The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-08-01
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., ATLANTA. GA.

sequent history of this part of the
world. The site of the Roman city is
now occupied by pretty village, half
French, half Arab, with mosques and
minarets and Catholic churches; and
all around on pleasant hillsides sloping
to the bay, crops thrive amid the ruins.
In the midst rises handsome Gothic
chapel and a monument, surmounted
by the cross of the Crusader, a con-
spicuous landmark seen far out at sea.
1t is in memory of Saint Louis, of
France, who sacrificed himself on the
plains of Carthage to a generous zeal
in his plague-smitten camp. Louis
Philippe erected the memorial, in 1910,
believe; and even this kindly act set
wagging Gossips evil tongue. 1t was
charged that the French King cared not
a straw for the memory of Saint Louis,
but improved the opportunity to gain
first foot-hold for the French in Tunis;
and that the poor priests who sang
masses for the soul of the Crusader
were really monks militant, under pay,
with harness on their back beneath the
coWl
There is no city in the world more
strangely situated than Tunis. Though
called a port, it is not on the sea, nor
even on the Gulf of the same name,
but lies at considerable distance inland,
on a narrow isthmus between two large
but shallow salt lakes. The northern
lagoon, called by the natives Ell Bahira.
meaning Little Sea- communicates
with the Gulf of Tunis by an artificial
passage, at Goletta, on its seward edge
Goletta,-a town of perhaps three
thousand inhabitantS-is the real port,
and its name is corruption of the
Arabic words, Helix el-Oued, or Throat
of the Canal The passage from Gulf
to lake cuts the town into two portions
the northern half containing the fort,
battery and most of the residences;
the Southern the Bey's summer pal
ace, the old seraglio, the arsenal,
custom house and prison. Vessels
are compelled to anchor in the open
roadstead, as there is not sufficient
depth of water near the shore. The
boatmen, probably ex-Riff pirates, or
their descendants, used to have things
all their own way and travellers were
quite at their mercy; but the French
authorities have stopped all that, osten-
sibly through the Bey, and established
a regular tariff for the row to Shore
one and half francs for each passen-
ger; for trunk or large satchel half a
franc extra; for a whole boat, nine
francs. Steam launches, belonging to
the Transatlantic Company, also ply
between their vessels and the shores.
Goletta, like Tunis, has been con-
, structed entirely with the material of
near by Carthage. 1t is growing rapidly
to the nOrthward, SO that it has almost
reached the ancient city, the newer
quarter being in high favor with the
, Tunisians i'll summer, on account of
sea- bathing. The climate is said to be
!; agreeable here the year around and the
famous baths are scattered for mile
, or more along shore. The fortress
which defends Goletta-built of huge
blocks of stone taken from the palaces
, of Carthage-has been many times be-
: sieged. Perhaps the most celebrated
encounters in which it has figured were
those between the armies of Charles V.
of Spain, and Kheir-eldin, the >corsair
usurper, whom the Sultan Seliml l. nam.
i, ed Pacha. We have not space in The
Republican Journal to tell the story,
| though it reads like tale of the Ara.
J. bian Nights, or one of Sir Walter Scott S
: romances. 1t is a tale of treachery
and bloodshed, OF secret Papal influ.
ences and outrages by Barbary pirates
) Mulai Mohammed, last prince of the
? Benz Hafer dynasty, which had ruled
r this region for three centuries, died in
1925, leaving many sons by his numer
3 Gus wives. One of the youngest c1
these, named Mulai Hassan, owing to
the intrigues of his mother, who it is
e said poisoned his father, succeeded tc
, the throne, after putting to death ali
? the brothers who opposed him. When
Kheir-el-din gained possession of Tunis
? with his corsair hordes he proceeded
, to strengthen its citadel and to fortify
3 Goletta, regardless of expense, which
was borne by the Sultan. Meanwhile
Mulai Hassan, compelled to flee, had
invoked the aid of Charles V. Before
Y that day numerous complaints had beer
brought to the Emperor of the outrages
: committed by Barbary pirates on his
: subjects, both in Spain and Italy: an6