Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-05-12
TROGLODYTES OF AFRICA.
They Are About the Most backward
People ON the GIobc-Their
Queer Dwellings.

-
slowest people in the world you must
visit North Africa and make your way
across the scorching desert that sepa-
rates from the rest of the inhabitants
of Africa the race known to the an
clients as the Troglodytes, from the
Greek "troglois," hole. They were
given this name on account of the habit
of living in holes in the ground, habit
that probably owes its origin TO the
fact that Old Sol in that quarter is
very merciless old tyrant and life above
ground is scarcely bearablc except
when the sun has retired for the night
The Iroglodytes are in the line of car
AVIAN travel, and are visited by these
freight trains of the African desert
No outside influence has been able,
| however, to wean them from their an
| cient habits, their antique garb and
| their peculiar manner Of living. So
far as is known, the manners and GUS
toms of the rroglodytes have not
| changed since Bible times and anyone
coming upon group OF these people
in the present day and comparing
appearance with descriptions eXtant
that some historians have regarded as
| fabulous, will see that they are precise
| ly the same now as they were many CEN
turtles ago.
\ Troglodyte city is the most curious
| dwelling place in the world. From the
exterior il presents the aspect of Il
Roman circus. The habitations are
built in layers one above the other, and
form a circular wall with single en-
trance from the outside. All the doors
of the houses open on the interior of
the circular city. Each habitation has
door and a window. To get to them
you must climb flight of steps cut in
the wall, which brings you to the lower
layer of houses. If you wish to go
higher you climb another pair of steps
to the houses above, and from here to
the third row, if you are visiting some
one living on the top of the pile. The
doors are all fastened with the most
primitive lock that is turned by means
of a wooden key.
Besides providing protection from
their enemy, the sun. the circular habi-
tations with the dead walls outside
form strong fortress to guard the in
habitanis from the attacks of ncighbor-
ing tribes. In these more peaceful days,
however. they have no such fear before
them, and so they use the walled city
mostly for storing of crops. while they
live in holes dug in the ground within
the walls. and frequently change their
position in search Of pasture for the
animals.
The age of the cities is immense. The
exact date when they were built is UNI
known. but it is believed that they an
tedate the birth of Christ. The people
arc peaceably disposed in which phrase
of character they are superior TO most
other natives Of northern Africa. They
are. intelligent and hardworking, tend
ing their flocks and farming their land
with patient energy. The approach to
their country is so difficult and dan
gerous. on account Of the frightfuI
gorges it is necessary to traverse, and
the risk of being overcome by the dead
~ sirocco, that the interesting people
; have been disturbed but little by Eu'
ropeans. Now that archaeologists arc
turning their attention to the ancient
people, something more is being
learned of them than was known here.
tofore..-St. Paul Dispatch.