The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-02

and English whenever one of these pests becomes over persistent.
 Great Arabian Trust.
 Many of the bazars are now run by corporations, and there Is a great semi religious trust company that owns and rents out large part of the shops. This is called the Habous. I think that the Bey of Tunis Is connected with it, and also many of the chief sheiks. This institution has been in existence for a long time and its funds amount to many millions It has had great sums dedi- cated to it with the understanding that the interest from them is to go to cer- tain religious or charitable purposes. One rich Mohammedan. for instance, left his money to the Habous in order that it might supply free drinking water to a certain locality. That was a long time aeo, and the water still flows. Men sometimes leave fortunes to this trust with instructions that 1t Is to handle them in the interest of their wives and children, and in short. 1t does much the same business as our American trust companies.
 The Habous has buildings all over Tunis, and owns extensive tracts of land outside the city. It possesses so much property that the French authorities are afraid of 1t, and they would like to
 
 prevent It's money from being turned to improper uses The Habous officers pretend that they desire nothing so much as an investiga ton, but when the French made their inquiries last year they could learn nothing Just now, when there Is talk about holy war throughout the Mohammedan world, the French feel that the Habous might become dangerous. it's wealth could furnish a war fund fo. the Arabs.
 During my wanderings through Tuns I have seen many of the shops owned by this corporation, and otday l went into the building containing its officers. It Is within a stones throw of the bazars on the Rue d Engllse, in the very heart of the old city. It consists of many large rooms surrounding a court walled with marble. and it has so many clerks that 1t looks like a government department.
 French Tunis.
 Tn striking contrast with the Arab parts of thls city Is the new section, in which the French have their residences and chief business houses. This is out side the walls of old Tunis, extending from them down to the harbor About fifteen years ago the ground there was swamp. and as 1t was thought fit for nothing. II now contains the finest buildings in Tunis. and Is worth hum dreds of dollars per front foot. There are large hotels. banks and stores upon 1t. It has wide and well-payed streets, and were it no for the Arabs, Jews and yelled women in the crowds which pa rade 1t you might think it a part of Paris, Lyons or Marseille
 French Tunis Is growing rapidly It already goes afr out into the country, one of it's best avenues reaching to the Belvedere or municipal park. This is lined with fine houses, and there are other good residence streets.
 The main business thoroughfares of the French city are the Avenue de France and the Avenue de la Marine. They contain the chief banks, shops and safes, and also the Casino and the principal hotels.
 Monte Carlo of Africa.
 French Tunis brides itself on being an up-to-date town. It has electric lights and trolley lines. which now go clear around the old city and reach to some parts of its interior as we'll It has sev- eral large banks, two or three depart ment stores and a great many restau- rants and cafes The Casino is devoted to vaudeville shows, with a gambling attachment and during the winter 1t be- comes little Monte Carlo, patronized by rich natices and .=~-=-..------- Thhsss estab-