The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-10-23

stops only on reaching the observatory,
although a few level tracts intervene. As
we begin mounting the hills fine view
is had of the Bay of Algiers, in which
our four white ships moorcd to the mole
arc prominent. The Chicago's guns
peal forth in Il salute to the Governor
General, who had just left after m off
cial visit. The tricolored banner flutters
at foretruck in his honor. We pause at
bend in the road to take in this seen
and a glance at the region roundabout.
On one of the hills is palace Of the
dey, now occupied by the captain of
artillery. Below us is the casbsh, the
citadel of the dey, which contained also
his official residence, and harem. The
casbah occupies the apex of the tri-
angle which ..inclosed the old city, aud
was itself built in triangular shape,
fortified sc as to command the coun-
try and also the city, standing menace
to tho doy's subjects as we'll as enemies.
There was an interior square court,
which the windows of his living rooms
overlooked. Under one of the galleries
in this court the dey was accustomed
to receive shippers and merchants, and
to levy an impost, amounting to from
five to ten per cent. of their cargoes, as
his fancy suggested. The result was an
accumulation of goods from all quarters
of the globe, which must have given this
court the appearance of an immense
bazaar or curiosity shop. In the court
was situated also the treasury, where, it
is said, at the time of the French
conquest thirty-elght millions of
franc were found and turned into
the French Golfers. In the upper
story were =. long galleries afford
ing communication between the days
apartments, from which low-walled
passage led to those of the slaves of his
harem. Their rooms faced on snail
court, the ground of which was here
level with the floor. They were shut of
from any view of the outside world, and
could thus resign themselves entirely to
their thoughts of slavery and personal
jealousies, while awaiting the tyrannical
pleasure of their lord and master. As
sole recreation they were permitted to
promenade in small garden, reached by
q labyrinthine series of passages, and
surrounded by the highest of walls. This
garden is now converted into a gymna"
SUM for the soldiers quartered in tho
casbah. On the upper galleries is shown
the spot where the dey slapped the face
of the French Consul, an act which led
to the loss of his possessions.
r. We reach El-Biar, the village of wells.
containing nearly three thousand inhabi-
tants, which is also the village of gar
dens, of picturesque modern villas and
superb Moorish houses. Kitchen gardens
arc abundant; remains of windmills are
seen, ,siong ago replaced by steam.
A short stop, at El-Biar gives the
s3prscs q breathing spell and the viva
cious coachrnan au Opportunity to air his
experiences. He explains how, as a
guide, he excels his confreres, who are
an ignorant lot; he himself, about forty
years old, was born in the country and
knows all about it. He is certainly q
curious mixture of French base with an
Arab coating taken from the climate and
the surroundings.
As we turn in leaving we catch sight
below of the level plain, the large drill
ground of the soldiery, capable of giving
room to 20, 900 troops on review. Be-
hind, too, in the dim distance arc the
snow capped Atlas Mountains. Leaving
the city of Algiers and penetrating into
the country villages, the austerity of the
city disappears. The inns resort to de-
vices which would appear uudignifed in
the city. There is, for instance, the
cabaret at El-Biar, whose sign is labeled
Aux dcux Entctcs, and carries shield
on which lady in green and mule in
blue are pulling in opposite directions:
both are obstinate and the result is
doubtful.
The Arab women at home or in the
villages do not cover their faces; it is
only when they 60 into town that the
forehead is hidden and the impenetrable
vail drawn over nose and chin; they as
sumo this apparel, then, much as the
Parisiennc dons her gloves for the prom
cuade. The faces exposed to our gaze
in this Kabyle village, although one or
two were interesting, did not lead us to
modify the conclusions reached above
Illustrated american.