The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-12-29
OF AFRICA.
Manners and Customs Unchanged TO,
Severa Centuries

Manners and Customs UNCHANGED for
Several Centuries.
If you want to be introduced to the
slowest people in the world you must
visit North Africa and make your wav
across the scorching desert that separ-
ates from the rest of the Inhabitants
Of Africa the race known to the an
clients as the Troglodytes, from the
Greek "troglois," a hole. They were
given this name ON account of the habit
of living in holes in the ground-a habit
that probably owes it's origin to the
fact that old Sol in that quarter is a
very merciless old tyrant, and life
above ground is scarcely bearable OK.
cept when the sun has retired for the
night.
The Troglodytes are in the line Of
caravan 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 ANN 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 a group Of these people in the
present day, and comparing their an
pearance with descriptions extant that
some historians have regarded as fabn.
lous, will see that they are precisely
the same now as they were many cen
turtles ago.
A Troglodyte city Is the most curious
dwelling place in the world. From the
exterior it presents the aspect of a
Roman circus. The habitations are
built in layers II above the other. and
form a circular wall with a single en-
trance from the outside. All the doors
OF he houses open on the interior of
the circular city. Each habitation has
a door and a window. To get to them
you climb a flight of steps cut in the
wall, which brings you to the lower
layer of houses. II you wish to 60
higher you climb another pair of steps
to the houses above, and from here to
the third row, If you are visiting some
Il living on the top of the pile. The
doors are ell fastened with the most
primitive lock, which 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 a strong fortress to guard the in
habitants from the attacks of neighbor-
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 pas
ture for the animals.
The age of the cities is immense. The
exact date when they were built is un-
known, but it is believed that they
antedate the birth of Christ. The people
are %peaceably disposed, in which phase
of character they are superior to most
other natives of Northern Africa. They
are intelligent and Woodworking, tend
Ing their focks and farming their land
with patient energy. The approach to
their country Is so difficult and danger
Gus, on account of the frightful gorges
1t is necessary to traverse, and the risk
of being overcome by the deadly
sirocco. that the interesting people
been disturbed but little by Euro
peans. Now that psychologists are
turning their attention to the ancient
something more is being learn
ed of them than was known heretofore.
st. Paul Dispatch.