from the high roofs on the
sea, theirs no longer; are met outside
the CITY on little donkeys or gayly
trappcd hoi ses, crowded on platforms of
the horse cars running to Mustapha, take
seats on the top of buses going to Ber.
kudeen and other inland towns. Brio a.
brac vendors have places among the ter
RACES ard garden walks, spreading en-
broider e. from Tunis, carpets from IAN
zibar, brass pots from damascus, and
almost endless variety of products over
the path. With apparent indifference
they smoke cigarette while the coliec-
tion is loo%ed through. never relaxing
their imperturbable gravity.
The terraces. that are a particularly
pleasant featnre of the place, are chiefly
given to villa life. They are sunny apd
from them exquisite views are possible.
The houses arc often too cool and dark
for comfort. and so the sunny terraces is
made sort of outside sitting room,
where, with comfortable seats, little
tables and rugs, there is much that is
really charming. 1t is also the way to
the garden, where flowers of all kinds
bloom in profusion. The rose is the
favorite. Every variety repays trihing
care with luxurant generosity. The vine
wards also do wonderfully well. Each
wear more land is brought under cultiva-
ton by grape growers, and great caves
are dug in the rocky banks, in which the
wine is stored. Globc- Democrat.
What is "Jag?"
In that section of the country called