Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/169

 TOPOGRAPHY OF TUNISIA. 189 of which thoy were proud. Grouped round their n'sfK-ctivo t-onsulH, thoy escaped the extortions to which the natives were exposed, and this priviK'ge<l position had naturally the effect of binding them to their native land. But in spirit and morals they differ strikingly from their fellow-countrymen beyond the seas. Below the families of these merchant princes is a restless crowd of hangers on, mostly im- poverished immigrants. The English consul might surround himself with a veritable army, because the Maltese are much more numerous amongst the Europeans settled in Tunis, if however the name of European can properly be applied to these Arab Catholics. The vicinity of the Maltese archipelago, which is but 20 miles from the jjort of Tunis, enables the poorest to seek their fortunes on the mainland, where they settle down as porters, watermen, merchants, innkeepers, and gardeners. Certain streets in Tunis are entirely occupied by T^laltese, and even on the most distant routes from the capital these island traders are to be seen tra- versing dangerous highland regions on foot, with their wives and children, and driving before them horses laden with various kinds of merchandise. The Calabrians and Sicilians also form a considerable section of the population, and to these must now be added the ever-increasing colony of the Northern Italians. Although till recently inferior in numbers to the Italians and Anglo-Maltese, the French colony was the most important, thanks to its numerous Beni-Mzab and other Algerian allies. The annexation of Tunis to France has naturally resulted in a proportionate increase of French immigrants, and they are settling, not only in the capital, but also in the commercial towns along the coast. Tho railway which crosses the whole country from east to west, the telegraph stations scattered throughout the territory, the camps and fortresses occupying tho strategical positions, and the tracts of land bought up for cultivating vines and olives, all attract to the interior a continually increasing stream of French clerks, merchants, speculators, and workmen of every description, as well as the Kabyles who call themselves Frenchmen, and who come to offer themselves as reapers and harvesters. The social and economic possession of Tunis was much more rapidly accomplished than that of Algeria. This country, after having been so long separated from Europe, and by its history become connected with the Asiatic world, is evidently resuming in the western basin of the Mediterranean the position which it should hold from the nature and relief of the land, its flora, and its climate. Topography of Tunisia. El'Biban, the frontier town near the Tripolitan coast, would be of some strate- gical and commercial importance were the two straits, which it overlooks at the entrance of the Bahiret-el-BiMn, or " Lake of the Gates," of sufficient depth to permit vessels of large size to enter this vast basin. As it is, there is scarcely waterway for the fishing-boats to anchor before the fort. Besides, its export and import trade, at any time but slight, has l)een transferred north-westwards to the har- bour of Zurzis, or Jerjis.a town consisting of five distinct villages, which are scattered amongst cornfields, palm and olive groves. This region was at one time so fertile