The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-04-20
THE NATIVES OF ALGERIA,
THEY CONSIST MOSTLY OF ARABS
AND KABYLES.
Tall and ComelY Biskris-Loose-Slip-
pered s--"Mahometan Pro
testantsD--Enormou Earrings.

Tall and Comely Biskris-Loose-Slip-
pered MOors--"Mahometan Pro
testants"--Enormous Earrings.
N LGERIA'S native population,
~ says letter from Algiers to the
NJ Picayune, consists, generally
speaking, ,ofArabs and Kabyles.
When at home the latter live in the
mountains, are nearly always on foot, and
own houses. The former, however, lives
only on the plains, is an Incompatible
horseman, and resides under tents.
Those Arabs who live in cities bear the
name Of Moors; and among these, the
chief element, are numerous other
tribes aud races, so that, not count
ing Europeans, the inhabitants repre-
sent many peoples. Perhaps the most
picturesque of them all are those
known as the Biskris. They have tall,
erect figures, comely features, fine car
riage and very dark eyes. They always
have their head covered, the capote or
hood of the burnous being usually bound
around the head with thick cord made
of camel's hair and wound round six or
seven times. Their women are shrouded
from head to feet in white haicks and
burnous, the only sign of difference
in rank or social standing being shown
in fneness Of the stuff worn as outer
covering. They wear veil, Of course,
and it covers all the face except one eye,
and sometimes they piously or co9uet-
tishly conceal it also.
The Moors have oval faces, clear
brown skins, and are fairer than the pro
vincial Arabs. Their costume is also
different. They wear turban or piece
of white muslin, wound round sort OF
skull cap of red; jacket of bright
colored cloth; two waistcoats, both
richly embroidered; trousers that reach
to the knees and which are very baggy
and they are bare -limbed, almost bare
footed, for they wear only very short
socks and loose slippers. How they
manage to keep these slippers on is
mystery to me, for they "are Il mile toe
big" in every way. The outdoor cos
tune of their women is the usual haick
and burnous. Some Of them wear stock
ings, with patent leather slippers, ano
some are less chic and go bare-limbed
All have on cumbersome white trousers
sort of baggy breeches, with about ten
times too much material in them, and
which keep the limbs so far apart that
they don't walk, they wobblc. This vel
shows both eyes, a part of the nose ano
some of the forehead. They marry young
sometimes at twelve or thirteen, but thu
union is not consummated at that earl.
age however. The man only wants t
be sure of his property, and only by
and-by does she become his wife il
reality.
The Mozabites have been called "Ma
hometan Protestants," because they dt
not go to any mosque or place of wor
ship and use no form of prayer. The.
are honest and truthful, and, il | am t
believe half what hear, such persons ar,
scarce in Algiers.
The Kabyles, sometimes called Ber
bers, are distinguished by their striped
black and white wooden haicks ant
burnous, their leather aprons and thei
bare heads, which are often shaved
These are the industrious fellows, anC
they are willing to do any and all kind
| OF WOTk. Il ueT WlNGS VAIN aOOuI WIN
faces uncovered, and therefore they ar,
not Mahometans. The women also dres
! differently from the Moorish ladies
there is more color to their costume
they wear striking jewelry, earrings Sc
enormous that they have to bessupporteC
by holes through the upper as well as
the lower part of the ears; heavy piece
of wrought silver, inlaid' with preciou
stones, on their heads or ON their bodies
bracelets and anklets. The tattoo marks
of their different tribes are visible OF
their faces, a peculiar sign ilike Glove
leaf, an arrow point or something of tina
sort, linked indelibly on the 'forehead, o.
the chin, or both.
But / do not know half the names o
these tribes and races that work and loa
and pray in the steep streets OF the ole
town, or along the rues and bouAevard
of the modern city. There are Biskri'
struggling under loads which would
break the back of the big porter of the
| st. Charles Hotel; and there are watel
carriers trotting along with a large cop
per jar poised ON one shoulder, held il
place by uplifted lett arm, and full tc
the top, yet never do they spill drop
You see Mzabi driving half dozer
donkeys, heavily loaded; Arabs seated
in little stalls, selling fruit and vege
tables, or preparing their national dish
of couscous; Bedouins, Tunisiaus, Moors
and Coulougles, and who not besides oi
strange appearance.