Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-03-28

inhabitants and not seeing house
only "A picturesque mosque built since
the French occupation he said, in nm
article which be wrote Tor the Ma
tional Geographic Magazine after hts
return to the United States.
When he finally looked groundMard
and located the village he slipped and
stumbled down the sides or huge
hole dug In the ground. and found that
II was a courtyard Of his friend. the
kaid, from which other openings led
into living rooms and store rooms
Every house in Matmata is built In
just this way-one large hole. left un.
covered. for a courtyard, and every.
thing else leading out of II deep into
the earth.
The big holes vary In depth and
width, averaging about nine yards
deep and fifteen yards in circumfer-
ence In the middle Of each court.
yard Ii square masonry trough
which pipes rainwater into large
cistern This II most important
home adjunct, us water II very scarce
Every drop OF rain is carefully pre-
serYed-so carefully that the unfor-
tunate horses, goats. sheep, and don.
keys belonging TO the natives are wa.
tered only once IN twanty.four hours,
The kaid's dwelling IL Il superior
sort Of place with its entrance wallis
whitewashed and several articles Of
European furniture disposed about the
various holes that serve as rooms An.
other high.class dwellings or this I'm.
derground village liz that Of shek
Ferdiani, who courteously invited MIR
Johnson TO pick his way down the
steep waits OF the courtyard" and
pay him visit He describes the
visit thus.
"A young man burned a handful Of
dried esparto grass. which famed up
brightly and showed us the steps and
turns down the tunnel | almost fell
over donkey eating It's hay Great
eyes glared At me from out of the
blaekness, On coming Into The large
round courtyard one would think the
sheik the father Of ut least twelve in.
fants. for children from two 10 ten
years old are curioualy watching Us
They are very fond OF bonbons and
SOUS, Whatever money one gives the
sheik lis divided among the children
He met the sheik'B beautiful little
sixyeRr-old daughter, who liked To be
photographed with her playmate, little
Ayesha, and her little brothers After
gratifying this taste for her door OF
palm leHf boards was pushed aside and
- fg5Xx. ~
aheik.s private room-or rather cave
cut out of the solid rock In 1t was
an old wooden chest, many guns. and
a bedstand heWn out Of rock, but pro
Yided with notwithstanding native
mattresses filled with wool aud with
native blankets. There vas also M oil
lamp made just like those tho Greeka
and Romans used
The kaid of MHtmata WAS very po
lite to Mr. Johnson. Whenever the
latter travelled about In the neighbor.
hood to look up other bnrroWlng rom
munities he was provided with knives
spoons. forks, and napkins by HIS hos
pitable host. lie protested against this
yehemently. as he was quite willing to
arnught It. but the men accompany
Ing him had received ifon.elad In.
structions and refused to degato from
them the least bit
Under such auspices the American
had ample opportunity To atuae the
customs Of the country. and hs has
much that Is interesting to say about
them Of the kaids village he writes.
Matmata mas its special code of ri.
quette Never approach near ennua b
70 another mans dwelling 10 look
down into the great circular court.
yard and see his women It ID not
only bad form, but It Fl dangerous
Each dwelling has a number of white
Kabyle dogs that keep constant
watch. and on your approach would
fiy out at you and lie 10 tear you
into pieces Never eatfr passage
way to a dwelling without i adlng In
small boy on girl to lei the WON.
en- know that you are coming IN
From Mafmafa the American frav.
eler went inland 10 Medenlne. town
of most singular appearance. com
posed Of thousands of srhorfas, or
cayesahaped dwellings. built above
ground and piled up on top Of each
other The only way 10 reach the ~.
per ones Is b. means Of projecting
stones worn smooth by long centuries
81 use. The Inhabitants leap from one
20 another III thaae with the agility
Of monkeys. bur 10 a stranger the up
ner lasera e houses are practically