The record-union., 1892-08-06
NUMIDIA'S POMPEII.
An Account of a Wonderful Buried
City in Africa
Thamugas, the Once Luxurious Resort
of the Wealthy AIgerians, Desc
lated by War and Finally Burned
by the Ruthless Barbarians.

by the Ruthless Barbarians.
Till went to Algeria last winter had
no idea of the number and importance of
the remains of Roman civilization still
existing in North Africa, writes CORE
spondent OF the Boston Herald. For in
stance, 1 had read OF Thamugas as "a
city of Nunidia, near the Aures Mount
aims" but had never heard of the inter
esting discoveries lately made there un-
der the direction of the French Ministry
of Education, in consequence Of which
the title OF the 'Numidian Pompeii'' is
not unjustly claimed for this remote bor-
der settlement OF the Empire of Traian.' l
visited the place on March It'll. Algeria
Is now traversed by excellent roads in
every direction. We LEFT the railway, to
Biskra from Constantine, at Batna sta
ton, and about twenty-five miles from
there noticed a number of short, white
pillars standing out against the dark side
OF not very high bill, with somewhat
the effect OF a cemetery. An inscription
on what looked like a milestone by the
wayside intimated that here was His
torlcaI Monument, the Roman City of
1hamugas,' o we turned off by a rough
scended into the deep bed OF brook,
which we torded, and climbing out on
the other side presently found ourselves
surrounded by multitude OF heWn stones
scattered among the rank heritage. Some
massive foundations and pavement, on
which rested large Corintnian capitals,
denoted the position OF one of the city
gates; and, further on, we came to the
row OF pillars already mentioned. Here
was the
STREET CALLED STRAIGHT"
The principal thoroughfare, wonderfully
preserved, considering that 100 years
have elapsed since IL was deserted by its
inhabitants.
This African Pompeii was not over
whelmed by volcano, but gradually
desolaled by war, and at last burned by
the barbarians OF the Aures, to restrain
whose inroads it was originally founded.
Quantities of charred timber were diScov-
cred among the rubbish which covered
it. but when this was removed the great
stones Of the ancient pavement appeared,
neatly joined together, and showing by
the tracks of wheels what busy traffic had
once passed over it. There was little
ridge rising in the middle, difficult to eX-
plain-no marks of horses hoofs and
none of the sJepping-stones at corners so
remarkable at konpeu. A colonnade OF
monolithS bordered this street on each
side. Their bases, raised on steps, are
entire, but their tops are all broken off,
though some are still twenty feet high.
Behind the pillars were low shops, like
those in the bazars of Tunis lined with
marble slabs, and rooted over with earth
enware jars made for the purpose, with
out bottoms, and turned 10 tit a vault
Many are lying where they fell.
BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE ON EVERY
HAND.
The street runs east and west We
turned to the right, or west, to visit the
principal monument Of the city. This is
a triumphal arch, erected by the decuri-
Ons of the colony in honor of Traian
who is called its founder. The principal
arch crosses the street, and there are
smaller openings at each side for foot
passengers. 1t is strange to see such
beautiful architecture in this wild and
lonely region, where there are now no
dwellings but the tents of Arab herds
men. However, we have examples of
Gothic architecture in England among
the Yorkshire Valleys equal to anything
IN our grandest catheGrals. 1t was the
solitary situation of Thamugas that saved
it from the fate of Carthage, which served
as a quarry to build Tunis and Caravan.
The Corinthian pillars and capitals of
.Trajan's Arch are OF singular elegance,
and the varied color of the marbles of
different kinds, sottened by the exposure
OF centuries to
AFRICAN SUNS
And showers, adds greatly to its charm.
Nothing of the kinQ that [ have seen in
Rome itself has given ME more pleasure,
a statue of white marble has been re-
placed in one Of the inches above. There
are several tolerably perfect figures re-
emaining at Thamugas, where, in their
ancient drapery costume, they seem to
represent the vanished population of this
Esplendissima civitas, as it was termed.
" a acfof oil
Samong their original surrounding than
FIN modern museums. Near the arch is
the macellum, or market, a square sur
rounded by an arcade on columns. The
pillars are all fallen, but the stone tables
remain in the shops between them.
ON HILL
behind, surrounded by a sort of cloister
Qsome of the pillars are still erect, is the
SIemple of Jupiter, the only one in the
city. 1t had been damaged by an earth
quake in the reign of Naiens and Valen-
;tlnian, when the magistrates repaired it.
But it must have been finally overthrown
by another shock, as the enormous flu
ted drums of the columns on their elab-
Orately -carved Corlnthlan capitals ofgreat
size lie as they fell. 1t, one would imag-
inc, might be easily restored. One OF
the four city churches stood little below
this noble temple. They were all small
and of inferior architecture. 1t is only
at CdTIudSS IndL traces remain OF great
basilica like those of Rome. Returning
through the
ARCH OF TRIUMPH
We notice a marble fountain. its EDGE
Clipped by the frequent dipping into it of
bronze and earthenware pitchers There
is no water in the place now, but the Ro-
mans had q neighboring stream conduct
ed to il, and when the hills, now SO bare.
We're covered with forests, the two rivu-
LOT fay off
now.
The main street has been cleared to
near the east end of the little city. where
we can study how the chief civil build
1ngs of Roman town are arranged. A
handsome portco, already referred to-
LED TO the right, into the forum, a small
square with pulpit for orators at one side:
of this were the basilica and the senate
house, adorned with curious twisted coll
umns, ending in little darts. The thea
ter was behind; its seats, excavated in
the hillside, are quite perfect, as are all
the arrangements of the stage, though
the pillars of the scena have been broken
OIL.
INTERESTING INSCRIPTIONS FOUND.
The magistrates chairs, the mosaic
pavements, are all in their places. and T
could even read a sportive inscription
traced on the floor of the forum with
some sharp instrument: ''To hunt. to
battle, to play, 10 laugh; this is to live.u
a law fellow had added s'to rest" and
another wag, 1.-THE life OF a duck.o AS
the s'h' in hoe is omitted, there is q pre-
cedent here for the English custom of
dropping the aspirate. a table, with lit
9s Hoods
SafsapariIIa