The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-03-28

1 AA luOus one OF the nbWehl OL
1XN the wonderful inventions
OF man. has Just Afforded
another ultra-modern continuance
the camern--lts first chance to snap
q group OF dwellings as old In style as
any that man ever built for himself
II was the Italian dlrlgible balloon
Up 2" that accomplished the feat and
gave the italian invaders OF Trlpoll
additional reason for patting them
selves on the back and feeling like the
vanguard OF progress. While the bal
loon lowered high over the arid waste
that lies back OF the Mediterranean
coast OF northern Africa, the pho
tographer trained HIS camera on lot
OF holes in the desert--apparenty bur
rowed by animals Instead OF being
that, however. they were all that was
visible OF villages teeming with hui
man beings. OF troglodyte villages,
whose Inhabitants dig deep into the
earth TO find a home Just as their
forefathers did thousands OF years
ago, when the dlrigible balloon and
the camera and the Italian nation
were things undreamed OF
This unique picture OF underground
dwellings taken from point far up in
the air by the latest European visitor
to the cayemen has aroused renewed
interest In these African troglodytea,
whom only few travellers have ever
beheld
This most recent visitor Bojourned
among the cave.dweIlers OF Matmata
back OF the Mediterranean coast OF
Tunisia. and from these struck still
further inland TO the places whore the
climbing troglodytes" dwell and the
nomads OF the desert store their grain
and other yaluables In storehouses
which. though built above the ground
are fashioned exactly like the under
ground homes OF their nelghbors. thus
leading scientists 70 believe that
their ancestors burrowed into the
ground.
Curious, indeed, are the tales brought
back by this latest adyenturer into the
land OF the troglodytes. When he APP
preached the underground dwellings OF
Matmata all the women whom he en-.
conntered ran away. covering their
faces as they went He was taken
into homes deep down In the earth, yet
furnished with carpets hanging from
tho earthen walls. with modern tables
and benches.
hut those who went before him
have given us more minute details as
10 this extraordinary people In 1911
an American, pointed out on every
side as the first OF his race to venture
into the Matm0ta region and the des
ert spaces hidden behind Il, sojourned
for some time with the kaid, or chief.
tain, OF Matmata. travelled with guides
provided by this local potentate far
into the hinteriand and gathered the
materials for a long account OF his
wanderings to say nothing OF splen.
did series OF pictures Previous TO
this visit the troglodytes had enter
tained two French arehaeologists and.
still earller-far back In the nineties,
/ when they were scarcely known at
oil 10 the outside world-they opened
their curious abodes TO Brunn, a Dan
ish explorer, who also lived with the
kaid OF his day and gave an interest,
Ing account OF what he saw
Frank Edward Johnson il the man
who can lay claim 10 being the only
American who has lived among the
cayemen OF northern Africa. While
he was IN Trlpoll some years ago hs
became quite chnmmy with the kalt
OF Matmata. an intelligent native
whom the French masters OF the lane
had appointed 70 rule over an INLAND
tribe. This native later became kalS
OF Matmata and happening to reaS
In some American magazines an ar
tirle by Mr., johnson on troglodytes
he wrote 10 the author at his home Il
Norwich. Conn. that he would i'm
prove his knowledge OF the subject b,
paying his old friend a visit Il an
trogiodyte myself" the writer o
tho letter remarked SO Mr. johnson
left his Connecticut home. sale,
across the sea TO Tunis. transferrel
20 a small coasting steamboat. whicl
landed him AZ the desert port o
Gabes. and after wearisome journe
over the sands. found himself With
View OF the village OF Matmata o
rather. he didn't ind himself whit
view OF II. II was there. but h
couldn't see Il.
Imagine arriving II town OF 800