Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/185

 8FAKE8. 161 agricultural labours, which, beyond a zone of sand surrounding the town like a circular road, have brought under cultivation an extent of land varying in breadth from 4 to 12 miles. Some years ago over 1,000,000 olive trees were planted round the town, and in 1874 the total yield of oil in the Sfakes district was estimated at upwards of 5.500,000 gallons. In the outskirts there are said U) be from eight to ten thousand enclosures, all separated from each other by cactus hedges, above which rise fruit-trees and a borj, or square tower, in which the proprietor keeps his implements, and which is strong enough to resist the attacks of marauders. The plain, bristling with thousands of these little forts, resembles the cultivated districts in North Persia, which are kept in a state of defence against the raids of the Turcomans. In summer nearly nil these landowners dwell in their respective enclosures, leaving the town almost deserted. Sfakes lies on the natural boundary between the olive and palm regions. These two trees are not found here in such great numbers as they are in the north and south respectively. But there are nil the more fruit-trees of other varieties, such as the almond, fig, apricot, peach, pistachio nut, and vine ; however, for some years past the culture of the olive, more profitable than all the others, has been on the increase. The zone of the olive plantations is yearly extended by several hundred yards, and if the sjme rate of progress continues, the Sfaksika will soon absorb in their gardens nil the isolated clumps of olives which, having no recog- nised masters, are known as the " Bey's trees." Tlieir plantations will then reach as far as El-Jem. Owing to the frequent rains, the fruit of the palms seldom ripens thoroughly, hence is mostly used as food for the animals. The vegetable most generally cultivated in the gardens of Sfakes is the fakus, or cucumber, a word from which the name of the town is supjwsed to be derived. According to Shaw, Sfakes is equivalent to the " City of Cucumbers." Besides agriculture, the Sfaksika are also very actively engaged in industrial and commercial pursuits. They do not despise any description of work, like the Mussulmans of so many other cities. The market of Sfakes is as well supplied with provisions as that of Tunis itself. The chief imports are wool, leather, and European merchandise, taken in exchange for oil, fruits of all kinds — grapes, figs, and almonds — sponges and drio<l fish, obtained from the Kerkenna fishermen. Of late years English vessels also visit this port to take in cargoes of alfa grass, which is gathered in the western plains and valleys inhabited by the peaceful Met&lit and Nefet Arab tribes. Unfortunately, Sfakes has no port in which to receive vessels of any size. Hence ships of large draught are compelled to anchor at a distance of nearly 2 miles from the shore. Smaller cnifi are able to approach close to the town with the rising tide, which at ebb leaves them high and dry on the mud. The liarlwur, however, is perfectly safe, being well protected from the east winds by shallows and the Kerkenna Archipelag ». This group has no centres of population btvoud a few villages and hamlets inhabited by fishermen. Hannibal and M irius found a temporary refuge in these islands, which were used as places of exile under the Roman Government, and