The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-09
CITIES OF THE TRooLopYTEs.
Bailt IN Layers and Reached by
Means Of Steps Cut In the walls.

Dailt IN Layers and Reached b.
Means Of steps Cut In the Walls.
II you want to be introduced to the
slowest people In the world, you must visit
north Africa and make your way across
the scofChing desert that separates from
the rest Of tho Inhabitants Of Africa the
race known to tho sncients a. the Troglo-
dytes, from the Greek "troglois," . hole
the habit Of living In holes In the ground,
. habit that probably owes Its origin to
the fact that Old Sol In that quarter ID
very merciless old tyrant, and life above
ground is scarcely bearable except when
the sun has retired for the night.
The Troglodytes are In the line Of cara
van travel and are visited by these freight
trains of the African desert. No outside
influence has been able, however, to wean
them from their ancient habits, their an.
tique garb and their peculiar manner Of
living. So far as is known, the manners
and customs Of the Troglodytes have not
changed since Bible times, and any one
coming upon q group Of these people In
the present day and comparing their ap-
pearance with descriptions extant that
some historians have regarded as fabulous
will see that they are precisely the same
now as they were many centuries ago.
A Trolgodyte city is. the most curious
dwelling place In the world. From the
exterior it presents the aspect of q Roman
circus. The habitations are built In layers
one above tho other and form q circular
wall, with single enhance from tho out.
side. All the doors Of the houses open on
the interior of tho circular city. Each hab.
itation has door and window. To get
to them you climb a fight Of steps cut in
the wall, which brings you to the lower
layer Of houses. II you wish to go higher,
you climb another pair of steps to the
houses above, and from here to tho third
row II 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 wooden key.
Besides providing protection from their
enemy, tho sun, the circular hsbitations
with the dead walls outside form strong
fortress to guard the inhabitants from the
attacks Of neighboring tribes. In these
more peaceful days, however, they have no
such fear before them, and 20 they use the
walled city mostly for storing Of crops,
while they live In holes dug in the ground
within tho walls and frequently change
their position in search Of pasture for the
animals.
The age of tho cities Is immense. The
exact date when they were built Is I'm.
known, but it is believed that they ante
date the birth of Christ. The people are
pesceably disposed, in which phase Of
character they are superior to most other
natives Of northern Africa. They are in
telligent and handwriting, tending their
aocks and farming their land with patient
energy. The approach to their country is
so difficult and dangerous on account Of
the frightful gorges it is necessary to trav.
erse and tho risk of being overcome by
the deadly sirocco that the interesting poo-
pie have been disturbed but little by Eu-
ropeans Now that psychologists ara turn
ing their attention to the ancient people
something more is being learned Of them
than was known heretoforc.-St. Paul
Dispatch