The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07
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and which still shows the remains of vast cisterns built for it's water supply
 Thysdrus remained great up to aoout the time of the Arab invasion, but the people about were then governed by d Rerber queen known as Kahena. The country was so rich that it was attacked again and again and Kahena, thinking the matter over, came 10 the conclusion that the wealth of her people was the cause of the numerous invasions, and that if they destroyed their cities her country would be let alone. She thereupon called her mountain tribes together and ordered them to cut down the orchards and level the towns. This was done all over the country, vast territories being reduced from riches to poverty. It had, however, the reverse effect of what she intended. The people who had lost their property sided with the invaders, and Kahena was defeated. Her last stand was made in the amphitheatre of El-Djem. and it's bat tered walls still show the effects of that siege.
 Since then it has been robbed by tine generations which followed. It has been a quarry for both Arabs and Christians, and of late the French have uncovered it's mosaics and carried them off to their museums Today they are making efforts to protect what is left. l found parts of the ruins shut off by doors and wire fences, and naSOnS were at "oih hSi . and there repairing the damages of the vandals.
 The day will come when northern Africa will be thronged with tourists and others studying the historic remains ol it's past. The most of the ruins here have until now, been allowed to remain as they were. while those of Italy, Greece and Egypt have been carted off to fill the museums of the world There are acres 1,a in Tunsia which will compare in beauty with any in Italy. The arena of this great amphitheatre was one solid mosaic. If is now a part of the wonderful collec- ton in the bey's palace, in the city or Tunis There are other mosaics, almost as wonderful, in the museum of Sousse, and others or great value in the Carthage museum.
 sousse has recently excavatel a ceme- tery which dates back to the time of the Cartha ginians. In it are tombs which were built when Hannibal was alive, and | fingered the bone dust of some of th.se ancient heroes as I looked at the urns which contained their remains.
 Even more wonderful are the catacombs of Sousse, now. for the first time being exposed to the light of modern times. I had never heard of them until l came here You will not find them mentioned in the books upon Africa, and l doubt 1T they are known outside this part or Tunsia Nevertheless they are of enor- nous extent and of historic interest. They lie mile or so outside the walls, with olive trees and other crops grow ing above them. They are reached by stone steps which take one far below the surface and they extend over sever al square miles. It was by means of my letter from the Regent of Tunisia that was able to go through them. We walked along gallery after gallery, cut out of the solid limestone, lighting our way with candles. Now and then we had to stoop over, and I was warned to keep close ta tho guide, as there are so many cross passages that one might become lost and wander long before getting out. The galleries are walled with tombs they contain the remains of tens of thousaf ds of human beings, all lying in boxes cut out of the walls, away down in face. series of pigeon holes. each hole containing a skeleton or bones and bone dust.
 Afte. the body was put in the front of the tomb was walled up, and in