Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/234

 190 NORTH-WEST APEICA. that of the French from Bona-Guelma, both stop short in the European quarter, and remain unconnected even by a lateral branch running towards the Marina. Nevertheless, the occupation of Tunisia, as a complement to the Algerian terri- torv, has tended to modify the situation to the advantage of the French element. Till quite recently the predominating European language was Italian ; even in the French families the children, accustomed to converse with young playmates from Sicily or Naples, ended by speaking Italian in preference to their own mother tongue. Now, by the reverse process, French is predominating in the European and Maltose circles. In the civil and religious schools, as well as in all public places, both Jews and Mussulmans learn to converse in French, which, after Arabic, has become the language of the country. Regular schools have already been founded in most of the large towns, and Tunis, Cabes, Sfakes, Monastir, Susa, Kairwan, Bizorta, and El-Kef, all possess normal schools for the training of native teachers. The preponderance of the commerce with Marseilles also contributes to assimilate the country more and more to France. Finally the garrisons, and numerous employes scattered through the territory and journeying from place to place, diffuse the use of the French language around Ain-Drahara, El-Kef, Kairwan, Susa, Cabes, and other military and administrative centres. The land is sold almost exclusively to the profit of the French speculators. There can be little doubt that, from the side of the western plateaux, a considerable tide of immigra- tion must set in, and thus introduce French elements, such as those already developed in Algerian territory. Great changes are also taking place in the Mussulman world of Tunisia. The place of those tribes who, accustomed to independence, quit the country in order to evade the rule of the hated " Rumi," is filled by the Algerians who come in great numbers, nearly all with the hope of making their fortunes in the service of the new masters. In every town they are to be mot with in the position of coachmen, porters, and servants. During the harvest the Kabyles also arrive in shiploads of hundreds at a time, and from them the Tunisians have learnt the art of mowing their meadows. The natives of Marocco, who are much more vigorous and energetic workmen than the local Arabs, are also strongly represented, and together with the Sicilians they clear the ground and plant vines on the various properties which the French have recently acquired. The Mussulman population of Tunisia, hitherto kept down by civil wars, the raids of plundering tribes, and oppressive taxation, will probably begin to increase under the new administration. But, judging from the experience of Algerian towns, where the death-rat^ of the Arabs normally exceeds that of the births, it is to be feared that in the long run the same result may be produced in the Tunisian towns, in consequence of the very intimate relations of the Europeans with the Moors. The social state, so intermingled with vices, which we call civilisation, would seem under such conditions to develop its worst features, by placing the elements of corruption within easy reach of the weak, without at the same time giving them the power of resistance. The property around the towns and railway stations is continually changing hands. Since 1861 many foreigners have purchased land from the Mussulmans,