Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-01-22

| depth Of 80 feet On deep water ten
miles from the sea. only giants
stone-throw from the ruins Of Garth
age are naval works such as the sea
farIng old Phoenicians never dreamed
or The base constitutes a city In IL
self, Ferryvllle, named for Jules Ferry.
Bizerta, known In Roman days as
Hippo zarytus was originally q Tyrian
colony comparable in age to Carthage.
Its citizens fought with the Cnrthagin-
lans for supremacy for q while, but
nnally acknowledged the suzerainty Of
the African Rome" When Carthage
was destroyed Hippo zarytus became
seat OF Roman administration and
grew in importance. Later II passed
into Byzantine hands and In the Sew
enth century fell to the Arabs. The
Spanish captured tire place In 1873, but
held II only few years. Then came
centuries OF neglect under Turkish and
local rule. During the Sixteenth CEN
fury II was notorious lair for
pirates.
One OF the most interesting parts
OF Tunis--or Tunlsla as the country ls
often called TO distinguish Il from the
city-ls the southeastern portion In
land from the Mediterranean near the
border OF Tripoli The eastern coast
OF Tunls is the most productive part
OF the land. Virtual forests OF olives
lie about sfax, which h q busy port
for the shipment OF the fruit, oil.
esparto grass, and phosphates frop'
nearby mines.
Cave pwellsrs Of Tunlsla.
Gabes, south Of sfax, is the best
point OF departure for the land Of the
strange Troglodytes dwellers In caves
who lnhablt all OF inland southwestern
~unisia. Imagine arriving at a town
Of 5000 inhabitants and not seeing one
house-only picturesque mosque,
built since the French occupation.
Matmata Is the chief town OF the
Of Matmata. which covers
quite large area and comprises the
villages OF Tamexred. zeraona, BENZ
oussa. Toudjane. Benlzelten, and Ha-
didji All told there are about 10000
souls living In this district, which l.
40 kllometers south Of Gabea
All Of them are Trogl0dytes.
At Matmata. Benloussa, Benlzelten.
and Hadldjl the inhabitants live In
caves dug In the earth. The holes
lary in depth and width. but average
} meters deep by IS meters In cir
One great hole Is used
Is q 'patlo," or courtyard Numerous
,aves dug in the sides OF the hole serve
10 living rooms and store houses. One
,niers these dwellings by means OF
passage tunneled through the earth or
'ock.
Walking through the passage into
ne large circular courtyard open TO
he sky, one sees large caves cut into
he walls OF the tunnel that serve for
torehouses and granaries. tGrain
viii keep here for years In perfect
,ondltion.l There are also caves for
he goats. sheep, and donkeys A
quare masonry trough pipes the rain
water into large clstern built In the
enter OF the courtyard. II rains very
title. but when II rains It pourS and
very drop Of water lie carefully pre-.
erved--so carefully that horses and
nlmaIs are watered only once In every /
4 hours. and then not all they want
The town. or "ksar," OF Medenlne
onslsts OF thousands Of cave-shaped
wellings. made Of native cement and
tone, Buperposed upon each other 70
height OF four or ave storieA The
.rab name for these enrlous-shnped
welllngn and storehouses IL ''rhorfa.
'hese are the second type Of TroRio
yte dwelling. which might be termed
rtiheiai caves They are not unlike
Igantic "muddaubers nests. with cyl
.slfteal cells one upon the other. One
Ecends to these granaries or store
0us8s by means Of projecting stones .
ere and there. worn smooth by cen =
lrfes OF use.
The town OF Doulrat still farther
esertward. Is typical Of the third s0ra
Ifoglodyte community. consisting Of
ives in cliffs and mountalnsldes Il ,
dfncult to describe and very bizarre Z
like q beehive mountain perched I
Ugh over deep Favine, The village \
rfends for about two kiIDmeters; ey. /,
rywhere are caves and inches; IN =
amy places the trail xigxags no. and q
lere are tiers above tiern Of human Il
rcglodyte dwellings Above all Risez :,
q huge eknar.- or citadel, now :
ass 81 ruins. q