Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/171

 TOPOORArUY OF TUNISIA. HI The caves, which serve as dwellings for men and enclosures for doineNtic animals, are hollowed out laterally at the bottom of a kind of pit open to the sky, and with vertical sides. A slightly inclined passage, defended by a closed gate, leads from below to the surface of the earth. In the surrounding plains there are also larger excavations to be seen, similar tt) those made by the Gauls, and which are still used in the country of the northern Ciallas. They were doubtless used bv the natives as places of refuge when their country was overrun by hostile tribes. JSepulchral monuments in the shape of truncated pyramids have also been found in this region of Tunis : they are encircled by an enclosure of stakes, menhirs, or other megaliths. Jerba Island, some 100,000 acres in extent, is the most |)opulous part of Tunis; proportionately speaking, it was nearly as densely peopknl as France, until, a few years ago, many families were swept away by the cholera. Its forty thousand inhabitants look upon their island as a kind of large town, and all its numerous groups of houses, protected by forts of Spanish construction, aie termetl Intuitu, or "quarters." Most of the Jerabas dwell in little hanjletH, or else in i^solated cottages standing in their separate enclosures. The whole island is under cultiva- tion, and although all the water for irrigating purposes comes from wells and cisterns, it is extremely productive, thanks to the ceaseless labours of the patient Beduins who till the land. Jerba Island of all other Tunisian regions possesses the finest olive-trees, the oil from which is greatly preferred to that of the main- land. The other fruits obtained from the orchards — apricots, pomegranates, figs, and almonds — are also excellent ; while the vine, cultivated mainly by the Jews, yields a golden wine which is compared with those of Samos and JSantorin. Clumps of palm-trees, dispersed in the midst of the gardens, are protected by law and yield dates which, although better than those of Kerkenna, are far inferior to those of Beled-el-Jerid. These trees are often used for the manufacture of palm-wine, which is obtained by means of incisions made at the base of the trunk. The agriculture to which the Jerabas pay such great attention is, however, insufficient to give employment to all the inhabitants. The seaside comnmnities are engaged in the capture of fish, octopuses, and sponges, while the jwtters manu- facture a peculiar vessel, which acquires its white tint by being immersed in the sea. Numbers of weavers, each working in his own hut, manufacture those coverlets and materials of silk, wool, and cotton which are so greatly admired in the bazaar of Tunis, and which are exported to considerable distances, even as far as the markets of Bornu. The Jeraba men emigrate in crowds to the large towns of Tunis and Tripoli, and, like their co-religionists, the Beni-Mzab, they are found everywhere, even in the remote inland markets of the continent, as well as in Constantinople and Egyp*^^. Nevertheless, the Maltese are beginning to com|)ete with them in Jerba itsc>lf. In 1860, as many as three hundred had already settled in the principal town of Jerba. The ancient capital, which like the entire island bore the name of Menhir, was situated on the shore of the eastern strait, at the head of the bridge which connected the island with the mainland. The still remaining ramparts of this great city are 8 miles in circumference. In all parts »>f the island, which in the time of