Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-01-21
Artificial Caves of Tunsian Troeodytes.

depth of 80 feet. On deep water ten
miles from the sea, only a giants
stone-throw from the ruins of Garth
age, are naval works such as the sea-
faring old Phoenicians never dreamed
OF. The base constitutes a city in it
self, Ferryville, named for Jules Ferry.
Bizerta, known in Roman days as
Hippo Zarytus was originally Tyrian
colony comparable in age to Carthage.
Its citizens fought with the Carthagin-
lans for supremacy for a while, but
finally acknowledged the suzerainty of.
the african Rome" When Carthage
was destroyed Hippo Zarytus became
a seat Of Roman administration and
grew in Importance. Later it passed
into Byzantine hands and in the Sew
enth century fell to the Arabs. The
Spanish captured the place in 1885, but
held it only few years. Then came
centuries of neglect under Turkish and
local rule. During the Sixteenth cen
fury it was a notorious lair for
pirates.
One of the most interesting parts
of Tunis-or Tunisia as the country is
often called to distinguish it from the
city-is the southeastern portion in
land from the Mediterranean near the
border of Tripoli. The eastern coast
of Tunis is the most productive part
of the land. Virtual forests Of olives
lie about Sfax, which is a busy porE
for the shipment of the fruit, ois
esparto grass, and phosphates from
nearby mines
Cave DweIlers of Tunisia.
Gabes, south of Sfax, Is the best
point of departure for the land of the
strange Troglodytes, jewellers in caves,
who inhabit all of inland southwestern
Tunisia. Imagine arriving at a towS
of 5000 inhabitants and not seeing one.
house-Only picturesque mosque,
built since the French occupation.
Matmata is the chief town of the
caidship of Matmata, which covers
quite large area and comprises the
villages of Tamezred Zeraona, Benz
oussa, ToudIane, Benizelten, and Ha-
didji. All told there are about 10000
souls living in this district, which Is
situated 45 kilometers south of GabeS.
All of them are Troglodytes.
At Matmata, Benioussa, Benizelten,
and Hadidji the inhabitants live in
caves dug in the earth. The holes
vary in depth and width, but average
9 meters deep by Is meters in cir
conference. One great hole is used
as patio" or courtyard. Numerous
caves dug in the sides of the hole serve
as living rooms and store houses. One
enters these dwellings by means of
passage tunneled through the earth or
rock.
Walking through the passage into
the large circular courtyard open to
the sky, one sees large caves cut into
the walls of the tunnel that serve for
storehouses and granaries. (Grain
will keep here for years in perfect
condition) There are also caves for
the goats, sheep, anC donkeys. A
square masonry trough pipes the rain
water into a large cistern built in the
center of the courtyard. 1t rains very
little, but when it rains it pours, and
every drop of water is carefully pre-
served-so carefully that horses and
animals are watered only once in every
"a hours, and then not all they want.
The town, or "ksar," of Medenine
consists of thousands of cave-shaped
dwellings, made of native cement and
stone, superposed upon each other to
n height of four or five stories. The
Arab name for these curious-shaped
dwellings and storehouses is "rhorfa."
These are the second type of Troglo-
dyte dwelling, which might be termed
artificial caves. They are not unlike
gigantic "muddauber" nests, with cyl
indrical cells one upon the other. One
ascends to these granaries or store
houses by means of projecting stones
here and there, worn smooth by CEN
turtles of use.
The town of Douirat still farther
desertward. is typical of the third sort
of Troglodyte community, consisting of
caves in cliffs and mountainsides. It
is difficult to describe and very bizarre
like a beehive mountain perched
high over a deep ravine. The village
extends for about two kilometers; ey-
erywhere are caves and inches; in
many places the trail zigzags up, and
there are tiers above tiers of human
Troglodyte dwellings. Above all rises
the huge "ksar," or citadel, now
mass of guins.