Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-04-17

certainly gives a very practical example
of the simple life, for his needs re-
duced to a minimum Food, shelter and
clothing of the rudest kind are all that NJ
he requires as he wanders from desert to "
tell with his focks Like the bishop OF
Brownng's poem, he seems only TO ask
that
That hutch should rustic with sufficient
straw"
but he is nevertheless said to suffer
greatly from rheumatism caused by in
cessant exposure to all weathers, and also frnm
ophthalmia. which is a real scourge among the
natives of Algeria and results all too frequently
in complete blindness.
About week or ten days before Christmas the
courses indlgenes." or native race meeting takos
place al Biskra. This meeting ia, OF course much
less popular than the fashionable which
held in the spring, but good number OF French
people always attend It, There Is superstition
in Biskra that this particular week is always the
windest in the year. and certainly on the so
tary occasion of which / have had experience, the
reputation justified. Even in the shelter OF
the stand we we're thickiy powdered with fine
white sand that blown in upon us by the high
strong wind We drove out TO the course IN one
Of the shaky little carriages drawn by two swift
ponies, which can be hired SO cheaply In the town.
The Hippodrome del Ala was thronged with
people French for the most part, with sprinkling
of English and Germans and some native Kads
gorgeously appareled The first part Courses
du Ministere de la guerre,e consisted only Of two
events the distance In each case being 1900
meters. In the second part, Courses de la Com.
mune Indigene," there we're three events, and the
longest distance run was 3 400 meters, this race
being open to horses of all ages. The horses bore
such names as Boucoucha LAMAR salah and
Mabrouk while the jockeys figure the pro-
gram under such nomenclature Messaoud-den.
Chebha, BelgacembenMoha and SO forth. The
course is Of hard white sand, upon which the hy.
ing hoofs beat with a noise like thunder.
ThR afr Of
red and white and blue OF all shades-made
patches Of brilliant color. There were rows of
raucous-voiced bookmakers shouting the odds;
but the Arabs inveterate gamblers, no
doubt q good deal Of quiet betting went on
Among the spectators were many French officers.
wearing the pale blue tunic Of the famous
Chasseurs d'Afrique. Most of them combin-
ing business with pleasure, for the Arabs from
all parts OF the desert bring their best horses to
compete in the races. and these are frequently
bought for the remount department OF the African
cavalry. Every effort Is being made By the
French government to encourage horse-breediug
among the Arabs.
Close to the grand stand some OF the harem
carriages, with their suffered windows. could be
seen wherein the Arab ladies Of quality we're ait
ting concealed catching imperfect giimpses Of
the races and also of what probably Interested
them far more-the toilettes of the French WON
en-. A group Of spahis. IN their bright red
burnouses and high red boots. added 10 the pic,
turesqueness OF the gay scene When the races
we're over We were invited to mount Up into the
judges box TO witness the fantasia. This was q
thrilling and rather dramatic finale to the day 5
proceedings.
The men Of each goum or tribe. rode past head
ed by their kaid or chief. gatiopiag IN rapid sue